SAM Shortline celebration right on track
Special Photo
From staff reports
CORDELE — In October, the SAM Shortline Excursion Train is celebrating 20 years of bringing tourists and economic development to southwest Georgia.
The train made its first public trip from Cordele through Leslie, Americus, and Plains to Archery on Oct. 26, 2002. That run capped two years of planning and fulfilled the desire of former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn to maintain the prosperity of their hometown of Plains.
Since that inaugural run, the SAM has contributed millions of dollars in economic stimulus to the area. Despite social distancing in 2021, which reduced the passenger load, the train hosted 17,000 riders. According to the Georgia tourism calculator, that translates to a total economic impact of $2,697,496.
At its inception, some members of the Georgia General Assembly predicted the tourist train could never survive.
“I feel fully vindicated; I want to continue supporting the train and encouraging the development of events to fulfill the mission of increasing tourism and economic development,” Southwest Georgia Railroad Excursion Authority Chairman Lee Kinnamon said.
In addition to the weekly trips to Plains, there have been numerous special trains this year, including the murder mystery dinner trains, wine and cheese tasting trains, Thomas the Tank Engine, and now the anniversary specials. In just the last year, the train has been painted, the interior of several cars renovated, and kitchen capabilities improved.
The authority, which operates the state-owned train, is recognizing the hard work of hundreds of local and state leaders, volunteers, and citizens with the week of special events.
On Saturday, state and local officials, as well as passengers, will depart from Georgia Veterans State Park, stop in Americus and then spend two hours in President Carter’s hometown of Plains for speeches and special presentations. The train will then visit Archery, Carter’s boyhood home, before returning to the park.
On the actual anniversary date, Oct. 26, volunteers, local officials, and visitors will celebrate with a cake-cutting in Cordele, followed by a three-hour train ride to Leslie and return.
In half the train, a dinner gala on Oct. 29, will raise funds to restore the historic Samuel H. Hawkins car. Halloween passengers also will ride that train to Plains for trunk-or-treat.
Tickets are available at www.samshortline.com or by calling (229) 276-0755
Author
Related Articles
Southwest Georgia artists recognized at packed opening of exhibition
The annual juried exhibition, one of the region’s largest showcases of visual art, features approximately 46 artists and nearly 90 works spanning painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography and mixed media.
Powerful performances drive Theatre Albany’s ‘The Color Purple’
From the street, strands of purple ribbon wind around the white columns of the historic theater, hinting at the story waiting beyond its doors. Inside the foyer, a carefully curated slideshow flickers across a large screen, cycling through the faces of the cast. Some are seasoned performers. Others are stepping onto a stage for the very first time. Teachers stand alongside former students. Parents perform beside their children. People who worship in different churches, work different jobs and come from different corners of Southwest Georgia gather beneath the same lights to tell the same story.
Annual exhibition showcases southwest Georgia talent, community connections
Now in its 26th year, the exhibition features work by artists from across Southwest Georgia and offers residents an opportunity to engage directly with the area’s creative community.
