A look at the “State Road,” the Western & Atlantic running between Atlanta and Chattanooga, Tennessee.
‘Crookedest Road Under the Sun’
‘State Road’ features curves, bridges and a stunning tunnel
- The railroad formally completed construction of its line in May 1850
- The railroad built several engineering marvels in constructing the line between Atlanta and Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Among the most impressive elements of the road is the antebellum tunnel south of Dalton, which served trains from 1850 to 1928
Great Locomotive Chase
A daring adventure behind enemy lines
- Union spies under James J. Andrews stole a locomotive while stopped at Kennesaw, Georgia (then known as Big Shanty)
- Their goal was to destroy the Western & Atlantic in the hopes of bringing an end to the Civil War
- The mission failed; several members of the party were hanged as spies
Leasing the Line
The state has leased the line since 1870
- In 1870, state officials leased the line to a group of investors that included Joseph E. Brown, the governor of the state during the Civil War
- Following the Civil War, the state opted to lease the Western & Atlantic in the hopes of removing politics from the railroad
- The Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis leased the line beginning in 1890 (its corporate successor, CSX, still leases the line from the state)
A Near Sell
Lawmakers debate selling line but decide to retain ownership
- The Louisville and Nashville Railroad leased the line, and the state was deciding on an extension of the lease
- Following political maneuvering, the Southern Railway made a pitch to lease the line and nearly wrestled control from the Louisville and Nashville
- At the time, lawmakers entertained some discussion about whether Georgia should sell the Western & Atlantic
A Road for the 20th Century
Western & Atlantic remains an important link in the national railroad network
- The Georgia State Properties Commission and CSX in 2018 agreed to a new 50-year lease of the Western & Atlantic
- A railroad consultant in May 1978 issued a report that declared the tracks to be unsafe
- Unlike previous eras, the Western & Atlantic line today is a well-maintained line and an integral part of the national rail network
The above is based on Todd DeFeo’s book about the Western & Atlantic.
