Ocilla Southern Railroad Incorporated in December, 1908, the Ocilla Southern built its line from Ocilla to Alapaha in 1910, leased a 10-mile line between Ocilla and Fitzgerald in 1911, built an extension from Fitzgerald to Rochelle in 1914, and built a second extension from Rochelle to Pope City in 1917. Soon the railroad extended from Pope City to Nashville, over a distance of 69 miles. It owned all of its track between those two points except for the 10 miles between Fitzgerald and Ocilla, which it leased from the Fitzgerald, Ocilla and Broxton. In 1917 the Ocilla Southern continued its expansion to the north by leasing the line between Pope City and Hawkinsville from the Hawkinsville and Florida Southern and the line between Hawkinsville and Perry from the Hawkinsville and Western Railroad. According to Poors 1923 Manual, the Ocilla Southern was attempting to build a line from Atlanta to Jacksonville. At its peak mileage, however, it only covered about one third of that distance. In June, 1918 the company entered receivership, a status it was to maintain for several years. In 1923 the line from Pope City to Fitzgerald was abandoned. The section from Fitzgerald to Nashville was abandoned the following year. 1910 map (33K) 1915 map (80K) 1918 timetable (90K) 1920 map (96K)   Georgia's Railroad History & Heritage. Copyright, Steve Storey. Railroad History | The Depot List | Locomotives On Display | Odds & Ends | Sources & References | Home