Historic SAM Shortline Train Virtual Tour
Take a two-minute virtual tour of the SAM Shoreline train and see the beautifully restored 1949 vintage cars including the Leslie Commissary, Samuel Hawkins Lounge, Premium seating, and Coach seating. The SAM Shoreline train is a great way to visit South-West Georgia.
Music - Bonjour Mon Amie by Josh Woodward. Free download:
Historic SAM Shortline Train at Georgia Veterans State Park: Aerial Video
The SAM Shoreline train has beautifully restored 1949 vintage cars, where, according to the operators, you’ll enjoy a mix of romantic yesteryear with the excitement of today’s South. The SAM Shortline stops in quaint towns filled with fun attractions, restaurants, and shopping. In this video, we highlight the SAM Shoreline at the Georgia Veterans State Park station, which is located on the spectacular Lake Blackshear in Crisp County, west of Cordele, Georgia.
Music - CRAZY GLUE by Josh Woodward. Free download:
SAM Shortline Arriving In Cordele GA
in this video i filmed the SAM shortline excursion train as it Arrives in Cordele Georgia
Historic SAM Shortline Railroad: Americus and Plains Georgia
Take a virtual ride on the historic SAM Shortline Railroad departing Georgia Veterans State Park with calls in Americus and Plains, Georgia. All aboard! The video is a little shaky, but that's part of the adventure when traveling on a 1949 vintage car.
Music - Memory Replaced by Josh Woodward. Free download:
SAM Shortline - Cordele to Americus Ga
The father-daughter team of HawkinsRails.net chases the SAM Shortline's weekend Presidential Flyer from Lake Blackshear (west of Cordele) through Leslie as far as Americus, Georgia. SAM Shortline operates tourist trains over state-owned trackage and utilizes motive power and operating crews of the Heart of Georgia shortline, a Genesee & Wyoming operation.
All footage was filmed by 14 year old Ella Hawkins and our final video was edited by Ralph Hawkins. See our growing SAM Shortline scrapbook at
SAM Shortline Spectacular: Part 1 Leslie Local
On June 5th I set out on a 3 day journey of chasing SAM Shortline. We begin the wonderful chase at Cordele on Thursaday June 5th, 2014 as they set out with the Leslie Local. For the second shot we are at Coney Road near the GA Veterans Park where we catch them highballing toward Leslie. After Coney road, we head to Flintside road in Cobb GA as the head on to Leslie. We then race on to Leslie as we catch the train pulling into the station. After an hour and 30min layover in Leslie, we race over to Desoto GA where we get some great hornshow and the train heading back to Cordele. Then we observe the great Leslie Local passing Coney road again as they roll back into Cordele. After we get them at Coney we get them passing the Cordele interlocking before they deboard the passengers from the train. For the last shot we are at Flintside road as we get the train deadheading back to the Veterans park to rest for the night. Part 2 will cover the deadhead chase from Cordele to Vidalia. Enjoy!!!
SAM SHORTLINE
Our trip to Plains, Ga on the S.A.M. Shortline.
A ride on SAM's shortline Railroad April 8 2017 from Americus Ga to Plains Ga
A scenic Railroad trip on Sam's short line railroad between Americas and Plains Georgia April 8 2017
☆-HD)-The-HOG's-Sam's-Shortline-Excursion-Passenger-Train-©-2018.wmv
(☆) – |#GeneseeandWyomingInc.|
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(☆) – |Milepost-S-665.4|Cordele-Interlocking|Cordele, Georgia|
(☆) – |Saturday|November-10th, 2018-at-04:15-PM-EST|
(☆) – |A.A.R-Marker|#HOGRailroad|
(☆) – |Origination|Georgia-Veteran's-State-Park|Crisp-County, GA|
(☆) – |Termination|Sam's-Shortline-Passenger-Station|Cordele, GA|
(☆) – |Operation|Weekend's-Optional-for-Event's|
(☆) – |Cargo|Passenger's|
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(☆) – |Consist|
(☆) – |1)-#GeorgiaCentral-2092|Rebuilt-EMD-GP20|Built: 5/1960|
as Ex Former Great Northern EMD GP20 2023|
(☆) – |SAM'S-SHORTLINE-1508/Samuel-H-Hawkins|
(☆) – |SAM'S-SHORTLINE-0108/Americus|
(☆) – |SAM'S-SHORTLINE-0106/Georgia-Veteran's|
(☆) – |SAM'S-SHORTLINE-0111/Leslie|
(☆) – |SAM'S-SHORTLINE-0154/Plains|
(☆) – |SAM'S-SHORTLINE-0151/Cordele|
(☆) – |SAM'S-SHORTLINE-0152/Archery|
(☆) – |Transdynamic-Leasing-1372-(ex-Amtrak)-(LW-HEP-generator-car rebuilt.-from-U.S.-Army-troop-kitchen-car)-|
(☆) – |2)-#HeartOfGeorgia-2124|EMD-GP38-2|Built: 8/1973|
from Former-Southern-Railway-EMD-GP38-2-5063|
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(☆) – |Additional-Notice|
The Heart of Georgia Railroad (reporting mark HOG) is a shortline railroad created in 1999 to lease and operate 177 miles (285 km) of track owned by the Georgia Department of Transportation between Mahrt, Alabama and Vidalia, Georgia, in the United States. The railroad has since expanded to include more than 219 miles (352 km) of track, reaching as far as Midville, Georgia. Initially only the portion from Rochelle to Preston, Georgia was utilized, with the Preston-Mahrt and Rochelle-Vidalia lines out of service. The Heart of Georgia also hosts the SAM passenger excursion train and is owned by parent company Atlantic Western Transportation Company. Primary commodities include feed products, chemicals, plastic pellets, aggregates, lumber, grain, pulpwood, scrap metal, and fertilizer, amounting to around 7,500 annual carloads. An east-west route from Vidalia to Mahrt forms the core of the Heart of Georgia railroad and was built in segments over a period of several years. The Americus, Preston & Lumpkin was started in 1884 and connected its namesake cities by 1887. Also in 1887 further extension brought the terminus of the railroad further east to Abbeville. In 1888 the railroad became the Savannah, Americus & Montgomery. The railroad continued to grow in 1890, reaching Lyons in the east, as well as the Chattahoochee River, and eventually Montgomery to the west. At Lyons, the SA&M met the newly constructed Savannah & Western. In 1895, the SA&M was reorganized under the Georgia & Alabama and in 1900 the railroad once again changed hands into the Seaboard Air Line. Through a number of mergers the line eventually came under the ownership of the Seaboard System in 1983, which abandoned the line between Montgomery and Mahrt on April 20, 1986. The remaining line from Mahrt to Rhine, Georgia was sold to the Georgia Southwestern by CSX Transportation on June 5, 1989. Georgia Southwestern ended operations on the line from Preston to Mahrt in 1999, and the state of Georgia sought a new operator for the entire route from Vidalia to Mahrt, part of which was still retained by the Georgia Southwestern. The Heart of Georgia railroad was created in 1999 for the purpose of operating the line on behalf of the state. On May 22, 2000 the state purchased the remaining portion of the line not already under their ownership between Omaha, Georgia and the end of the line across the river in Mahrt as well as an additional 71.13 miles (114.47 km) between Rochelle and Preston retained by the Georgia Southwestern. On February 19, 2004 the Heart of Georgia expanded its line with the annexation of the Ogeechee Railway between Vidalia and Midville, a distance of 42.4 miles (68.2 km). However, the portion between Midville and a point south of Swainsboro is now operated by the Georgia Southern Railway. In 2010 ground was broken on an inland port on the Heart of Georgia in Cordele, Georgia. The port is expected to generate significant traffic for the HOG and provide traffic for the restored Rhine-Vidalia route. On February 7, 2017, national shortline operator Genesee & Wyoming announced that it had purchased the Heart of Georgia, with the deal expected to be finalized later in the year after regulatory approval.
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(☆) – |SAM Shortline Railway|
In addition to freight services provided by the Heart of Georgia, the railroad also hosts the SAM shortline heritage train. The train is managed by the Southwest Georgia Railroad Excursion Authority with the HOG providing the locomotives and operating crews.
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(☆) – |THIS-MOVIE-IS-PRODUCED-AND-COPYRIGHTED-©-2018-BY:-MOODY-WATCHER'S-PRODUCTION'S-TM-!!!ALL-RIGHT'S-AND-CONTENT-OF-THIS-MOVIE-ARE-OWNED-AND-RESERVED!!!
SAM Shortline Excursion Train Going Over Lake Blackshear.
This is a short video that I took riding the Watermelon Express. We departed Plains, GA and heading towards Cordelle GA. Lake Blackshear is a man-made lake on the Flint River in Georgia created by a dam that was constructed from 1925 to 1930.
The bugs you see my son pointing at are called mayflies.
7011)-The-Heart-of-Georgia's: SAM'S-SHORTLINE-EXCURSION-TRAIN
☆-The-HOG's-Sam's-Shortline-Excursion-Passenger-Train-©-2014.wmv
(☆) – |Milepost – S665.4|Cordele-Interlocking|Cordele, Georgia|
(☆) – |Saturday|November-15th, 2014-at-3:08:42-PM-3:21:26-PM-EST|
(☆) – |A.A.R-Marker|#HOGRailroad|
(☆) – |Origination|Sam's-Shortline-Passenger-Station-(Cordele, Georgia)
(☆) – |Termination|Georgia-Veteran's-State-Park-(Cordele, Georgia)
(☆) – |Operation|Weekend's-Optional-for-Event's|
(☆) – |Cargo|Passenger's|
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(☆) – |Consist|
1)-#HeartOfGeorgia-1740-EMD-GP40
Built: 6/1966 as Former Canadian National 4010 a EMD GP40.
(☆) – |SAM'S-SHORTLINE-1508/Samuel-H-Hawkins|
(☆) – |SAM'S-SHORTLINE-0108/Americus|
(☆) – |SAM'S-SHORTLINE-0151/Cordele|
(☆) – |SAM'S-SHORTLINE-0111/Leslie|
(☆) – |SAM'S-SHORTLINE-0154/Plains|
(☆) – |SAM'S-SHORTLINE-0152/Archery|
(☆) – |Transdynamic-Leasing-1372-(ex-Amtrak)-(LW-HEP-generator-car rebuilt.-from-U.S.-Army-troop-kitchen-car)-|
(☆) – |2)-#HeartOfGeorgia-1540-EMD-GP40
Built: 6/1966 as Former Canadian National 4007 a EMD GP40.
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(☆) – |SAM Shortline Railway|
In addition to freight services provided by the Heart of Georgia, the railroad also hosts the SAM shortline heritage train. The train is managed by the Southwest Georgia Railroad Excursion Authority with the HOG providing the locomotives and operating crews.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
(☆) – |THIS-MOVIE-IS-PRODUCED-AND-COPYRIGHTED-©-2014-BY:-MOODY-WATCHER'S-PRODUCTION'S-TM-!!!ALL-RIGHT'S-AND-CONTENT-OF-THIS-MOVIE-ARE-OWNED-AND-RESERVED!!!
Mp HOG 665.38...Cordele Interlocking...N 8th St...Cordele, GA
November 15th, 2014 at 3:08:42 PM and 3:21:26 PM EST
Reporting Marks: HOG
Origination: Plain's, GA
Destination: Cordele, GA
Operation: For Special Event's
Cargo: Passenger's/Food and Snack + Drink's
Consist For The Train:
(H).eart.(O).f.(G).eorgia EMD GP40 # 1540 (ex-CN 4007)
Sams Short-Line 1508/Samuel H. Hawkins
Sams Short-Line 0108/Americus
Sams Short-Line 0151/Cordele
Sams Short-Line 0111/Leslie (The Commissary Car)
Sams Short-Line 0154/Plains
Sams Short-Line 0152/Archery
Transdynamic Leasing 1372 (ex-Amtrak) (LW HEP generator car rblt. from U.S. Army troop kitchen car)
(H).eart.(O).f.(G).eorgia EMD GP40 # 1740
A Brief History of the SAM Shortline
The mainline operated today by the Heart of Georgia Railroad and used by the SAM Shortline’s passenger trains has an interesting history that reaches back into the late 19th century. In fact, the name “SAM Shortline” derives from the original railroad’s name, the Savannah, Americus and Montgomery, and from the name of the line’s founder and president, Colonel Samuel Hugh Hawkins, a prominent 19th century Sumter County capitalist.
Additional Note: The Train will be heading Back to The Georgia Veteran's State Park at W.Cordele, GA and then would later tie down and park the train at The Park.
This Video Has Been Produced and Copyrighted © 2014 By: Moody Watcher's Production's TM...!!!All Right's and Content of This Motion Picture are Owned and Reserved!!!
SAM Shortline railroad in Americus, Georgia on August 5, 2017.
Sam shortline railroad train coming into Americus, Georgia from Cordele. I filmed this from a bridge above the train on south lee street on August 5, 2017. Filmed next to Calvary Episcopal church Americus, Ga, at 408 S Lee St, Americus, GA 31709
Sam shortline railroad train coming into Americus, Georgia.
Sam shortline railroad train coming into Americus, Georgia from Cordele. I filmed this from a bridge above the train on south lee street on August 5, 2017. Filmed next to Calvary Episcopal church Americus, Ga, at 408 S Lee St, Americus, GA 31709
Christmas on the SAM Shortline Excursion Train
--a Christmas adventure on the SAM Shortline Excursion Train
7023)-The-Heart-Of-Georgia's: SAM'S-SHORTLINE-EXCURSION-TRAIN
Sam Shortline Train Leaving Plains, Georgia
Filmed April 29, 2017 at 1:00pm
Plains, Trains, and Fireworks : SAM Shortline chase with freshly painted HOG 2038. 7/2/16
I had noticed a few months back that there was going to be a SAM Shortline run to Plains for a festival celebrating Independence Day. Trains rarely run westbound this late in the evening, so I jumped at the opportunity to chase it. I had also been getting updates from one of HOG's engineers that they were going to be using the recently overhauled and repainted GP38-2, the 2038, on that weekend's passenger runs.
In our first shot, we see the train fresh out of its home base at the GA Vets State Park as it makes track speed through Lyle Farm's pecan groves. Lyle Farms owns the largest pecan grove in the world. I had to drive about a mile or so back the fields to get this shot. Justin, the engineer, has taken the chance to fix flags to the front of both of the engines, giving the train a patriotic feel and improving the look overall.
Our next shot is a few miles west at Desoto, GA. Justin nearly creamed a truck at the crossing just out of shot, I would later learn.
I hightailed it to Huntington, GA where I just barely made it.
I drove down a road that parallels the tracks from Huntington and made it just in time to catch the train crossing Brady Rd. He will soon be crossing into Americus, GA city limits.
I made it to Bartow St. to catch the train coming around the sharp curve out of the yard. They are now on welded rail. The shot here has been severely grown over in a year. Notice the difference between here and my intro.
Not knowing whether I could beat the train to the next available shot, I drove to Wise Rd. outside of Plains. I waited here probably 15 minutes for the train. This is a necessary flag crossing, but it hardly ties the train up at all.
I found a new way into Plains from Wise Rd., but not enough time was saved in order to get set up, so I filmed them coming in with my phone.
2 and a half hours later, the train departs Plains. It's necessary to pull up and throw the switch back to the main, so they do just that, and then really open her up and get out of town. Justin gives an appropriately timed Star Spangled Banner as they leave.
We next see the train rolling through the HOG Americus Yard. A car decides to run the crossing right in front of the train. I almost jumped out of the way, it was a lot closer then it appears.
I next drove to Leslie, GA, to get them coming through town. A 10 minute wait, and then showtime.
I raced to Cobb, GA where I used my truck lights for some lighting.
A quick phone grab at Pecan Rd near Flintside, GA. Then I rushed across the lake to catch them coming in.
90 seconds after arriving, the train comes into view and comes to a stop.
Sam Shortline Chase 6-6-14 Part 5A: Vidalia Deadhead (Cordele Area)
On May 20, I got word from Blane (georgiacentralfan) about a special SAM Shortline run from Cordele to Vidalia, GA and then passenger trips over Georgia Central from Bellville to Groveland. Blane and I continued to discuss the possibility of a trip to catch this rare event. I dropped all of my plans (Including a trip to Streamliners at Spencer and a speeder trip on the GSMR) and decided to chase with him. The following videos show the highlights of the trip, including Thursday's run to Leslie, GA which we chased/paced.
Thanks for Watching!
Sam
For this part of the series, We first see the train clear the semaphore signal just past the diamonds and the Cordele depot. This is the only operating sempahore in Georgia, and as far as I know, the last one in Georgia period. In the next 3 shots, we pace the train through Listonia, GA (East Cordele.)
HOG 6409 lead Vidalia Turn Job to Cordele 8/4/14
Heart of Georgia 6409 leads a 28 car intermodal Vidalia Turn to Cordele on a nice August evening.