GF&A Railroad History
1891
The Depot in Sopchoppy, FL was built as part of the Carrabelle, Tallahassee & Georgia Railroad
Panacea Tram Car at the Depot – Sopchoppy, Florida
Credit: State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory, http://floridamemory.com/items/show/26213
1895
The Georgia Pine Railway was chartered
1898
First section of tracks were opened between Bainbridge, GA and Damascus, GA
1901
The Georgia Pine Railway was renamed the Georgia, Florida & Alabama Railway (GF&A)
1901-1902
The rail line between Cuthbert, GA and Tallahassee,FL was put into service
1906
The Carrabelle, Tallahassee & Georgia Railroad was acquired and extended the GF&A railroad from the Capital to the Gulf Coast at Carrabelle, FL
1910
Extension to Richland, GA was completed
GF&A Railroad employees standing next to a railway cart near Sopchoppy, Florida (1924) Credit: State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory, http://floridamemory.com/items/show/245207
1926
Three people were killed when a GF&A train hit their Overland sedan
More information on this accident is available here
Remains of the Overland Sedan
1927
The GF&A railroad went up for sale. The ICC approved Seaboard Air Line Railway to refinance, reorganize, and lease the GF&A for 99 years
1936
The Apalachicola National Forest was officially designated as a national forest
1948
The Carrabelle to Tallahassee line was abandoned. Soon afterwards, the Havana to Quincy branch was also abandoned
1948 – 1995
The railbed lay abandoned for 47 years
1995
A Project, Development, and Environment Study was completed by the Florida Department of Transportation for the Gopher, Frog, & Alligator Rail Trail from Tallahassee, FL to Carrabelle, FL
2008
Construction began for the GF&A Trail and trailhead at Trout Pond
Trailhead at Trout Pond
2009
Grand opening of the GF&A Trail at the Trout Pond Trailhead
GF&A Trail at Trout Pond
2010
The Historic Depot in Sopchoppy, FL was restored by the City
Historic Depot in Sopchoppy, FL
