Brunswick and Birmingham

Names:

Brunswick and Birmingham 1900-1904

Atlantic and Birmingham 1904-1905
Atlanta Birmingham and Atlantic 1906-1926
Atlanta Birmingham and Coast 1926-1946
Atlantic Coast Line 1946-1967
Brunswick to Sessoms section was abandoned in 1956.

Existance:
1900-1956

History:
Built in 1900 the Brunswick and Birmingham was a late comer in the rail game. Most lines had already been put down in the area and the grades left over where undesirable marshland. The subject of many consolidations and acquisitions, the B&B line changed hands many times during it's brief life. In the end the cost of upkeep for the many swampy crossing proved to be to financially draining and the line running from Alma to Brunswick was abandoned, reluctantly in 1956.

Mile marker standing near the terminus in Brunswick. 

Originally set down as a line from Brunswick to Offerman (42 miles), in 1902 they purchase the Offerman and Western Railroad which ran from Offerman to Nichols, and then in 1903 bought the Ocilla and Irwinville Railroad, also completing an extension to the Alapaha River and Crystal Lake. In 1904 the B&B went into receivership and was purchsed by the Atlantic and Birmingham Railroad. It had a 340 miles of tracks from Brunswick to Montezuma, Waycross to Nicholls, Fitzegerald to Thomasville, and Bushnell to Crystal Lake. The following year it was reorganized to become the Atlantic Birmingham and Atlantic Railroad, which extended the line west to Birmingham and North to Atlanta. The 1905 purchase extended the line from Montezuma to Birmingham. The main line from Brunswick to Birmingham being 287 miles. In 1915 due to financial problems they reorganized to become the Atlantic Birmingham and Atlantic Railway, but went into foreclosure in 1922. The Ocilla to Alapaha branch was also cut from the line in 1917. Then in 1926 reorganized again to become the Atlantic Birmingham and Coast Railroad, which is what most locals know it for today. the ABC was controlled by the Atlantic Coast Line which had acquired most of it's stocks. In 1946 the ACL purchased the rest of the ABC stocks and absorbed it into it's own operations as the ACL western division.(railga.com)

1918 time table showing stops from ATL-BWK

Features:
Begins at the port of Brunswick running through the center of town across Buffalo Marsh and westward to Douglas. US Hwy 32 follows the railbed very closely accept between Hortense and Bristol. Old Rail bed now lies beneith a Georgia Powerline corridor.

Accessability:
Some parts of the bed are still accessable and can be ridden on with a dirt bike or ATV. Some old trestles are still in place near Offerman. Many are gone with only the tiers in place. Little Satilla river trestle is gone as well as Anguilla and Buffalo Marsh. Efforts are being made by a local hunting club to rebuild the Buffalo Marsh trestles.

Remnants and Artifacts:
One can see a few of the old mile markers still in place. One is apply resting on a fence to an old cemetery in the hisorical distric of Brunswick. One stands alone near what was once Blunts another is lying on the ground near long forgotten Leicht and another stands off hwy 32 in what looks like an empty field between the town of Needmore and Fendig. There are in place 2 small trestles that cross small creeks just east of Offerman. Old trestle remains are still in place at all the water crossings along the line. The abandoned town of Aspinwall lies hidden and rotting in the neighboring pine farm. Old ties are still in place near Anquilla and spikes can be found near the Buffalo creek trestle. Some times old glass insulators and bits of metal and cool are scattered along the ROW. If you look really carefully as you pass the old part of Mershon you may see the hidden houses in the over growth. Gladiolas that where planted by long ago inhabitants still bloom outside their front doors.

Communities:

The line originated from Brunswick moving westward to Birmingham. Along the way small towns sprang up and relied apon it's presence. Some of these towns no longer exist.

Brunswick, Southern Jnct & Brobston

All the tracks have been taken up, accept those being used by the port and factories on the southend. There is a mile marker that rests on the fence to Aokgrove Cemetery. It's miles have been painted and repainted, evidence of the many hands it's ownership passed through. The side facing the cemetery has a number 3 engraved in it. Most likely because it is about 3 miles away from where the line originated in old down town Brunswick. Further west, about 18 miles another marker is engraved with the number 18.

The Oglethorpe Hotel
The Oglethorpe Hotel, Brunswick opened it's doors in 1888 and was the largest hotel in the area. Before the Cloister and unlike the private Jekyll Island Club, anyone was welcome. It loomed large and impressive with it's all brick facade. Nestled in Brunswick industrial S. East quarter. The hotel and the Brunswick and Birmingham line worked together to attract guest. The train built it's depot next to the hotel. And often commuters wishing to go to Jekyll or St. Simons would have to stay the night and take the steamer Hessie the next day. It was elustrious for it's time and much larger than the Jekyll Island club. Unfortunately it did not survive as well as the Cloister, Jekyll Island Club or the King and Prince. In 1956 the last remaining line from Alma to Brunswick where pulled up and the Rail depot and yard for the ACL (former B&B) was taken awayIn 1959 the Oglethorpe Hotel came down. It's various pieces put up for sale or simply thrown away. All that remains of the Oglethorpe Hotel and the ACL yards are emty lots. One of which is now Mary Ross Park.

Buffalo

This community was mostly like absorbed into neighboring Sterling. There is however a collapsed building that was filled with shoe molds next to the old ROW where Buffalo once was.

Anguilla

Today Anguilla is a small community of homes that lie off of Anguilla Rd.

Leicht

This is now pine growth land. There is a marker here stating how many miles are left until Brunswick or Atlanta.

Blunts

Also pine land and a WMA, there's a mileage marker still standing, although very beat up, next to the railbed.

Thalmann

Thalmann today is a small community with no stores or train depot. Both train lines that fed this town have been removed. It was once an important stop for passenger wishing to make connection either from Brunswick or too Brunswick.

Lott/Popwellville

Another small poor community. Popwell has a gas station that doesn't seem to care for strangers.

Browntown

Fendig

Today is a Royonier WMA checkstation.

Needmore

Between here and Fendig is another rail maker standing by the raised railbed which runs parallel to hwy 32 and is overgrown with briars.

Hortense

A small community still fed by the CSX railway as well as hwy 301

Zirkle/Giles

Nothing left of Zirkle and today it is a WMA and pine land. However, long ties still remain in the bed that are parallel to the rails. Ties are also placed this was at road crossings. Just a thought.

Offerman

A small communtiy based around the CSX tracks. CSX has a small repair shop there.

Aspinwall

The town in the woods. Topo maps indicate several structures. Today it is pine land, but if you look closely you will see the abandoned homes hidden in the trees. Perhaps when the rail bed was taken up n 1956, the towns people left and headed to Offerman, Patterson or Bristol

Bristol

Small community with a gas station.

Mershon

Has an implament dealer. The town has moved a little to be closer to the hwy 32 now that the railbed is gone. However, if you follow the old railbed and look closely, you'll see the old homes that used to be adjacent to the tracks. Some have collapsed and some are overgrown with brush and almost invisible. One clue is the gladiolas which still bloom outside their front doors.

Coffee

Just before Coffee the ROW is known as Woodchuck rd. I found out it was a provite road when the owner asked me if I need him to open the gate for me. I said I was trying to ride the old railbed and he was nice about it. I asked where I was and if Coffee was the next town. He said, "Coffee, you don't want to stop there, it's just a hole in the wall."

Lambright

A private farm

New Lacy

Rokingham

Alma

Guysie

Sessums

B&B used to make a connection here to either continue west to Douglas or south to Waycross. The line going south to was the Waycross Airline founded in 1887. The line from Alma to Sessoms continued to operate under Seaboard Coast Line and then CSX until 1986.