Rise and shine, Atlanta

President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration for 11 Georgia counties: Appling, Brooks, Coffee, Columbia, Jefferson, Liberty, Lowndes, Pierce, Richmond, Tattnall and Toombs.

Long before the California gold rush, the North Georgia mountains were the site of the nation’s first gold rush. Dahlonega’s fortunes changed forever in 1828, nearly two decades before the famous California Gold Rush took place, when gold was discovered in the North Georgia mountains.

The Southeastern Railway Museum has removed its 1957 vintage park train from service as its primary operating locomotive’s engine undergoes a complete engine overhaul. The museum shipped the historic locomotive engine to Industrial Engine Rebuilders in St. Paul, Minnesota, for the project. It is expected to return to the museum in early to mid-October. Miniature Train Company (MTC) built the museum’s park train sets in 1957. The locomotive is substantially original and one of less