Macon Magazine

This summer it's all aboard for the Sam Shortline train ride experience. It's Georgia's only rolling state park, which is cool by itself, but rarely in our fast-paced world do we get the chance to slow down and take in Georgia's historic scenery from the comfort of a sleepy little passenger train. You'll begin the ride at the Georgia Veterans State Park, right next to Lake Blackshear in Cordele. Don't be surprised if your heart flutters a little bit when you first see the cars. They are all 1949 vintage vehicles standing tall on the tracks with the sun gleaming off their silver paint. It offers your first glimpse of this yesteryear outing with a Jimmy Carter theme. "There's a certain mystery. You don't know what you're going to see. We are not a nation of train travelers anymore," said Lee Kinnamon, chairman of the Southwest Georgia Railroad Excursion Authority. That is true, but things looked a lot different in the 1920s and '30s when President Carter was a kid. Kinnamon said Carter would travel on the Seaboard Air Line Railway from Archery to Americus to take in a Saturday a ernoon movie. In fact, President Carter had a big hand in bringing the train back to life. The project was his baby in the late 1990s and he began to work with the Georgia General Assembly to make it happen. "He realizes that he is an attraction," Kinnamon said. President Carter definitely has had a fascinating life, and on this day trip you'll learn more about his hometown of Plains. Inside the air-conditioned cars, you'll sit in big, blue seats equipped with windows that stretch practically to the ceiling. As the gentle chug of the engine starts to move the massive machine forward, you'll get into a groove of relaxation. In the first 20 minutes, you'll roll over Lake Blackshear and see the blue water engulf the scenery. Then, as the green trees and farmland pass by, you may think to yourself, "A snack wouldn't be too bad right now." No problem. Kinnamon said people are nervous to walk between the cars, but they shouldn't be. It's totally safe and the commissary car is loaded with hot pretzels, coffee, soda and other snacks. It's also where you can chat with the conductors and buy a souvenir or two. Late in the morning, you'll arrive at your main destination. "Pulling into Plains, I think it's especially special for people who come from cities. There is a nostalgia that overwhelms them," Kinnamon said. Main Street is laid out in a row of stores with a big Jimmy Carter banner proudly laying claim to his history as our 39th president. Kinnamon said there is a reason for Main Street's linear design. "Plains was formed in 1885. It came with the arrival of the railroad, and you can always tell a railroad town because the buildings are all lined up in front of the track," he said. So, from an architectural stand point, you'll see what President Carter saw decades ago. But don't worry, the area comes with nostalgic but modern-day treats. On the train, you can order lunch ahead from Buffalo Café. Kim Fuller is the director for the Friends of Jimmy Carter, and she says the buffalo served as the mascot for Plains High School. "Georgia Eats voted the Buffalo burger one of the state's best about four or five years ago," she said. Eat your meal inside the restaurant, which is decked out with Plains High School memorabilia, or enjoy it outside in the rose garden. Make sure you save room for dessert. At Plains Peanuts you can opt for homemade peanut butter so -serve ice cream. And, as the name suggests, you can immerse yourself in the peanut world by sampling any kind of peanut you want. Folks are T IF YOU GO A coach seat costs about $40 per person. Military, child and senior discounts are available. If you want more, sign up for the $50 Deluxe car, which includes snacks. If you want to splurge, $120 gets a seat on the Dearing car. It includes a full homecooked lunch prepared on the train and you have access to the back platform, where you can sit outside. samshortline.com. 229-276-0755 78 maconmagazine.com | JUNE/JULY 2021

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