The railroad is Fitzgerald’s biggest business, and for a small town, it’s lucky to be a railroad hub, as it has been virtually since its founding in 1895-96. My father worked here for nearly 40 years.
Freight Train at Fitzgerald Yard Office
Vanishing Georgia: Photographs by Brian Brown
Since 2008. A visual survey of Georgia's historic architecture and culture. 9,000 locations. 30,000 images.
When I lived there, a train went through 23 of the 24 hours a day, at least a friend who worked for the railroad told me that. I remember being awakened during the night every time a train went through for about the first week. Then I got used to it and never paid it any attention.
This picture brings back a lot of memories. My dad worked for the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL and now CSX) and was transferred from Albany to Fitzgerald in 1952. We originally lived on Magnolia St. next to the hospital but later moved to a house in the 400 block of West Central Ave. about a half block from the ACL passenger depot. Those were busy times for the railroad and I remember hearing and seeing the passenger and freight trains go by all during the day and night. We moved back to Albany in 1959 when I was a junior in high school but the nine years we lived in Fitzgerald were great ones.
Love seeing the old trains…great picture!
I miss hearing the trains all of the time in Fitz.