Locomotive Photos: GNRR #77

Switcher #77 is a GNRR acquisition from the Georgia Marble Company. This stalwart NW1 locomotive was used to haul marble (calcium carbonate) up the switch back and to the Tate yard for shipment down south.

She has been left to rot on the siding in Tate. Her bell, horns and builder's plates stripped, doors left open. Rusting.

Kaolin Slurry Cars in Canton

We saw these yesterday in Canton. The drain cocks were open on both the top and the bottom. Looked like the were just being stored here. Does anyone know if they are using Kaolin clay on the line anywhere?

Industry Spotlight: Wolf Stone Cutting

This is an industry I've never seen before on the GNRR. Josh and I found it today when we stopped at the new gas station. They have cleared all the land around it and you can see it now.

This is a small marble cutting operation, long since abandoned. It appears that it had a rail siding at one time. The building is open and you can see inside. Once there were stone cutting machines here.

The outer gantry supports are covered with kudzu vines and the crane is missing. There is a very large door to the left which is where the track would have aligned.


Here is the office door and parking area. Jut to the right of this shot is an old pump house that Josh discovered. It still contains all the pumping equipment for water used for cooling the cutting operation, we think.



I have pictures from inside, but they are very dark. No machinery remains.


The back of the building has another smaller door and there are a few piles of rubble laying around.


The windows are dirty and hard to see through, but probably allowed in a lot of light back in their day. Now they are being shot out by someone.




Here is the office in the back. It has a marble foundation. Inside an old desk sits in the middle of the room, destroyed by water damage.



The sign on the building says "Wolf - " and something else we could not make out. The body of the building is corrugated steel.

An interesting find. If anyone knows more about it let us know!

Sorting Photos

Tate Engine Servicing Facility

There are a lot of outside shots of the locomotive servicing facility in my files, mostly of the outside. Thought I'd share a few shots of the inside with you. They are a bit grainy due to the darkness inside, but give you a feel for the inner workings.

Contributor's Photo

Dave submitted this excellent photo of the GNRR locmotives in the rain at Elizabeth. Love it! I was in the rain all day today.

Great Railfanning Trip

I had a great time today ralfanning with Josh on the GNRR! We went from end to end. The rain and the cold didn't bother us too much.

I'll post pix and commentary later.

The Turniptown Bridge

At 242 feet long and 50 feet high, this is one of the largest trestles still in operation in Georgia, and its on a curve, too! The bridge crosses the Turniptown Creek and Old Northcut Road, so it is quite interesting to view. The bridge is located just north of Elligay on hwy 515 and is easy to get to. Its worth the trip!


Here, Old Northcut Road passes underneath the monster trestle.


This shot doesn't do the bridge justice. It it a big bridge, and it's a long way down to the creek.


Moss is growing on the pilings and the creek is clear and cool.


This is shot from the base on the road.


Pete Colton came all the way from the UK to see it! Apparently they don't have a lot of these big trestles across the pond.


The gentle curve and stout construction would make for an interesting model. I have TONS of detail shots of this bridge if you need them. I'm going to build it one day.





Here's a link to a picture of Scrap Iron hogging a log load over the curved timber trestle.

Turniptown Creek Trestle

Another shot of Turniptown Creek Trestle

More photos of Turniptown Creek Trestle

How to get to the bridge...

From Peachstate Rails

Turniptown Bridge is accessible by public roads. If going northbound on the four-lane, the turnoff to the bridge is at Old Northcutt Road about 1.75 miles north of the Old Highway 5 intersection mentioned above. Follow Old Northcutt west about 0.4 mile and then turn left. This road will take you under the bridge. The bridge is made of creosote pilings, is about 50 feet above Turniptown Creek, and is 242 feet long.