Central of Georgia Railroad
Shops and Terminal in Savannah Georgia
The History of Central of
Georgia Railroad Shops and Terminal
in Savannah Georgia
Central of Georgia
Railroad Shops and Terminal
in Savannah Georgia
Explore Savannah’s Historic Railroad Legacy
The Central of Georgia Railroad Shops and Terminal is one of Savannah’s most important historic transportation landmarks.
Today, much of the former railroad complex is preserved as the Georgia State Railroad Museum, where visitors can explore historic locomotives,
railcars, workshops and industrial buildings connected to more than a century of railroad history.
Located near downtown Savannah, the complex preserves some of the oldest surviving railroad repair buildings in the United States.
Its workshops, roundhouse, machinery and terminal facilities tell the story of the workers, engineers and craftspeople who helped make
Savannah a major transportation and commercial center.
History of the Central of Georgia Railway
The Central of Georgia Railway began as the Central Rail Road and Canal Company in 1833.
Its expanding rail network connected the port of Savannah with communities across Georgia, helping
transport passengers, agricultural products, manufactured goods and other freight.
By 1843, the railroad had reached the outskirts of Macon and was among the longest railroads in the world operating under
one management. The system later expanded toward Atlanta, Columbus and southwestern Georgia, strengthening Savannah’s connection with inland
markets .Construction of the Savannah repair shops began during the 1850s. These facilities were designed to build, maintain and repair locomotives,
passenger cars and freight equipment. Over time, the complex developed into an important center of railroad engineering and industrial activity.
A National Historic Landmark
The Central of Georgia railroad complex is recognized for its exceptional architectural and historical importance.
The Savannah shops were designated a National Historic Landmark on June 2, 1978.
The nearby passenger station and train shed received separate National Historic Landmark recognition in 1976.
The train shed is especially significant because it is the oldest surviving example among the known long-span trussed-roof train sheds in the United States.
The larger railroad district contains nationally significant buildings, historic entrance gates, railroad aqueducts and industrial structures spread across
more than 30 acres. Preservation organizations have described it as one of the finest surviving 19th-century railroad complexes in the country.
Architecture and Engineering
Visitors can see an impressive collection of historic railroad structures, including a roundhouse, turntable, blacksmith shop,
machine shop, boiler house, carpentry areas and other specialized workspaces.
These buildings demonstrate how a major 19th-century railroad repair facility operated. Their brick construction, tall windows,
heavy timber framing and industrial machinery reflect the craftsmanship and engineering required to maintain a growing railroad system.
The complex also reveals how different trades worked together. Machinists repaired locomotive components, blacksmiths shaped metal parts,
carpenters worked on railcars and engineers supervised the equipment that kept trains moving throughout Georgia.
The Georgia State Railroad Museum
The historic repair-shop complex now houses the Georgia State Railroad Museum. The museum offers interactive experiences that may include walking through historic railcars, seeing locomotives and machinery, operating a handcar and participating in guided site tours by train. Train experiences and schedules may vary, so visitors should confirm availability before arriving.
The museum gives families, students, railroad enthusiasts and history lovers an opportunity to experience Savannah’s industrial past in an authentic setting.
What Visitors Can See
Highlights may include:
- Historic steam and diesel locomotives
- Vintage passenger cars and freight equipment
- An operating railroad turntable
- Original repair shops and industrial buildings
- Historic tools and railroad machinery
- Guided tours and educational demonstrations
- Interactive family activities
- Stories about the people who worked at the railroad complex
Why the Landmark Matters Today
The Central of Georgia Railroad Shops and Terminal preserves more than buildings and railroad equipment. It protects the stories of the workers whose skills helped connect Savannah with the rest of Georgia and the Southeast.
The site also demonstrates how rail transportation supported trade, industry, population growth and economic development. Savannah’s position as a major port made the city an ideal starting point for a railroad network carrying goods between the coast and inland communities.
Today, the preserved complex helps visitors understand how transportation technology transformed Georgia during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Visitor Information
Georgia State Railroad Museum
655 Louisville Road
Savannah, Georgia 31401
Phone: 912-651-6823
The museum is currently listed as open seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with closures on
Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Hours, admission prices and train schedules can change, so travelers
should verify current information before visiting.
Travel Tips
Allow approximately one to two hours to explore the museum and historic buildings.
Wear comfortable walking shoes because much of the experience involves moving through a large industrial complex.
Train tours and special demonstrations may have limited availability. Arriving early can improve the chance of obtaining a boarding pass
when train experiences are offered. The museum is also close to other attractions in Savannah’s Tricentennial Park area.
Plan Your Savannah History Trip
A visit to the Central of Georgia Railroad Shops and Terminal offers a different perspective on Savannah. Beyond the city’s famous squares
and historic homes, this remarkable landmark reveals the industrial and transportation systems that helped shape Georgia.
For railroad enthusiasts, families and travelers interested in American history, the Georgia State Railroad Museum is one of the
most distinctive historic attractions in Savannah.
Central of Georgia Railroad Shops
Complex Savannah Architectural Tour
Central of Georgia Railroad Shop
CENTRAL OF GEORGIA RAILROAD SHOPS AND TERMINAL
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA
HISTORY
The Central of Georgia Railroad Shops and Terminal Facilities represent one of the most important surviving
railroad complexes in the United States. Construction of the Savannah repair shops began during the early
1850s as the Central of Georgia Railway expanded its passenger and freight service across the state.
The railroad had been organized in 1833 to connect the port of Savannah with communities in Georgia’s interior. By 1843,
its tracks had reached the outskirts of Macon, creating one of the longest railroad systems operating under a single management at that time.
The railway helped transport cotton, agricultural products, passengers and commercial goods between Savannah and central Georgia.
The Savannah complex was carefully planned as a complete railroad center where locomotives and passenger cars could be repaired,
maintained and stored. Its historic structures included a roundhouse, turntable, machine shop, blacksmith shop, boiler house, carpenter shop,
paint shop, warehouses and administrative buildings.
The earliest surviving repair-shop buildings date to 1853. Over the following decades, additional facilities were added as the
Central of Georgia Railway grew into one of the South’s most influential transportation companies.
The complex eventually covered more than 30 acres and employed generations of engineers, machinists, blacksmiths, carpenters and railroad laborers.
THE PASSENGER TERMINAL
The Central of Georgia passenger depot and trainshed were completed around 1860. The terminal welcomed travelers arriving in Savannah and served passenger trains traveling between Savannah, Macon, Atlanta and other Southern cities.
The enormous brick trainshed was an impressive engineering achievement. Its long interior protected passengers, locomotives and railcars from the weather while trains were loaded and unloaded.
Passenger service continued at the terminal for more than a century. One of the best-known trains to use the station was the Nancy Hanks II, which operated between Savannah, Macon and Atlanta until 1971.
A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK
The depot and trainshed were designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976. The landmark district was expanded in 1978 to include the Savannah repair shops and additional railroad buildings.
The Historic American Engineering Record described the complex as an important example of an early, fully integrated railroad facility combining repair, administrative, passenger and freight operations in one location.
The district is widely recognized as one of the finest surviving nineteenth-century railroad complexes in America. Its collection of industrial buildings provides a rare look at the machinery, architecture and skilled labor that powered the nation’s early railroad industry.
GEORGIA STATE RAILROAD MUSEUM
Today, much of the former repair-shop complex operates as the Georgia State Railroad Museum. Visitors can explore historic railroad buildings, walk through vintage railcars, view locomotives and learn how railroad workers maintained steam-powered equipment.
Popular features include:
Historic Roundhouse and Turntable
The roundhouse allowed locomotives to be moved into individual repair bays using a rotating turntable.
Working Railroad Equipment
The museum displays historic steam and diesel locomotives, passenger cars, cabooses and maintenance equipment.
Blacksmith and Machine Shops
These buildings demonstrate the specialized work once required to repair locomotives and manufacture replacement parts.
Historic Train Experiences
Depending on the museum’s operating schedule, visitors may enjoy guided rail tours, demonstrations or short train rides around the property.
Savannah Railroad History
Exhibits explain the important role rail transportation played in Savannah’s growth as a major Southern port and commercial center.
The museum occupies buildings described by the Coastal Heritage Society as the oldest surviving railroad repair-facility structures in the United States.
SAVANNAH HISTORY MUSEUM
The former Central of Georgia passenger depot now houses the Savannah History Museum. Its exhibits explore Savannah’s history from the city’s colonial beginnings through modern times.
Visitors can see historic artifacts, transportation exhibits, archaeological discoveries and an early twentieth-century steam locomotive.
VISITOR INFORMATION
Georgia State Railroad Museum
Address:
655 Louisville Road
Savannah, Georgia 31401
Hours:
Open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The museum is generally closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Hours, train rides, programs and admission prices may change, so travelers should confirm details before visiting.
WHY VISIT?
The Central of Georgia Railroad Shops and Terminal offer visitors an opportunity to experience Savannah’s industrial history
beyond its famous squares and historic homes. The massive brick workshops, railroad tracks, turntable and
vintage trains help tell the story of the workers and machines that connected Georgia’s cities with the port of Savannah.
It is an excellent Savannah attraction for railroad enthusiasts, history lovers, photographers and families seeking an educational experience.
CENTRAL OF GEORGIA RAILROAD SHOPS AND TERMINAL
A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK
Historic Railroad Museum Address:
655 Louisville Road
Savannah, Georgia 31401
PRESERVING SAVANNAH’S RAILROAD HISTORY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
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