When the Central of Georgia Railroad consolidated with Norfolk-Southern about 1990, the former’s records, going back to 1833, were given to the Georgia Historical Society in Savannah.  The Central of Georgia provided a substantial subsidy to catalog and index the records.  There were 144,000 items, including books containing copies of the deeds for rights of way and other property, right of way plans, and index maps.  Included also were the records of several smaller railroad companies that had consolidated with the Central of Georgia in the past.  Included also are the minute books, account ledgers, and some right of way plans of the Savannah and Ogeechee Canal Company.

          Norfolk-Southern also acquired Southern Railway along with its records, and gave the records to the Atlanta History Center.  Recently, the Central of Georgia records at the Georgia Historical Society were transferred to the Atlanta History Center, and Norfolk Southern donated $500,000 for the cataloging and conservation of both sets of records.  The two sets of records cover many railroad rights of way throughout Georgia.

          On a related matter, the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad records were in its headquarters on East Liberty Street in Savannah.  It was very convenient to go there to get whatever records one needed.  In the early 1980s CSX acquired Seaboard and Seaboard’s records were divided between the CSX offices in Tucker, Georgia, and Jacksonville.  I have found it almost impossible to get any of Seaboard’s records since.

          On another related matter, the location of the right of way of the Savannah and Tybee Railroad in Chatham County has been a matter of confusion.  The railroad was built about 1890.  The plan for the right of way was never recorded in the courthouse.  The deeds state the right of way extends 50 feet on each side of the center of the right of way, but the tracks were taken up many years ago, though the cuts and fills are still visible.  So there is little on the ground to indicate exactly where the right of way is located.  The Central of Georgia conveyed the center 20 feet of this right of way that is within the town of Tybee Island to the city.  Tybee Island has never really done anything with this strip, and, for the reason stated, it is difficult to determine its exact location.  The only plan I have found for the Savannah and Tybee Railroad right of way is a detailed one made in 1922 that was in the Chatham County Engineer’s Office.  This plan is not tied down to anything on the ground except the railroad tracks, which, as noted, have been taken up.  All the old records of the Chatham County Engineer’s Office were transferred to the University of Georgia and are now in the basement of the Main Library there.

          Here are some articles about the Central of Georgia Railroad and Southern Railway records that were transferred to the Atlanta History Center:

https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta/norfolk-southern-500k-contribution-unites-railroad-history-collections/ZUGEGQPCZFEJRBXCN7D6M6IALQ/

https://www.gpb.org/blogs/hullingers-musings/2025/10/10/one-track-destination-southern-railway-collections-delivered 

https://roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/10/11/ahc-ghs-historical-records-agreement/