Savannah, Americus and Montgomery Railway

The Savannah, Americus and Montgomery Railway (SA&M) was a historic railroad located in the U.S. states of Georgia and Alabama.

A year later, the SA&M was extended west from Louvale across the Chattahoochee River to Montgomery, Alabama, which opened on December 1, 1891.

The SA&M was bought by a syndicate that included the Richmond bankers John L. Williams and Sons.

[6] On June 28, 1959, a Seaboard mixed freight train derailed on the line crossing the Ogeechee River in Meldrim.

The resulting fire and explosion from the ruptured tanks killed 23 people along the river that day as it was a popular area to swim and picnic at.

Carter used the railroad's depot in Plains, which was built in 1888, as the headquarters for his successful 1976 presidential campaign.

[10] In 1980, the Seaboard Coast Line's parent company merged with the Chessie System, creating the CSX Corporation.

The line was abandoned between Montgomery and Mahrt, Alabama (located along the Chattahoochee River near Cottonton) on April 20, 1986.

The Heart of Georgia Railroad was created in 1999 for the purpose of operating the line on behalf of the state.

The train is managed by the Southwest Georgia Railroad Excursion Authority with the HOG providing the locomotives and operating crews.