Tommy Greene
Contributor
In 1859, the Georgia and Pensacola Railroad began construction through Madison County. By the time the War of Southern Independence broke out, the railroad had been completed from Jacksonville to Tallahassee and was in use. The train route crossed over the Aucilla River, through Sandy Ford (Greenville), passing just south of Madison. On July 4, 1860, a celebration was held in honor of the first train to come to the city of Madison. The day was celebrated with a dinner, a large crowd of citizens, the reading of the Declaration of Independence, a speech by Rev. John M. Henry, and a wood-fired steam locomotive pulling railcars running through Madison for the first time.
Transportation greatly improved, as the train traveled between 25 to 40 miles an hour. Lee, Greenville and Madison were all situated along the railroad and became the three major trading communities in the county.
The first north-south railroad was finished on May 24, 1893. The road was constructed for 13.25 miles between Madison and the GNFL line. This road had to be reconstructed and the extension to Pinetta was completed in 1898 and to Hanson in 1900. On July 1, 1901, local citizens, Colonel Wilkinson (president of the Valdosta Southern Railway), and several Valdosta citizens came out to the tracks to watch the arrival of Madison's' first north-south train. The rail was abandoned in 1972.
More than 25 railroad companies have come to Madison and laid tracks and logging roads. However, many have also left with broken hearts and empty wallets. There are only two remaining tracks which are still active through Madison County; a north-south track which runs from Quitman to Perry, and an east-west track which runs from the East Coast to the West Coast.
This story was taken from the history book, Madison County from the Beginning.