Did the Macon and Birmingham have its own crossing over the Flint River or did it have trackage rights over the nearby Southern Ry. bridge? If it did have a separate structure, how far downstream was it from the Southern Ry. bridge and what is now GA route 18? ( from what I can tell on USGS quad sheets, it seems that it would have been close by due to the close proximity of Pine Mnt. to the south.) Was it a steel truss or something less substantial? Finally, are there any visible remnants of the substructure(i.e. piers)or the approaches?

-- Eric Rickert (au_tiger777@hotmail.com), January 29, 2002

Answers

Eric:

Hello. The M&B had their own bridge across the FLint River. According to the 1915 Trackage Maps, the bridge was a hugh steel trestle crossing over the river. Today, the bridge trestle is gone but some of the piers and abuttments remain visible including some of the approaches which are large embankments. Thunder Station is still standing and has a sign near the depot stating M&B Railroad. We hope to have some photos of Thunder and Flint River posted on the website very soon. The area is now being occupied by a boy scout camp and it is retalively easy to get to off of SR 109 near Thunder. The M&B never did have trackage rights over the Southern Rwy. Perhaps one of our members, Bob Hanson, could shed some more light on the subject.

-- Mark Mosely (MOSEGSF@aol.com), January 30, 2002.

Mark, What excatly is a hugh trestle?

-- Eric Rickert (au_tiger777@hotmail.com), January 31, 2002.

Eric:

According to the 1915 M&B right of way maps, the bridge over the Flint River was follows:

From Survey Station 3398+38.9 to 3391+10 which equates to 728.9 feet long. The map also indicates that there were 2 steel spans with 2 trestles as the approach ends. There were no horizontal curves on the bridge. THe map does not indicate any vertical curve grades. The site must have been magnificent! I would love to find a photo of it. There has also been speculation that when the M&B was abandoned in 1926 that these spans were relocated to the Potato Creek bridge. As you know, the Central of Georgia began using the ex-M&B line from THomaston to Crest for a very long time in which that portion of the line was upgraded to accomodate the CofG traffic. The ICC shut down the M&B in 1922 due to bad railing and trestles. A complete set of the M&B 1915 maps are available from the GS&F HS at $10 per set and they are well worth your money.

-- Mark S. Mosely (MOSEGSF@aol.com), February 02, 2002.

Mark, I finally got to see Thunder Station last weekend on a railfan trip down to Junction City. However, given the deteriorated condition of the building, I'd say it won't be standing much longer. The proper owner, whom I got permission from before I snooped around it, also thinks the buildings days are very numbered. So if you haven't already, you may want to document as much you can about this station before it's too late.

-- Eric Rickert (au_tiger777@hotmail.com), July 29, 2002.