Ga. county looks for funds to save, convert railroad trestle known from R.E.M. album

Ga. trestle from R.E.M. album may become trail

ATHENS, Ga. — An aging Georgia railroad trestle known for gracing a 1980s R.E.M. album may be preserved as part of a trail network if voters approve a county sales tax plan.

Officials in Athens, Ga., where the band formed, say they won’t decide if they can save the wooden trestle until voters in November decide on extending a 1-percent sales tax for capital projects.

The rail bridge over a creek was on the back cover of the early R.E.M. album “Murmur.” It has come to be known as the Murmur Trestle.

Construction on a hiking and biking trail is set to begin within months, but the trestle is not part of the stretch already funded.

Athens-Clarke County bought the trestle for $25,000 in 2001 after railroad company CSX Transportation tore down part of it, angering R.E.M. fans.

Information from: Athens Banner-Herald, www.onlineathens.com