Railroad artifacts tell story of how trains built Atlanta

ATLANTA – A newly restored steam locomotive that chased a stolen train in the American Civil War is helping to tell the story of how railroads fueled Atlanta’s growth since its earliest days.

The Atlanta History Center is using many railroad artifacts, a new exhibit hall and actors playing the roles of historic railroad figures to show how trains forged Atlanta into one of the South’s most important transportation and business hubs.

The newly restored 1856 locomotive “Texas” is paired with the Zero Mile Post, which marked the terminus of the Western & Atlantic Railroad and Atlanta’s epicenter.

History Center President and CEO Sheffield Hale says the exhibit that opened this month aims to tell Atlanta’s origin story — and how railroads shaped the future life of the city and the region.