Tie Plant?

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Central of Georgia Railway Historical Soc : One Thread

Where did the Central of Georgia get their crossties treated? I know raw ties were cut and loaded on the Central at a number of locations, but where was the Central's tie treating plant? Thanks, Tom Holley

-- Tom Holley (TH498@AOL.COM), September 16, 2001

Answers

The Meredith Corporation operations a creosote plant in East Point - probably at the same spot.

-- Andrew Hales (jahales@bellsouth.net), September 11, 2002.

Thanks to all who have answered my question. Now I know where to bill those raw ties on my layout. Regards, Tom Holley

-- Tom Holley (TH498@aol.com), September 16, 2001.

The only tie plant that I'm aware of that was owned by the Central of Georgia was the "Creosote Plant" at Macon. It was located near the 195 mile post (Atlanta District) just northwest of Macon. The operation of this plant was featured in the August 1920 issue of THE RIGHT WAY MAGAZINE. The plant occupied 25 acres at that time. It had 2 1/2 miles of three rail track in the yard. The other trackage was 3' narrow gauge. Switching was done with a 3' narrow gauge Porter steam locomotive. I believe that this locomotive was replaced with a Whitcomb 3' narrow gauge diesel about 1948.

The article states that the Macon creosote plant was built in 1912. I do not know if it still exists or how long it was operated.

Allen Tuten

-- Allen Tuten (allen@cofg.org), September 16, 2001.


I am taking this information from an article in the Tennessee Alabama & Georgia Railway employee’s magazine from Nov/Dec 1957. They did a profile on Southern Wood Preserving Company and in the article it states that the East Point, Georgia plant was built by Southern Wood Preserving Company in 1919 and that this replaced an earlier facility in the vicinity of Ft. McPherson that dated back to 1908. The article went on to state that the company had plants at Alton Park (South Chattanooga and in the TA&G’s home turf) Macon, Camilla and Jesup, Georgia as well as Baldwin and Wilburn, Florida. The article went on to tell how the firm produced bridge timbers as well as whole prefab bridge kits. Since the Central served East Point, Macon and switched the Alton Park area, I guess they could have received ties from all three of these locations.

Warren

-- Warren D. Stephens (wdstephens@prodigy.net), September 16, 2001.


The Southern Wood Preserving Co in East Point has been gone since at least the late 1980s, possibly a few years earlier. The large complex was reached by a spur that curved across North Main Street (US Hw 29) , and possibly also connected to the A&WP, which ran alongside the Central at that point. The Central's Industry Yard was less that a mile to the north of this point. As a sidebar, I grew up 5 or 6 miles due west of this company, and can remember hearing the steam whistle there blowing daily at noon, quitting time, etc. I also recall riding on Connally Drive, along the southern boundary of the plant, and seeing row after row of ties stacked 10-15 feet high, curing in the air before being treated.

-- Greg Hodges (ghodges@smpsfa.com), September 16, 2001.


The Central had a tie treatment plant at East Point, GA. It was sold to Southern Wood Preserving (I don't know when, but think it was shortly after the SouRy takeover) and was in operation as late as the late 1980's. It may still be in operation, but I have not been to East Point since about that time.

Bob Hanson

-- Robert H. Hanson (RHanson669@aol.com), September 16, 2001.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ