Anniston and Atlantic Railroad
| Anniston & Atlantic Railroad | |
|---|---|
| Locale | North-eastern Alabama |
| Dates of operation | 1884 – 1890 |
| Track gauge | 3 ft (914 mm) |
| Headquarters | Anniston, Alabama |
The Anniston and Atlantic Railroad was a 53-mile narrow gauge railroad built between Anniston, Alabama and Sylacauga, Alabama, via Talladega, Alabama and Murphy, Alabama. It was built to a gauge of 3 ft (914 mm). It was founded by A.L. Tyler of Anniston, who obtained a charter on August 17, 1883 and opened the 30 mile stretch between Anniston and Talladega on May 15, 1884. An extension to Sycamore, Alabama was opened on September 15, 1884 and to Sylacauga, Alabama on December 1, 1886. The line was built to haul timber, charcoal and iron ore to Anniston, where it could be transferred to the standard-gauge Southern Railway.
The Louisville and Nashville Railroad purchased the line in 1890 along with the associated standard-gauge Anniston and Cincinnati Railroad. To this, the L&N added the Shelby Iron Company's railroad to create the Alabama Mineral Railroad. The A&A's narrow gauge track was converted to standard gauge later that year. Much of the right-of-way still exists as part of the CSX Corporation's trackage in the area.
References
- Hilton, George W. (1990). American Narrow Gauge Railroads. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 302. ISBN 0-8047-2369-9.
