Atlanta Belt Line - North The original main line of the Atlanta & Richmond Air-Line Railway, completed in 1871-73, is shown running north-south in the center of the map above. The segment highlighted in yellow later became known as the Southern Railway belt line. Highlighted in red, the Georgia Pacific's 1883 belt line connected Howell and the main line of the Atlanta & Richmond (later the Atlanta & Charlotte Air-Line) at Belt Junction (later Armour). The Seaboard Air Line RR bypass, highlighted in blue, connected Howell and the Seaboard's main line at a place northwest of Decatur that was also called Belt Junction. It opened in 1893. The former main line segment between Belt Junction and Kirkwood became known as the Seaboard's belt line. From Atlanta, GA 30-minute quadrangle, U. S. Geological Survey, 1888. (Map dated 1888, but information was added later) RailGa.com. Georgia's Railroad History & Heritage. © Steve Storey. Railroad History | The Depot List | Locomotives On Display | Odds & Ends | Sources & References | Home