Valdosta, Moultrie & Western Railroad, Ga. 133, and Corridor Z

Reading about the committee wanting to widen Ga. 133 from Valdosta through Moultrie to Albany made me wonder if there had ever been a railroad on that route. Why yes, there was:

VM&W RR Map 1920

Source: Rand McNally Standard Map of Georgia, in Commercial Atlas of America, 1920, found on Georgia's Railroad History & Heritage. by Steve Storey

It ran two trains each way each day in 1918 (one was different on Sunday):

VM&W RR Timetable 1918

Source: Official Guide of the Railways, April 1918, found on Georgia's Railroad History & Heritage. by Steve Storey

Like Valdosta earlier on a different railroad, the town of Berlin was founded because of the VM&W RR.

Unfortunately, it was short-lived, lasting only from 1910 to 1921. Its demise seems to have been connected with

…the final depletion of the vast supply of timber about 1922 and the railroad systems which had played such an important role in the flourishing development of Berlin ceased operations.

— The Origin of Berlin, Berlin Community Volunteer Fire Department Station 31, Berlin, Georgia, accessed 10 August 2008

It's hard to tell from that brief quotation whether the end of the timber caused the failure of the railroads, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was a factor.

I see the Lowndes County Commission has on its agenda for Tuesday 12 August a "Resolution in Support of a Four-Lane Project for State Hwy 133 from Albany to Valdosta. This is the same resolution that was before Colquitt County Commission on August 5.

Before the Lowndes County Commission votes, it would be useful to know what have been the effects of Corridor Z, the four lane highway from Jekyll Island to Columbus by way of Tifton and Albany, also known as Ga. Route 520. Has it produced the effects the committee for widening Ga. 133 wants? Has it benefited agriculture and industry? Has it led to more opportunities? What ill effects on local landowners and environment did its construction have?

And what do the people think who live along the route of Ga. 133?

One thought on “Valdosta, Moultrie & Western Railroad, Ga. 133, and Corridor Z”

  1. John Quarterman

    I asked these questions at the Lowndes County Commission meeting Tuesday, and commissioners assured the audience that several of them had attended numerous meetings on the subject and there had never been any objection from anyone along the route, even though the project has been highly publicised and has been proposed for about 20 years. Also, Ga. 133 west from Valdosta is already four lanes to the county line with Brooks county, so there’s nothing new to do in Lowndes County. One commissioner noted that the biggest impediment was the funding required for the rest of the project: about half a billion dollars. The commission voted to authorize its chair to sign the resolution.

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