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Bishop Central & Watkinsville Railroad Company dates to 2015 when the company was created by CEO Casey E. Michaux, and COO John F. Cooney. The new Company leases trackage between Watkinsville and Bishop in Oconee County, Georgia from the Hartwell Railroad Company on June 2, 2015. The BCWR is based in downtown Watkinsville Georgia, on an open lot. The BCWR leases three engines:
 * one EMD GP10, number 8396, former Athens Line Railroad engine, also Ex-IC engine.
 * one EMD GP9, Number 6525, a former Athens Line Railroad engine, also an Ex-B&O/C&O engine.
 * one EMD GP38-2, Number 2036, an Athens Line Railroad engine, also an Ex-CSX, Exx-Conrail engine.

History
The line was initially constructed from Athens to Lula in 1876 by the Northeastern Railroad of Georgia, and was used by horseback trains on a 3ft gauge. The Athens to Madison portion of the line was built in 1887 by the Covington and Macon Railroad. In 1892 it became the Macon and Northern Railway, and in 1895 consolidated into the Central of Georgia Railway. The Central was Consolidated into the Southern Railway in 1963, and Southern was merged into Norfolk Southern Railway in 1982. In 2001, Norfolk Southern leased their Athens to Madison branch to the Athens Line Railroad.

Athens Line, LLC is a Class III shortline railroad operating in Georgia. Established in 2001, and initial use of the line in 2002. The ABR is operates under contract by the Great Walton Railroad. In 2015, the ABR leased their Watkinsville-Bishop portion of track, to the BCWR. This portion is still owned by the BCWR.