New Jersey Southern Railway was created in 1879.

During the 96 years the Southern Railway operated, the company acquired 13 roads/routes. Of these there were four that were most significant to the operation of the railway. They were the Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railway, the Georgia Southern and Florida Railway, the New Orleans and North Eastern Railway, and the Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia Railway.

The Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway was founded on January 1, 1908 when both the Madras Railway and the Southern Mahratta Railway merged. It was then merged again in 1951 with the Mysore State Railway and the South Indian Railway forming the Southern Railway.

Elkhorn Southern Railway ended in 1911.

Southern Manitoba Railway was created in 1999.