Central of Georgia Railroad Shops Complex Savannah Architectural Tour

In this tour, Dr. Robin B. Williams takes viewers on a detailed exploration of 1850s through 1920s industrial architecture at the Central of Georgia Railroad Railroad Shops complex in Savannah, Georgia.
Round House -- 02:02
Machine Shop -- 09:03
Line Shaft Demonstration -- 10:51
Tender Frame Shop -- 14:25
Blacksmith Shop -- 16:31
Smoke Stack -- 20:29
Power House -- 23:56
Steam Engine Demonstration -- 28:25
Transfer Table and Carpentry Shop -- 32:32
Coach and Paint Shops -- 34:41

[@VliegerNL]

Thank you for this wonderful overview. Superbly done. I hope that your viewership will keep growing!

[@w.rustylane5650]

I model the Central of Georgia in HO gauge. Still building up my roster of CofG rolling stock. Pullman coaches with the CofG livery are impossible to fine. Thanks for taking me along on this tour, as it sure is interesting to see the old CofG workings from the days of yore. I've been to Savannah several times but the facility was always closed when I was there. Guess this will be as close as I will ever get to see the CofG facilities. I love the history of the CofG. I'm 72 now and still play with trains. I wish I could tour the CofG facilities before I croak. Things were so much simpler in the 19th century. I've seen only one photo of an engine from the CofG from the 19th century and it was an old 10 wheeler (4-6-0) and I would have thought that there would have been quite a few American standard engines (4-4-0) in the roster. I've researched the roster for the CofG and the 10 wheeler is the earliest engine I've found. I wonder what type of coal the CofG used, anthracite or bituminous coal. Anthracite is the preferred coal 'cause it burns hotter and with little smoke. That sure is a dinky little steam engine. There's a guy in NC, that collects and refurbishes steam engines and he's got an old Corliss engine that dwarfs that little red engine in the power house. I would have thought that the steam engine in the power house would have been a much larger engine to support the line drives. Cheers from an ex-Georgian in eastern TN

[@johnclarke6647]

My grandfather was the roundhouse super at the AB&C shops in Fitzgerald, GA until his retirement in the 40’s. I remember seeing it as a boy but it has been torn down the last time I was there.

[@masonhg]

Dr. Williams, PLEASE keep these coming. You're combining all the things I love: architecture, design, history and Savannah. Interesting note about the wood brick flooring - I live in Pensacola, FL where many of the early residential streets were actually paved in wood bricks. It turned out to be difficult to maintain during hurricane season as they would float away in floods. Now several of those streets are paved in asphalt but the remaining wood pavers are still preserved underneath.

[@urbantraces9640]

Hi Mason -- I have an on-going project researching historic pavement in American (cataloguing images at my historicpavement.com website). Do you have any information on the historic wood blocks used in Pensacola -- or can you point me in the right direction?

[@Bugster42]

very interesting a shame i missed it when i passed through best of luck to the museum

[@w.rustylane5650]

I sure have enjoyed this video about the history of the CofG. I know that Southern Railways bought the Central of Georgia in 1963. Then Southern Railways was purchased by Norfolk & Southern in 1982, as well as Norfolk Western. The latest engine I run on my CofG layout is an EMD GP-38-2. Most are steam engines I have repainted and decaled for the CofG. How familiar are you with the "Nancy Hanks" and the "Man O War?" It is my understanding that the Nancy Hanks was not named for Abraham Lincoln's mother rather named after a race horse that was named after Lincoln's mother as was the Man O War was named from a race horse. My wife remembers the Nancy Hanks II running in the mid 1960's, pulled by an E-8 engine through Jonesboro, GA. Cheers - TN

[@johneastman1905]

Interesting location and history … solt presentation …

[@Eduardomd54]

Well presented story of this unique and important complex. I wish it was better preserved with more of the items you described. I have been in similar places in Europe and even though the effects of the WWII they keep them very full of machinery, locomotives and rolling stock. And even RR, equipment rolling for the delight of visitors , turn tables working, vintage diesels and steam locomotives working ( some of them not all) and not all days. For sure facilities reconstructed ! For what I mentioned before ; Silberwald RR Museum , and Mürzzuschlag, Both in Austria 🇦🇹

[@urbantraces9640]

Though not shown in the video, the turntable in Savannah is operational and they do run the equipment a bit, but not far. They have a long-term goal of rebuilding the viaduct bridge from the complex across Louisville Road and onto the viaducts west of West Boundary Street.

[@johnclarke6647]

When I went to Gordon Military College in the 1960’s. I often rode the Nancy from Atlanta to Barnesville. I continued on to Savannah. That was near the end of railroad transportation in Georgia and America which was a fact by the time I returned from Vietnam in 1969.

[@almyers8074]

Thank you Robin, very interesting and well done.

[@chrish9165]

So interesting, well done production! Thanks!

[@Willysmb44]

I finally got to see this place a couple of years ago. I wished I could have gotten over to the depot next to it

[@johnclarke6647]

Bethany, GA was renamed Wadley, GA after William Wadley. My great grandfather, Robert W.Daniel, Esq. was from Bethany. Bethany is in Jefferson County, GA.

[@toadjam12000]

My Great Great Grand father worked for the Central Of Georgia and subsidiaries From 1865 to 1889. He retired as the Supervisor of the entire railroad. His name was Willington William Starr.

[@urbantraces9640]

That's wonderful to hear. You should consider reaching out to the Coastal Heritage Society, who maintain that facility.

[@toadjam12000]

I should. I need an email address. Who do I talk to.

[@urbantraces9640]

@@toadjam12000 You should contact the Museum Management team. Here's a list of the people there. I would recommend reaching out to a few of them: www.chsgeorgia.org/CHS/Contact -- such as Eric Nelson and Catherine Duffy.

[@TheCaffeinatedOrganist]

Your content, delivery, and editing are excellent. I hope your audience continues to grow beyond SCAD students. I assume by your accent you are from South Carolina or Coastal Georgia. I appreciate your southern viewpoint because, for most of my lifetime, it seems architectural history “carpetbaggers” from elsewhere acquiesced to visit here to “help us with” interpreting our southern vernacular architecture, often unsympathetically and even incorrectly. Southern cities were far more architecturally sophisticated than many of these guys want to imagine. The mind boggling wealth of a cotton factor like Andrew Low in the 1840’s meant nothing was out of his reach- these guys brought the highest level of artistic expression to the agrarian south in their urban townhouses and civic buildings. Please continue to spread the word as effectively as you are doing here.

[@ronaldfarmer7205]

I hear a glimpse of canadian accent haha

[@TheCaffeinatedOrganist]

@@ronaldfarmer7205 he sounds “low country” to me. But I suppose yankee is possible too;)

[@Swampzoid]

wonderful history. when I was young you could climb over the fence and hang out in the then abandoned roundhouse.

[@donaldrichardson9132]

We once had a railroad complex like this here in Macon Bibb county Georgia which was torn down.

[@urbantraces9640]

I'm sorry to hear that. Savannah has been very fortunate in having at least some of its industrial heritage preserved.

[@donaldrichardson9132]

@@urbantraces9640 We have a large bronze stature placed upon a large granite base in a square located between Mulberry and Third Street here in Macon Bibb County Georgia 31201.

[@martynenichols3089]

Grew up here. I remember the Nancy Hanks.

[@notlad1282]

Where did you get the picture of the roundhouse in the 1850's? I've looked and can't find it anywhere.