I thought that you all might find this article interesting. It is about the local short-line “empire” owned by Benny Ray here in Georgia. I found it surprising that this writer appears to have put a lot of effort into this story, and it answered a bunch of my questions about the lines.
Unfortunately, they make you register to read it, but at least it is free and they have some good pictues and a map.
http://onlineathens.com/stories/032005/new_20050320100.shtml