Originally intended to connect Cartersville and Prior, in Georgia, the Cartersville and Van Wert Railroad started construction of its 5-foot broad gauge line in Cartersville westward, starting in 1866. After reaching Taylorsville in 1870, the line was reorganized as the Cherokee Railroad due to financial mis-dealings of its owners. The Cherokee Railroad extended the line further west to Rockmart.
Meanwhile, in Alabama, the East and West Railroad of Alabama received it 1882 charter to begin building a line between Esom Hill, in Georgia, to Broken Arrow, AL. In Taylorsville, GA, it connected with the Cherokee Railroad, which it purchased outright in 1886. The E&W Railroad was purchased and made part of the Atlanta and Birmingham Air-Line Railway, a subsidiary of the Seaboard Air Line Railway. The A&BA-L extended the line further into Alabama.
