Norfolk Southern Railway Norfolk Southern Railway was established by the June 1, 1982 merger of Southern Railway and Norfolk and Western, creating an 18,000-mile system. Today Norfolk Southern and CSX are the dominant railroads in Georgia. In 1998, Norfolk Southern and CSX took over Conrail in a $10 billion deal. Conrail, successor to the Penn Central and a number of other northeastern railroads, was created by the federal government in 1976 and privatized in 1987. Abandonments: Kirby (near Swainsboro)-Douglas (former Georgia & Florida). Sylvester-Bridgeboro (former GAS&C). Bridgeboro-Camilla (former GAS&C). Pavo-Moultrie (former Georgia Northern): 1990. Madison-Bishop (former C of Ga). Columbus-Rover: 1988. Griffin-Senoia (former C of Ga). Greenville-Raymond (former C of Ga): 1981. Covington-Porterdale (former C of Ga). Lyerly-west Rome (former C of Ga). Hedges, Ga.-Ewing, Ala. (former TA&G): 1982. Rome-Cave Spring-Piedmont, Alabama abandoned: 1984. Norfolk Southern's website.   Georgia's Railroad History & Heritage. Copyright, Steve Storey. Railroad History | The Depot List | Locomotives On Display | Odds & Ends | Sources & References | Home