Timeline
6 Happenings
First Locomotive Operates on the Western & Atlantic
The first locomotive intended for the Western & Atlantic Railroad arrived in Georgia in 1845 after being hauled by wagon approximately 60 miles from Madison. After being assembled on the railroad, the…
Tunnel Hill Tunnel Opens
The Western & Atlantic Railroad opened its tunnel through Chetoogeta Mountain on May 9, 1850, completing the final major obstacle on Georgia's state-owned rail line between Atlanta and Chattanooga.
Great Locomotive Chase
The Great Locomotive Chase was a Civil War raid carried out on April 12, 1862, when Union volunteers stole the locomotive General in an attempt to disrupt Confederate rail communications between Atlanta…
Collision Near Johnson’s Station
A devastating collision on the Western & Atlantic Railroad near Johnson's Station claimed the lives of railroad workers, soldiers, and others during the Civil War.
Collision on the Etowah Grade
As Confederate forces moved toward north Georgia ahead of the Battle of Chickamauga, traffic on the Western & Atlantic Railroad increased. On September 14, 1863, two trains collided on the Etowah Grade,…
Georgia Awards First Lease of the Western & Atlantic Railroad
Following legislation authorizing the state to lease its railroad for twenty years, Georgia awarded the first lease of the Western & Atlantic Railroad on Dec. 28, 1870.