Construction Underway on Rail Viewing Platform

On any given day in downtown Toccoa you will see train and railroad enthusiasts camped out along the grassy area by the Toccoa Train Depot watching the freight trains and Amtrak trains go by.

Now, construction is underway for a new train viewing platform for just that purpose.

Work on the platform began this week along a grassy area on Foreacre St.

City Manager Billy Morse said earlier the idea to build the platform came from a study done last year by the Tourism Product Development Resource Team from Atlanta.

“The construction of a railway viewing platform at the downtown depot was recommended by the Georgia Department of Economic Development as a potential tourism resource to increase economic vitality in the region,” said Toccoa Mayor David Austin. “We see its construction serving as a necessary addition to develop the infrastructure of our historic depot and in Downtown Toccoa.”

Morse said the team had recommended the City integrate the Amtrak and general railroad culture in this area into the downtown environment by creating experiences that invite rail fans to downtown for train watching and photography.

He says the City also opted for the train viewing platform because it could serve multiple purposes.

“It’s basically a shelter that would be built near the railroad tracks at Toccoa Train Depot that can be used as a place to sit and watch the trains,” Morse said. “There are a lot of people who have an interest in trains and this would serve that purpose. Plus, it would serve as an alternate waiting area for people waiting for the Amtrak train, which comes through our City twice a day.”

In February, Toccoa was one of 11 communities in Georgia to receive part of a $43-million dollar grant distribution from the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Tourism Division to help pay for the new platform.

Morse expects the platform to be completed in two to three weeks, weather permitting.