Dates of operation 1852–1871 Locale Alabama | Track gauge 5 ft (1,524 mm) | |
Successor Alabama Central Railroad Company
East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railroad Company
Railroad Company
East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railway Company | ||
The Selma and Meridian Rail Road Company was incorporated under special act of Alabama on February 7, 1850 as The Alabama and Mississippi Rivers Rail Road Company. On November 29, 1864, the name of the company was changed to The Selma and Meridian Rail Road Company.
The company constructed 77.3 miles (124.4 km) of railroad line between Selma, Alabama and York, Alabama between 1852 and 1864.
During the period from 1864 to 1868, The Selma and Meridian Rail Road Company leased from and operated 11 miles (18 km) of railroad line built by The Northwestern Rail Road Company of Alabama between Uniontown, Alabama and Newbern, Alabama in 1863 and 1864. On December 31, 1868, Cahaba, Marion and Greensboro Railroad Company bought the Northwestern Rail Road Company of Alabama, which had been incorporated under act of Alabama on February 20, 1854.
During the period from 1864 to 1868, The Selma and Meridian Rail Road Company leased from and operated 27 miles (43 km) of railroad line built by The North East and South West Alabama Railroad Company between Meridian, Mississippi and York, Alabama in 1858 through 1860. The North East and South West Alabama Railroad Company was incorporated under special acts of Alabama, December 15, 1853, and of Mississippi, February 27, 1854. The North East and South West Alabama Railroad Company took advantage of the land grant aid under the Act of Congress of June 3, 1856, accepted by the State of Alabama, June 20, 1858 and designated in part to the company by joint resolution of the Alabama legislature on June 30, 1858. No attempt to operate the North East and South West Alabama Railroad Company line was made until a connection was made by the Alabama and Mississippi Rivers Railroad Company in 1864 before the change in name to The Selma and Meridian Railroad Company. North East and South West Alabama Railroad Company was consolidated into Wills Valley Railroad Company on November 18, 1868. Wills Valley Railroad Company then changed its name to Alabama and Chattanooga Railroad Company.
The Selma and Meridian Rail Road Company was placed in receivership on March 19, 1868. The company was sold in foreclosure on May 1, 1871 and conveyed to The Alabama Central Railroad Company. On June 15, 1881, The Alabama Central Railroad Company was sold to East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railroad Company. East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railroad Company went into receivership on January 7, 1885, was sold in foreclosure on May 25, 1886, and conveyed to East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railway Company on June 30, 1886.
The property eventually became part of Southern Railway Company on July 7, 1894, through its acquisition of the East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railway Company.