I arrived at Atlanta early on the morning of Thursday April 3, 1997. The weather was great and as soon as I had my rental car I headed to Elizabeth, GA not far from Atlanta to see the Georgia Northeastern and CSX. Then it was westward on the former Southern line that heads toward Birmingham, AL with a number of NS trains headed the same direction as I. After an overnight stay near Sylacauga, AL I photographed the Eastern Alabama Railway the next morning but the weather was not the greatest, lots of clouds. Then it was on to Birmingham where I spent a little time around the depot area and saw westbound Amtrak #19 "The Cresent" arrive. The diner on the train turned out to be a former Northern Pacific car, No. 460 so that was kind of a pleasant surprise to see. Then it was north to Huntsville, AL where I found an interesting rail museum along the NS line. I spent a few hours there looking it over. With plans to photograph the Nashville and Eastern GE's the next morning I then headed for Nashville later that evening.

     The next morning April 5 was overcast again. I checked out the N&E's shops with no movement observed and the offices were closed. I drove out the line a ways but no trains. Somehow I thought the line operated on Saturdays but it looks like that was not the case. So I continued south on CSX through Tullahoma, TN where ex-RF&P GP40 6855 was tied up on a local. Back in Alabama I spent a little time at Bridgeport where I caught a number of CSX and NS trains as well as a very rusty looking ex-MILW E-unit sitting in the yard. Then I headed back into Tennessee where I spent the night in Chattanooga.

     Sunday morning, Apr. 6 I headed back south into Georgia and spent a little time at Cartersville on the Chattanooga-Atlanta CSX line. After seeing a few CSX trains there I headed back to Atlanta to turn in my rental car and get my flight to Jacksonville. That portion of the trip will be covered in a future installment.

      And now on to the Gallery....