Georgia Cannonball

{{Short description|Passenger train in Georgia}}

{{italics title}}

{{use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox rail service

| name = Georgia Cannonball

| image =

| image_width =

| caption =

| type = Inter-city rail

| status = Discontinued

| locale = Georgia, USA

| first = {{Start date|1845}}

| last = {{Start date|1983|5|6}}

| formeroperator = Georgia Railroad

| start = Atlanta Union Station (1930) (until {{circa|1971}})

| stops =

| end = Augusta Union Station (until {{circa|1968}})

| distance =

| journeytime = variable

| frequency = Daily

| trainnumber = 1, 2

| seating = Caboose (1969–1983)

| sleeping =

| catering =

| observation =

| map = {{Georgia Cannonball|inline=y}}

}}

The Georgia Cannonball was the given name of an intercity passenger train operated by the Georgia Railroad. It was a local service which ran on the railroad's main line between Atlanta, Georgia and Augusta, Georgia. The railroad was completed between the two cities in 1845. One round trip was dropped in 1968, leaving a single daily round trip on the route.{{cite news |title=Disappearin' railroad blues |last=Platte |first=Mark |agency=The Atlanta Constitution |via=Newspapers.com |date=27 March 1983 |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution/81193992/ 1-G], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution/81194075/ 8-G], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution/81194086/ 9-G]}} {{free access}} The service became a mixed train on July{{nbsp}}1, 1969.{{cite news |work=Railfan |publisher=Carstens Publications |date=1974 |volume=1}} Georgia Railroad declined to join Amtrak in 1971, leaving the service as one of the few intercity rail routes in America which was not operated by the new quasi-government agency.{{cite book |last1=Edmonson |first1=Harold A. |title=Journey to Amtrak |date=1972 |publisher=Kalmbach Publishing |isbn=978-0890240236 |pages=102–104}}{{cite magazine |magazine=Trains|title=Passenger trains operating on the eve of Amtrak |url=https://ctr.trains.com/~/media/import/files/pdf/f/7/7/passenger_trains_operating_on_the_eve_of_amtrak.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224220507/https://ctr.trains.com/~/media/import/files/pdf/f/7/7/passenger_trains_operating_on_the_eve_of_amtrak.pdf |archive-date=2021-02-24 }}{{cite news |title=Amtrak's beginnings |url=https://www.trains.com/ctr/railroads/railroad-operations/amtraks-beginnings/ |access-date=21 August 2023 |agency=Classic Trains |date=June 5, 2001}} The final passenger run occurred on May{{nbsp}}6, 1983;{{cite news |last1=Schanche Jr. |first1=Don |title=Buffs Saying 'Bye to Cry: 'All Aboard' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-macon-telegraph/130383484/ |access-date=21 August 2023 |agency=The Macon Telegraph |via=Newspapers.com |date=27 Apr 1983 |page=1B}} {{free access}} by then a normal trip between endpoints could take up to twelve hours.{{cite news |last1=Secrest |first1=David K. |title=PSC eliminates passenger train routes in state |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-journal/130383380/ |access-date=21 August 2023 |agency=The Atlanta Journal |via=Newspapers.com |date=April 6, 1983 |page=2B}} {{free access}}