Mobile and Girard Railroad

The Mobile & Girard Railroad was an Alabama railroad which was constructed in the mid-19th century; a portion of the line continues in operation under different ownership. The 26-mile (42 km) line was constructed with a track gauge of 5 ft (1,524 mm).

The Mobile and Girard Railroad was constructed in the mid-19th century. In 1852, Alabama was granted a right of way across US government lands from Girard, Alabama (across the Chattahoochee River from Columbus, Georgia) to Mobile Bay. Construction began in 1854 and by October 1 of that year, cars were running on the first nine miles of track, to Fort Mitchell, and to Guerryton by mid-1855. But construction of the 13 miles from Guerryton to Union Springs. was delayed, and was not complete until November, 1859. The line was completed to Troy in 1870 and later as far as Andalusia.

The plan for Mobile to be the end point was in doubt as early as 1857 when it was determined that it would cost four times as much to complete to Mobile as it would to Pensacola. Also, Mobile had never made payment on its subscription to the railroad.

In 1879, the Central of Georgia Railroad expanded into Alabama with the purchase of the Montgomery & Eufaula Railroad. Several Alabama shortlines were thereafter acquired, including the M&G. The Central of Georgia became part of the Southern Railway in 1963; Southern and Norfolk & Western Railway merged to form Norfolk Southern in 1982. NS gradually abandoned the former M&G line. First from Andalusia to Goshen in 1986, and then from Troy to Hurtsboro in 1988.

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