Atlantic Coast Line Timetables (1952)

Published: February 17, 2024

The information below covers the Atlantic Coast Line's (ACL) complete public timetables listed in the August, 1952 issue of "The Official Guide Of The Railways."

Included was the company's system map and corporate information. The ACL was an iconic American railroad that played a significant role in the South's economic development.

Established in 1898, the ACL originated from the merger of several smaller railroads, including the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, one of the longest in the world in the 1840s.

Its principal routes ran from Richmond, Virginia, to Jacksonville, Florida, connecting major Southern cities like Charleston, Savannah, and Tampa.

Known as the "Standard Railroad of the South," the ACL was notable for its efficiency and quality of service, earning a significant reputation in freight operations.

ACL's steam locomotives were replaced with diesel engines in the late 1950s, reflecting the shift in the American rail industry.

The company was involved in social initiatives as well; it was one of the first to desegregate its passenger cars. A prominent chapter ended in 1967 when ACL merged with its longtime rival, the Seaboard Air Line Railroad, forming the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad.

Today, the legacy of the ACL lives on in CSX Transportation, which derived from a series of mergers, including the one involving the ACL. Thus, the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad greatly impacted the rail-transport history by influencing the infrastructure, economy, and social landscape of the South.