Western & Atlantic Railroad Obsolete 50 Cent Note w/ Postcard - 1862 dated Georgia Railway Fractional Banknote

Red train. October 15,1862. Comes with historical description titles 'Great Locomotive Chase' and photo of the 'General' Confederated locomotive.

The Western & Atlantic Railroad (W&A), chartered in 1836, was a unique state-owned project with a singular purpose: to connect Georgia’s interior to the Tennessee River. By linking the burgeoning village of Terminus—now Atlanta—to Chattanooga, Tennessee, the state aimed to harness the agricultural wealth of the Midwest. The completion of the line in 1850 transformed Atlanta into a crucial regional transportation hub, demonstrating the success of state-sponsored infrastructure in challenging private enterprise and reshaping the economic landscape of the South.

During the American Civil War, the railroad gained international recognition as a primary supply route for Confederate forces. It was the backdrop for the legendary Great Locomotive Chase in 1862, when Union raiders audaciously hijacked the engine The General in a daring attempt to destroy the line’s bridges. After the war, the state opted to lease the tracks to private operators rather than managing them directly. Today, the W&A remains under the ownership of the State of Georgia and is currently under a long-term lease to CSX Transportation, continuing its legacy as a vital link in the nation’s freight network.