Wiregrass Central Railroad

Infobox SG rail
railroad_name=Wiregrass Central Railroad
logo_filename=Wiregrass_Central_Logo.jpg
logo_size=150
old_gauge=
marks=WGCR
locale=Southeast Alabama
start_year=1987
end_year=Present
hq_city=Enterprise, ALThe Wiregrass Central Railroad Reporting mark|WGCR is considered a "local railroad" by the AAR. It operates about mi to km|19.9 of track in Alabama. The Wiregrass Central Railroad currently operates between Enterprise, Alabama to an interchange with CSX at Waterford, Alabama.

The original line owned by the WGCR formerly extended to Clintonville to serve a small woodyard, however the tracks were removed shortly after the railroad's incorporation. The Wiregrass Central Railroad was formed onDecember 11, 1987 from a spur of the CSXT. The Wiregrass Central Railroad is a subsidy of Gulf and Ohio Railways.

Primary customers include Pilgrim's Pride, Wayne Farms, and Sessions.

Commodities

*Peanuts
*Peanut Oil
*Corn
*Soy
*Grass Seed

History

Construction of the railroad began in 1897, in Waterford from the Savannah, Florida and Western Railway mail line. The line was built by the Alabama Midland Railroad and completed in 1898. Southwest Alabama Company operated the line until it consolidated with the Savannah, Florida and Western Railway September 2, 1901. This company merged with the Atlantic Coast Line July 1, 1902, and the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad merged with the Seaboard Air Line Railroad to form the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad. In December 1982, the Louisville & Nashville Railroad merged with the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad to form the Seaboard System, and finally, in 1986, the Chessie System and the Seaboard System merged to become CSX Transportation. [http://www.dot.state.al.us/Bureau/Multi_Modal/AL_Rail_Directory.pdf]

Originally the line extended to Elba, Alabama, however this segment was abandoned in 1984, and CSX sold the Wiregrass Central Railroad the remaining Clintonville - Waterford portion.

Under the Seaboard Coast Line, the city of Elba hosted the Dorsey Trailers facility, a key manufacturer of piggyback trailers. Utility Trailers was also located on the branch line, on the West side of Enterprise, Alabama. Fort Rucker is located adjacent to the line near Daleville, and at one time hosted a sizable yard, as well as a turnaround track.

Motive Power

Original power for the line was mostly former Southern Pacific EMD GP9's. They were painted in a red color scheme with white accents. Large white numbers were also included in the early paint schemes. In the 1990's Gulf & Ohio needed a universal color for its locomotives, and flat black became the new standard. GP38's and later GP40's made their way onto the Wiregrass Central.