SAM Shortline

Sam Shortline RailRoad has resumed the 2020 train schedule.

Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, train operations were suspended mid-March.

During the shutdown, major track work was completed which allows 25 mph speeds on the corridor. This will allow trips to Plains to take about 1hour and 30 minutes. Prior to this track work, slow orders lowered speeds to about 10 mph. These speeds made for a long day.

Several safety procedures were implemented to address any COVID-19 concerns.

The Plains Express Excursion has made two trips to Plains from Georgia Veterans State Park with no problems.

Another premium car, the J.P. Henderson, has been added to the SAM consist. Joining the “Dearing”, these cars will allow a passenger to look back in time to see how the “President of the Line” traveled his railroad.

Along with a full schedule of regular runs to Plains, special train events are scheduled throughout the season.

“Day out with Thomas” will return October 24th, 25th, 31st and November 1st.

Look us up on-line at: www.samshortline.com

Come ride SAM!

Funding: 13WMAZ.com

A South Georgia passenger train gets $1.6 million grant from GDOT to keep good times rolling

The SAM Shortline runs through South Georgia and now the train will chug on longer with a grant from the Georgia Department of Transportation.
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The Savannah, Americus and Montgomery Railway has been around since the 1880s. In 2000, founders decided to keep this piece of history rolling. Over the past 20 years, they've been sidetracked by one problem.

"We have currently been forced to take cars from this site that is our site here at Georgia Veterans State Park and run them to off-site locations for maintenance which adds to the expense and the difficulty to provide the service to the cars," Kinnamon said.

To help, the Georgia Department of Transportation is sending $1.6 million dollars from the state Locomotive Tax Program. It will add a maintenance and storage track at Georgia Veterans State Park. It will allow the cars to stay in house when they need attention.
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