Editing Railroad history (section)

==== Atlanta & Richmond Air-Line Railway ====

* https://www.carolana.com/NC/Transportation/railroads/nc_rrs_atlanta_richmond_air_line.html
** Acronym: A&RAL
** Chartered 1870, line operational 1873, service ended 1874 (see below)
** Started: Atlanta; ended: Richmond
** The Atlanta & Richmond Air Line Railway was organized in North Carolina in 1870, combining the Georgia Air Line Railroad Company and the Air Line Railroad Company of South Carolina [https://www.carolana.com/NC/Transportation/railroads/nc_rrs_air_line_of_sc.html]. It was controlled by the '''Richmond and Danville Railroad.''' The R&D planned to build a line from Charlotte, NC to Atlanta, GA but could not do so under its own name due to limitations in its charter.
*** + 1870 the merger of the Air Line Railroad of South Carolina and the Georgia Air Line Railroad (GA company).
** The first 53 miles out of Atlanta were finished by 1871. In 1872, the R&D extended its credit to guarantee the last stages of construction.
** By April 9, 1872, 12 miles were operational between Charlotte and the Catawba River.
** The first passenger train went from Charlotte to Spartanburg on March 31, 1873.
** The entire line was completed in September of 1873.
** '''The first recorded trip of a train across Greer tracks: late Sunday night, September 28, 1873.'''
** The A&R ran ads for the “Piedmont Route” from Charlotte to New Orleans in the Charlotte Observer starting Dec. 11, 1873. It advertised 6 hours quicker to Atlanta than any other route.
** The company entered receivership in November of 1874 and was sold under foreclosure in December of 1876. The new bondholders reorganized the line as the '''Atlanta and Charlotte Air Line Railway''' [https://www.carolana.com/NC/Transportation/railroads/nc_rrs_atlanta_charlotte_air_line.html] in February of 1877.
*** + 1877 reorganized as Atlanta & Charlotte Air Line Railway. Still owned by Richmond & Danville Railroad.
*** *1874 bankrupt.