The Saint Marys Railroad

The Saint Marys Railroad is a shortline operation based out of St. Marys, Georgia. The railroad has had a very interesting history and has been in continuous operation since its creation in 1865 as the St. Marys and Kingsland Railroad by Captain Lemuel Jackson after receiving its charter from the State of Georgia that year. The railroad gained its name as St. Marys in 1924 after it was reorganized from the remnants of the Atlantic, Waycross & Northern Railroad. These remnants of the AW&N remain entirely intact today, as the Saint Marys Railroad is an 11-mile operation running from the port of St. Marys to Kingsland, Georgia (where it connects with CSX) with a 3-mile spur serving the Kings Bay submarine base.

Since the Saint Marys Railroad was purchased by Gilman Paper Company in early 1999 it has had a rough go of things. At the end of 1999 the paper company and railroad were purchased by the Durango Paper Company and the railroad was renamed the Durango Railroad although it kept its original reporting marks (SM).

Currently the railroad’s roster is an eclectic combination of GE, Alco, and EMD power. Information courtesy of Paul Pleasant:

SM 500 GE 65 Ton Builder info unknown.

SM 501: ALCO RS-3 BLT 03/1951 Serial# 78546 Replaced by #503

SM 502: ALCO RS-3 BLT 01/1956 Serial# 81842 Replaced by #504

SM 503: SW-1500 BLT 06/1971 Serial# 37068 Sold to Birmingham Southern02/2007 and numbered BS 355

SM 504: MP-15DC BLT 10/1974 Serial# 74645-1 Sold to WATCO 06/2006 andnumbered WAMX 1504

SM 505 MP-15DC BLT 05/1976 Serial# 756156-1 Sold to Birmingham Southern02/2007 and numbered BS 373

SM 506: SW-1200RS BLT 01/1960 Serial# A1896 Acquired 02/2007 Former CP #1270

In 2002 it lost a significant amount of traffic when the Gilman Paper Company shutdown. However, in early 2007 it was purchased by Rail Group, LLC and is again known as the Saint Marys Railroad.

Along with a traffic base of coal, pulpwood chips, chemicals, and paper the railroad also contracts work out from its full service engine shop and maintenance facility directly on the property.

For more reading on shortlines like the Saint Marys 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.