Atlanta & Richmond Air-Line Railway The Atlanta & Richmond Air-Line was organized in North Carolina in 1870, combining the Georgia Air-Line Railroad Company and the Air-Line Railroad Company of South Carolina. It was controlled by the Richmond and Danville Railroad, predecessor of the Southern Railway. The R&D planned to build a line from Charlotte, N.C. to Atlanta but could not do so under its own name due to limitations in its charter. The first 53 miles from Atlanta were finished by 1871. In 1872, the R&D extended its credit to guarantee the last stages of construction. The entire line was completed in September, 1873. The company entered receivership in November, 1874 and was sold under foreclosure in December, 1876. The new bondholders reorganized the line as the Atlanta and Charlotte Air-Line Railway in February, 1877. 1873 map (74K)   Georgia's Railroad History & Heritage. Copyright, Steve Storey. Railroad History | The Depot List | Locomotives On Display | Odds & Ends | Sources & References | Home