masthead_shortlines
southern southern_shortline
wiregrass wiregrass_grass

route

Valdosta Southern Railroad

Valdosta Railway

vso_state The original Valdosta Southern Railway was a reorganization in 1894 of the Florida Midland & Georgia Railroad. It later absorbed the Withlacoochee Railway in Florida to reach its full distance of 28 miles, from Valdosta to Madison, Florida. In 1907 the line was sold to the regional Georgia & Florida Railway.

A second Valdosta Southern Railroad Company was formed in 1954 by Owens-Illinois Corporation to purchase the route from the Georgia & Florida Railway for shortline operation and industrial switching. In 1972 the southern portion of the line was abandoned between Madison, Florida, and Clyatttville, shortening the route to 10 miles.

Shortline operator Rail Management & Consulting Corporation purchased the line in 1992, shortening the road's name to Valdosta Railway. In 2005, this company was acquired by Genesee & Wyoming Corporation. The route begins in central Valdosta at separate interchanges with CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern. From there the line travels south through a small yard and industrial area with online customers, under Interstate 75, to the community of Clyattville and the road's largest customer, Packing Corporation of America. Commodities shipped include agricultural products, chemicals, forest products, plastics, and pulp and paper. Locomotives are parked and maintained behind the company office in Clyattville.

listen in
160.590 160.680
vr_map

VR route map / web

vr_map2

VR area map / RWH

vso_guide1975

1975 American Short Line Railway Guide / collection

Motive Power

Valdosta Railway #1200

  • builder:Electro Motive Division
  • model:SW1200-3 (modified)
  • type:B-B yard switcher
  • built:Feb 1964, EMD #28895
  • series:1056 produced 1954-66
  • engine:EMD 567C (12 cyl, 1200 hp)
  • notes:
  • blt St. Louis Southwestern #1062
    to St. Louis Southwestern #2250
    to Louisiana & Delta #1200
    to Valdosta Rwy #1200
  • builder
    vr1200k1 vr1200k2 vr1200k3 vr1200k4 vr1200k5 vr1200k6 vr1200k7 vr1200k8 vr1200k9

    Mar 2020 / RWH

    vr1200l1 vr1200l2 vr1200l3

    Mar 2020 / RWH

    Locations

    tag_pinClyattville

    tag_pin

    Click to see this location plotted on a Google Maps page

    Genesee & Wyoming railroads frequently swap and share motive power, particularly within the same operating region. As such, it is quite common to find locomotives lettered for nearby sister G&W railroads temporarily assigned to a different line, as was the case at the time of this visit to the Valdosta Railway.

    Chattahoochee Industrial #1554

  • builder:Electro Motive Division
  • model:SW1500
  • type:B-B yard switcher
  • built:Sep 1970, EMD #36490
  • series:808 produced 1966-74
  • engine:EMD 645 (12 cyl, 1500 hp)
  • notes:
  • blt Apalachicola Northern #719
    to Chattahoochee Industrial #1554
  • builder
    tag_jump

    See also our complete Chattahoochee Industrial Railroad scrapbook in Shortlines

    cirr1554g1 cirr1554g2 cirr1554g3 cirr1554g4 cirr1554g5 cirr1554g6 cirr1554g7 cirr1554g8 cirr1554g9

    Mar 2020 / RWH

    tag_pinValdosta Containerboard Mill

    tag_quote

    When we design a packaging solution, we factor in more than dimensions, style and material. Above and beyond the package itself, our solutions often include such breakthroughs as new ways to utilize space and reduce materials consumed, improvements in your production flow, better transportation plans to reduce your costs and carbon footprint, or insights into the smartest use of people in your processes. It's the caliber of big-picture thinking you'd expect from a world-class consulting firm, and it's what you get on a regular basis when you work with PCA for your packaging needs.

    Packaging Corporation of America

    tag_pin

    Click to see the Valdosta Containerboard Mill plotted on a Google Maps page

    tag_quote

    vcm_inset Our Valdosta mill has one linerboard machine and produces 100% virgin, high-quality linerboard. Valdosta can produce a wide range of basis weights (35# through 96#), including many high-performance, wet-strength and other specialty grades. Valdosta also produces a number of grades that are excellent for special printing and coating applications. This wide range of capabilities makes Valdosta a truly exceptional linerboard producer. In fact, the mill has been independently judged to have the best printing quality 35# high-performance linerboard in the industry. PCA annually produces over 4.1 million tons of kraft linerboard (the outer layers of a corrugated container) and semi-chemical corrugating medium (the fluted center layer) for PCA’s own converting facilities, as well as for numerous domestic and international customers.

    Packaging Corporation of America

    tag_lagnLagniappe

    Links / Sources

    This page was updated on 2020-03-08