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Athens Central & Macon Railroad is a Class III railroad operating in south-eastern United States. The railroad operates approximately 103 official route miles (165.762 km) of track and 161 route miles in total, counting trackage rights.

The railroad company operates as a subsidiary of Hartwell Railroad, a Class III railroad company headquartered in Bowersville, GA as well as Social Circle, GA.

In The Beginning
The Athens Central & Macon Railroad Company was formed on January 18, 2019, by combining with the Athens Line, which is a subsidiary of the Hartwell Railroad.

The railroad started out as an idea from two 16yr olds in late 2016. A few years later in 2019, Casey Michaux (Now the CEO) decided with his close friend John Cooney, to create the AC&M out of the Athens Line, also known as "ABR" and "HRT". It took a lot of talks with CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Railway, CaterParrott Railnet, and the Hartwell Railroad company. But within time, the owner of the Hartwell Railroad company, Bennie Ray Anderson, agreed on creating the AC&M as a Subsidiary of the Hartwell Railroad by merging with the Athens Line railroad. Thus, a new age of railroading began for the city of Athens, GA and Watkinsville, GA.

History Of The Line
The AC&M railroad operations on a total of 161-miles of track, both officially owned and trackage rights. The railroad's Mainline has two portions, with a branch line. Starting at Center, GA just north of Athens, GA, continuing through Whitehall, Watkinsville, Bishop, Farmington, Apalachee, Madison, Carmichael Lake, Godfrey, Shady-Dale, Monticello, Round Oak, Wayside, Bradley, Gray, Cross Keys, and Macon, GA, which is approximately 86-miles of trackage. With the Shady-Dale, GA branch line that's 17-miles of trackage, this amounts to approximately 103-miles of track on the AC&M Mainline.

The first part of the AC&M's Mainline, is a 38-mile section which was laid between 1876 and was finished to Madison, GA in the late 1880s. This was built by both the North Eastern Railroad (Georgia) and the Georgia Railroad and Banking Company, but when the North Eastern Railroad (Georgia) filed for bankruptcy, the Georgia Railroad and Banking Company took over operations of the line. Today, this portion connects with CSX Transportation at a [[Level junction also know as a "Diamond". As well as it connects with Norfolk Southern Railway just outside of Commerce and Center, GA.

The second portion of AC&M's Mainline, is a 48-mile section which was laid, in 5ft Gauge, Circa-1835 by the Georgia Railroad and Banking Company and completed somewhere around that time as well, later being converted to Standard Gauge in 1886.

Athens Line Scenic Railroad
The AC&M runs a Subsidiary Non-Profit Museum railroad called the Athens Line Scenic Railroad Preservation Society. This Non-Profit group is run by majority volunteers, but with some permanent staff as well.

ALSR operates under trackage rights of the AC&M, operating between Athens, GA and Madison, GA, on approximately 38-miles of track. The ALSR is based in Watkinsville GA, near the AC&M HQ Building. They operate and have on site numerous types of older diesel locomotives, historical pieces, old vehicle parts/vehicles, as well as numerous upcoming projects. They are open 5 days a week, from 8am EST to 10pm EST most days, unless there is a special event.

Check out their website here, for more information! --> www.alsr.preservationsociety.org

ALSR Preservation Society Staff
President: Casey M.

Vice-President: John C.

Secretary: Isac D.

Treasurer: Joseph B.

Advisory Council Chairman: Cole B.

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Volunteers: N/A

AC&M Divisions
There are two main Divisions on the AC&M, as well as, one Subdivision. The Divisions are as listed; Athens Division, Macon Division, and the Shady-Dale Subdivision. Each Division has it's respective Supervisors for Operations on said trackage.

Athens Division
This Division runs the 38-miles from Athens, GA, to Madison, GA and is respectively operated under supervision of the A-D Supervisor.

Note: The AC&M shares part of this Division, to the Athens Line Scenic Railroad, for excursion trains every few days.

Macon Division
This Division runs the 48-miles from Madison, GA, to Macon, GA and is respectively operated under supervision of the M-D Supervisor.

Shady-Dale Subdivision
This Subdivision, is a Subsidiary of the Macon Division. It runs the 17-miles from Shady-Dale, GA, to Newborn, GA and is respectively operated under supervision of the S-SD Supervisor.

Unit Trains and Mixed-Freights
The AC&M runs multiple types--- N/F

Locomotives
This is an Active/Inactive Locomotive roster of the AC&M Railroad and the ALSR-Preservation Society. N/F

Heritage Locomotives
This is a list of the AC&M Railroad's Heritage Fleet. N/F

Locomotives
This is the Locomotive Roster; N/F

Looking To The Future
N/F

Active Rail Yards
Here is the list of the Active railroad yards the AC&M works out of. N/F

Services
This is a complete list of all the products shipped, by what company, and to where.

Abandoned Sections
This is a complete list of all abandoned sections of track and yards along the AC&M Railroad's route. N/F

Gallery
Here are some present-day photos of the AC&M Railroad. N/F