When the C&G was organized in 1974, its goal was to acquire from the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad the trackage and other assets operated by the predecessor company and to rehabilitate it.
In 1985, a wholly-owned subsidiary of C&G, Delta Transportation Co., (Delta), was formed for the purpose of acquiring approximately 63 miles of rail line contiguous and connecting with the C&G's existing rail line in the Mississippi delta. This acquisition expanded the areas serviced by the railroad to include North Greenville, Cleveland, Hollandale and Leland, Mississippi. In September, 1995, Delta merged with the C&G. After the merger, Delta was dissolved.
The region in which C&G operates has abundant natural resources and a favorable labor climate. These factors, together with the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway on the east end of the railroad, the Mississippi River on the west end and the many Class I Railroad connections with the C&G, makes the area serviced by the C&G attractive for new industries. Numerous industrial sites have been developed along the C&G rail line.
The C&G provides feeder traffic for interchange with other railroads as well as local freight service. The majority of C&G's business is through interchange. C&G maintains interchange connections with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, Luxapalila Valley Railroad, Norfolk Southern, Golden Triangle Railroad and the Kansas City Southern (KCS) at Columbus; with the KCS at West Point and Artesia; with the Illinois Central (IC) at Winona and Greenwood; and the CSXT Transportation Company at Birmingham, Alabama through a car haul agreement with the KCS. C&G also has an interchange with the Great River Railroad at Metcalf, Mississippi, which serves the Port of Rosedale on the Mississippi River.