The Athens Line The Athens Line operates on former Southern Railway tracks between Center, in Jackson County, and Athens. It is owned by Bennie Anderson, who also owns the Great Walton Railroad and the Hartwell Railroad. The latter railroad operates the Athens Line. On the south side of downtown Athens, the railroad passes by Sanford Stadium to deliver coal to the University of Georgia's power plant. The tracks here, once owned by Central of Georgia, extend as far south as Madison but are no longer in operation. The rails between Bishop and Madison have been unused since 1987. Reporting mark: TAL An Athens Line train sits at the spur to UGA's power plant. Sanford Stadium is in the background. The lead locomotive is in Hartwell Railroad colors. Behind it are an ex-Chessie/B&O unit with an ex-Illinois Central locomotive behind that. Georgia's Railroad History & Heritage. Copyright, Steve Storey. Railroad History | The Depot List | Locomotives On Display | Odds & Ends | Sources & References | Home