The Autauga Northern Railroad is a
shortline operating between
Maplesville, Alabama
Maplesville is a town in Chilton County, Alabama, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 637. It is located approximately halfway between Tuscaloosa and Montgomery on U.S. Route 82.
The mayor of Maplesville is W. C. Hayes, Jr.
...
and a plant of the
International Paper Company near
Prattville, Alabama, . This trackage is leased from
Norfolk Southern and was originally operated by the
Mobile & Ohio,
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio (GM&O), and
Illinois Central Gulf railroads as part of their line between
Montgomery, Alabama and
Tuscaloosa, Alabama. In addition, Autauga Northern uses of trackage rights over
CSX, also ex-GM&O, to gain access into Montgomery. The lease from Norfolk Southern was approved in February 2011, and operations began in April 2011 as part of
Watco.
Watco undertook a $2.39 million refurbishment of the railway after beginning operations to upgrade track to handle 25 mile-per-hour speeds.
The railroad operates six days a week under Watco control, moving about 9,000 carloads per year.
References
{{US Class III - Alabama
Alabama railroads
Watco
Railway companies established in 2011
Spin-offs of the Norfolk Southern Railway
2011 establishments in Alabama