TAG

A Southern Regional Railroad - 1930's - 1940's
Tennessee Alabama & Georgia Railroad

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The Tennessee Alabama & Georgia Railway (TAG) was a short line railroad that ran from Chattanooga, Tennessee, through northwestern Georgia to Gadsden, Alabama; 93 miles. It was built in 1890-91, as the
Tennessee Alabama & Georgia
March 21, 1943

Tennessee Alabama & Georgia
Chattanooga & Southern, to haul coal, iron, and timber. It connected to the NC&SL, L&N(CNO&TP) and Southern Railroads in Chattanooga, the Southern at Blue Pond, Alabama, and the L&N at Gadsden. It acted as a short line connection between the areas north of Chattanooga and the heavy industrial areas of Montgomery and Birmingham, Alabama.
The TAG had an interesting passenger service. From its CS days back i 1894 until passenger motor cars were discontinued in the early 1950's the CS/TAG ran one train between Chattanooga and Gadsden each day. The TAG was purchased by the Southern in 1971, and is now largely abandoned, except for a stretch near Chattanooga operated by the Chattanooga and Chickamauga Railway.
Short History of the Tennessee Alabama & Georgia Railway
1887 - The Chattanooga Southern Railway was founded,
1890-91 - Construction of the line.
1891 - CS began operations. It ran about 93 miles of track between Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Gadsden, Alabama, hauling mainly iron, timber, and coal from the Lookout Mountain area. The railroad's nickname, The Pigeon Mountain Route, came from several miles of track that ran along the base of Pigeon Mountain.
1894 - The CS operates one passenger train a day between Chattanooga and Gadsden. This is an all day trip, thus requires a separate train in each direction.
1896 CS ran into financial trouble and was reorganized as the Chattanooga Southern Railroad.
1904 - The passenger train is now running mornimgs south to Gadsden and afternoons north to Chattanooga, thus is a turn around.
1911 - The CS was reorganized again, this time as the Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia Railroad.
1916 - The TAG had six locomotives, four passenger cars, 69 freight cars of various types, two combination cars, and ten cars of other types. The TAG also had a branch line from Menlo to Coe. The branch left the main line at Coe Junction, about 2.5 miles south of Menlo.
1920 - The Coe branch is abandoned.
1922 - TAG is again in receivership, resulted in the line’s becoming the Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia Railway. It was also known by the nickname TAG Route.
1929 - The daily passenger train is now a motor car operation.
1950 - Daily passenger motor car continues.
1955 - Passenger service has ended. TAG is now freight only.
1971 - Southern Railway purchased the TAG.
early 1980's- The middle portion of the line was abandoned.
Current - The northern remaining section of the line, from Chattanooga to Hedges, is now operated by the Chattooga and Chickamauga Railway.

TAG train times 1894 to 1950
The fact that the CS and TAG ran a single passenger train a day between Chattanooga and Gadsden from 1894 at least to 1950 gives us an opportunity to compare running times, in hours and minutes,and how they changed over the years. Take a look.

Year	Southbound to Gadsden hours/minutes	Northbound to Chattanooga hours/minutes	Comments
1894	8:15	9:05	New rail and off to a slow start in 1894
1904	4:05	4:10	By 1904 they are moving with better steam
1929	3:45	3:45	Motor cars begin speedup by 1929
1931	3:25	3:25	The 30's rush to faster speeds
1943	3:20	3:35	Maintain pace into the war years
1950	3:20	3:25	and right to the end.

Our Sources
Private Collection of Richard R. Parks(rp)
Wikipedia the free Encyclopedia [web](wik)
Official Guide- various editions
http://railga.com/chattsou.html
Georgia's Railroad History & Heritage - Steve Storey.

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Web Page Written and Maintained by Richard Parks
Copyright © Richard Parks, May 1, 2009, revised Oct. 31, 2001

	The Tennessee Alabama & Georgia Railway (TAG) was a short line railroad that ran from Chattanooga, Tennessee, through northwestern Georgia to Gadsden, Alabama; 93 miles. It was built in 1890-91, as the	Tennessee Alabama & Georgia March 21, 1943 Tennessee Alabama & Georgia
Chattanooga & Southern, to haul coal, iron, and timber. It connected to the NC&SL, L&N(CNO&TP) and Southern Railroads in Chattanooga, the Southern at Blue Pond, Alabama, and the L&N at Gadsden. It acted as a short line connection between the areas north of Chattanooga and the heavy industrial areas of Montgomery and Birmingham, Alabama. The TAG had an interesting passenger service. From its CS days back i 1894 until passenger motor cars were discontinued in the early 1950's the CS/TAG ran one train between Chattanooga and Gadsden each day. The TAG was purchased by the Southern in 1971, and is now largely abandoned, except for a stretch near Chattanooga operated by the Chattanooga and Chickamauga Railway. Short History of the Tennessee Alabama & Georgia Railway 1887 - The Chattanooga Southern Railway was founded, 1890-91 - Construction of the line. 1891 - CS began operations. It ran about 93 miles of track between Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Gadsden, Alabama, hauling mainly iron, timber, and coal from the Lookout Mountain area. The railroad's nickname, The Pigeon Mountain Route, came from several miles of track that ran along the base of Pigeon Mountain. 1894 - The CS operates one passenger train a day between Chattanooga and Gadsden. This is an all day trip, thus requires a separate train in each direction. 1896 CS ran into financial trouble and was reorganized as the Chattanooga Southern Railroad. 1904 - The passenger train is now running mornimgs south to Gadsden and afternoons north to Chattanooga, thus is a turn around. 1911 - The CS was reorganized again, this time as the Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia Railroad. 1916 - The TAG had six locomotives, four passenger cars, 69 freight cars of various types, two combination cars, and ten cars of other types. The TAG also had a branch line from Menlo to Coe. The branch left the main line at Coe Junction, about 2.5 miles south of Menlo. 1920 - The Coe branch is abandoned. 1922 - TAG is again in receivership, resulted in the line’s becoming the Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia Railway. It was also known by the nickname TAG Route. 1929 - The daily passenger train is now a motor car operation. 1950 - Daily passenger motor car continues. 1955 - Passenger service has ended. TAG is now freight only. 1971 - Southern Railway purchased the TAG. early 1980's- The middle portion of the line was abandoned. Current - The northern remaining section of the line, from Chattanooga to Hedges, is now operated by the Chattooga and Chickamauga Railway.