MACON, Georgia — There are a lot of hidden gems in this city.
Among them is a place on the edge of downtown Macon.
The economic hub is known as "Brosnan Yard."
Thousands of trains glide through to serve central Georgia and other communities in the Peach State.
At least 10,000 rail cars shriek through Norfolk Southern's noisy Brosnan Yard.
Chad Hitt is one of many overseeing operations at this location.
"Every facet of the economy is touched in one way or another by the rail industry," Hitt said.
Daniel Bolinaga is the superintendent of terminals with Norfolk Southern.
He told us Georgia's rail history dates back to the 1830s.
By the mid-1850s, according to him, Georgia had more rail miles than any other southern state, making the Brosnan Yard a critical stop.
"The yard is named after D.W. Brosnan, who was one of the former presidents," Bolinaga said.
He was a feared but respected leader of Southern Railway, a predecessor to Norfolk Southern, in the early and mid-1960s.
Brosnan's strategy to cut costs and downsize workers was met with opposition.
Since 1968, a plaque bears the name of the man remembered for redirecting the rail industry.
Bolinaga said the massive 960-acre facility is known as a classification yard.
"On the classification side, we take inbound trains and divide them up by the individual freight cars according to their destination," Bolinaga explained.
After that, the rail cars travel around the Peach State and the country.
On the serving side, he said," We actually build trains that directly deliver freight and pull freight from our local communities and customers."
Yard leaders rely on passionate workers like Freddie Mack, Jr.
"It's all about production and getting these trains out in a timely manner," Mack said.
It's a crucial and critical job.
"Moving the freight and satisfying the customers [is] the ultimate goal here," Mack said.
He's one of the first people getting the train-building process started.
The rail yard workers help each other separate and build trains to head to at least six southeastern cities.
"We literally touch Brunswick, Savannah, Jacksonville, parts of South Carolina and Eastern Alabama, including Georgia," Bolinaga said.
It's clear the yard's importance cannot be overblown.
Bolinaga sees it as another way Georgia's economy stays on track.
"Rail continues to be a great asset and providing that long haul forever," Bolinaga said.
A wide range of products rolls through the yard including vehicles, timber and stone.