SPARTA, Ga. – The Sandersville Railroad announced it has added Veal Farms Transload, LLC and Revive Milling, LLC as additional users of its planned rail spur in Hancock County, Georgia. Veal Farms Transload and Revive Milling will use the spur to transport refined grain ingredients and other agricultural products to food producers and biodegradable plastic manufactures.
The 4.5-mile-long Hanson Spur will connect the CSX rail line that runs along Georgia Highway 16 in Hancock County to the Heidelberg Materials aggregate quarry in Sparta, Ga. The spur is projected to generate over $1.5 million in annual economic benefit for Hancock County.
The Hanson Spur will allow Veal Farms and Revive Milling to reach new customers that they cannot currently serve due to rail service limitations and high transportation costs. “We are excited that the Hanson Spur will serve as an integral part of Veal Farms and Revive Milling’s continued growth,” Sandersville Railroad President Ben J. Tarbutton, III said in a press release.
Sandersville Railroad plans for the Hanson Spur to be fully operational by the end of 2024. It will see one trip per day Monday through Friday. The Spur will be Sandersville Railroad’s first expansion in Hancock County.
The Sandersville Railroad Company is a privately held short line based in Sandersville, Ga. Established in 1893, the 130-year-old company maintains 10 miles of mainline track and 5 miles of branch lines. The railroad is the single largest kaolin rail originator in the world.
