Georgia Northeastern Railroad - Definition and Overview

The Georgia Northeastern Railroad (GNRR) is a short line freight railroad which runs from the town of Elizabeth, Georgia (now within Marietta, near Atlanta) to the city of Blue Ridge, Georgia. Goods hauled are mostly timber, grain, poultry, and marble products. The GNRR's subsidiary, the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, also operates on part of this line.

At least one proposal is also considering using the line for commuter rail on the lower part of the route, from Canton to Marietta, and possibly along the CSX main route down to Atlanta, though this is only in the idea stage as of yet. Communities served by the line are as follows, from north to south (major towns in bold):

• Fannin County, Georgia:
  • Blue Ridge, Georgia (new)
• Gilmer County, Georgia:
  • Cherry Log, Georgia (new)
  • Ellijay, Georgia
• Pickens County, Georgia:
  • Whitestone, Georgia
  • Jasper, Georgia
  • Tate, Georgia
• Cherokee County, Georgia:
  • Ball Ground, Georgia
  • Keithsburg, Georgia
  • Canton, Georgia
  • Holly Springs, Georgia
  • Lebanon, Georgia
  • Woodstock, Georgia
• Cobb County, Georgia:
  • Noonday, Georgia
  • Blackwells, Georgia
  • West Oak, Georgia
  • Elizabeth, Georgia

The route has had several names since it was chartered in 1854:

• Ellijay Railroad, changing name to:
• Marietta, Canton and Ellijay Railroad, changing name to:
• Marietta and North Georgia Railroad, changing name to:
• Atlanta, Knoxville and Northern Railroad, later purchased by:
• Louisville & Nashville Railroad, later sold to:
• CSX Transportation, later sold to GNRR.

External links

• GNRR company site (http://www.gnrr.com)
• GNRR railfan site (http://www.sgperry.com/gnrr)