The Columbus and Western Railway (C&W) is a historic railroad that operated in Georgia, United States. Organized in 1880, the C&W was founded to connect Columbus, Georgia, to Birmingham, Alabama. The same year, the C&W started by purchasing the Savannah and Memphis Railroad, which ran between Opelika and Goodwater, Alabama. Two years later, it purchased a branch of the Western Railroad of Alabama between Columbus and Opelika. In 1888, the C&W constructed the final leg of the line from Goodwater to Birmingham and later that year merged into the Savannah and Western Railroad. References Predecessors of the Central of Georgia Railway Defunct Georgia (U.S. state) railroads Railway companies established in 1880 Railway companies disestablished in 1888 Defunct Alabama railroads 1880 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)