Cherokee Railroad

{{Short description|Historic railroad in Georgia, United States}}

{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}

{{more citations needed|date=December 2023}}

{{Infobox rail

|railroad_name = Cherokee Railroad

|locale = Georgia

|gauge = {{Track gauge|3ft|lk=on}};
originally {{Track gauge|5ft|lk=on}}

|hq_city =

|start_year =

|end_year =

}}

File:Amerikaanse stoomlocomotief, RP-F-2001-7-998-12 (cropped).jpg Belle West]]

The Cherokee Railroad is an historic railroad that operated in the U.S. state of Georgia.

It was organized in 1870 to take over operations from the failing Cartersville and Van Wert Railroad. The Cherokee Railroad initially operated from Cartersville to Taylorsville, and the new owners extended the railroad to Rockmart, Georgia. The new owners also converted the track from {{Track gauge|5ft|lk=on}} broad gauge to {{Track gauge|3ft|lk=on}} narrow gauge. Unfortunately, the financial problems for the line continued and it was eventually sold to the Cherokee Iron Company in 1879. The Cherokee Iron Company then leased the Cherokee Railroad's lines to the East and West Railroad of Alabama who, in 1886, purchased the line outright and then merged it into its own operations.{{Cite web |last=The New York Times |date=Dec 2, 1884 |title=CHEROKEE RAILROAD POLICY |website=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1884/12/02/archives/cherokee-railroad-policy.html }}