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The Georgia Northeastern Railroad

The Georgia Northeastern Railroad (GNRR) is a Class III shortline based in Marietta, Georgia that operates roughly 41 miles of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad's famed "Hook and Eye" line between Marietta and Tate. The current Georgia Northeastern Railroad has been in operation since 1990 and in 1998 the railroad started the now-popular Blue Ridge Scenic Railroad, which operates excursion trains between Ellijay to McCayesville.

To give a brief history of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, it was a railroad synonymous with the southern states and southeastern US, which served major cities from New Orleans and Memphis to St. Louis, Atlanta, and later Chicago. The L&N is also one of the few classic fallen flags to never have had its original chartered name changed at any point throughout its history, serving its home state and the southeast for over 120 years known as simply the Louisville & Nashville. While the railroad would become part of the burgeoning CSX system it was a highly respected and well-known transportation company for much of its existence.

Perhaps the most popular tourist railroad in Georgia is the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. The railroad is located in the northern mountainous regions of Georgia and operates over 13 miles (a 26-mile round trip) of a former Louisville & Nashville Railway branch line (originally part of the Marietta & North Georgia Railroad). The railroad has become quite a popular tourist destination in general since 1998 when it first began. Part of the railroad’s success has come from its breathtaking scenery afforded from the Blue Ridge Mountains located in the northern regions of Georgia although another reason for its popularity has come from its friendly service and nearby attractions like whitewater rafting and cabin rentals. For more information about the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway please click here.

Georgia Northeastern Railroad Diesel Roster

· EMD SW1 #77:

· EMD NW2 #81: Ex-Southern Railway #2274 built in 1948.

· EMD GP20 #316: Ex-Great Northern #2016 built in 1960.

· EMD GP38-2 #2000

· EMD GP7 #2097: Ex-Santa Fe #2842 built in 1952.

· EMD GP20 #4125: Ex-Southern Pacific #7207 built in 1962.

· EMD GP9 #6576: Ex-B&O #6576 built in 1958.

· EMD GP10 #7529 and #7562: #7529 is ex-NYC GP9 #5958 built in 1956 and #7562 is ex-PRR GP9 #7098 built in 1956.

· EMD GP18 #8704 and #8705: #8704 is ex-Nickel Plate #701 built in 1960 and #8705 is ex-Nickel Plate #708 built in 1960.

· EMD GP38 #9706 and #9708: #9706 is ex-PC #7765 built in 1969 and #9708 is ex-PC #7815 built in 1969.

To learn more about the Georgia Northeastern Railroad, including additional history about the lines which make up its system, please click here to visit their website.

For more reading on shortlines like the Georgia Northeastern Railroad consider the book American Shortline Railway Guide from author Ed Lewis. The book has gone through several updated editions to keep up with the ever-changing world of the shortline industry. Today, the publication highlights almost 600 shortlines across the country with general background information about each (such as roster information, rail line history, radio frequencies, etc.). If you have any interest in shortlines you will very likely enjoy this book. If you're interested in perhaps purchasing this book please visit The Railroad Diamond by clicking the tab in the menu to your left marked "TRD Store".

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