Greenville and Northern Railway
Encyclopedia
The Greenville and Northern Railroad was a shortline railroad
formerly operating between Travelers Rest
and Greenville, South Carolina
, 11.3 miles (18.2 km). The railroad was part of the Pinsly Railroad Company
after 1957 before being purchased by RailTex
in 1997. Operations ended in February 1998 and the railroad was abandoned in 2005.
completed construction of the railroad north out of Greenville in 1887, reaching Marietta in November 1888 and River Falls in March 1899. The railroad was not successful and was abandoned until 1904 when the Greenville and Knoxville Railroad
was formed to reopen the line. In 1914 the railroad once again reorganized as the Greenville and Western Railroad
, and rechartered as the Greenville and Northern in 1920. After being cut back to Travelers Rest the remaining line was purchased by the Pinsly Railroad Company in July 1957.
Primary traffic included scrap, cotton waste, vermiculite, peat moss, paper, lumber, and chemicals, generating approximately 2,000 carloads in 1993. Annual carloads over the line declined from 1,642 in 1994 to 1,066 by 1996. The railroad interchanged with Norfolk Southern
and CSX Transportation
at Greenville near the end of its life, as well as numerous predecessor railroads to both companies.
On April 24, 1997, the Carolina Piedmont Railroad acquired the entire line from Greenville to Travelers Rest and on May 28, 1999, Greenville County purchased the Greenville and Northern from the Carolina Piedmont Railroad. The railroad was abandoned in 2005 and is in the process of being converted into a rail-trail, although the rails are still intact in many sections.
Shortline railroad
A shortline railroad is a small or mid-sized railroad company that operates over a relatively short distance relative to larger, national railroad networks. The term is used primarily in the USA and Canada...
formerly operating between Travelers Rest
Travelers Rest, South Carolina
Travelers Rest is a city in Greenville County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 4,099 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Greenville–Mauldin–Easley Metropolitan Statistical Area. "TR", as the city is known around the area, is just north of Greenville...
and Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
, 11.3 miles (18.2 km). The railroad was part of the Pinsly Railroad Company
Pinsly Railroad Company
frame|right|Company logoPinsly Railroad Company, based in Westfield, Massachusetts, is a holding company of these short line railroads:*Arkansas Midland Railroad*Florida Central Railroad*Florida Midland Railroad*Florida Northern Railroad...
after 1957 before being purchased by RailTex
RailTex
RailTex was a transportation holding company that specialized in owning and operating short line railroads across North America.Based in San Antonio, Texas, the public company was a leader in making unprofitable lines shed by Class I railroads into viable transportation routes.The company was sold...
in 1997. Operations ended in February 1998 and the railroad was abandoned in 2005.
History
The Carolina, Knoxville and Western RailwayCarolina, Knoxville and Western Railway
The Carolina, Knoxville and Western Railway was a South Carolina railroad that existed in the latter half of the 19th century.The Carolina, Knoxville and Western Railway was formed in 1887....
completed construction of the railroad north out of Greenville in 1887, reaching Marietta in November 1888 and River Falls in March 1899. The railroad was not successful and was abandoned until 1904 when the Greenville and Knoxville Railroad
Greenville and Knoxville Railroad
The Greenville and Knoxville Railroad was a South Carolina railroad that operated in the early 20th century.The Greenville and Knoxville was formed in 1907, to reopen the 16-mile route between Greenville, South Carolina, and River Falls, South Carolina, abandoned by the Carolina, Knoxville and...
was formed to reopen the line. In 1914 the railroad once again reorganized as the Greenville and Western Railroad
Greenville and Western Railroad
The Greenville and Western Railroad was a South Carolina railroad company that operated in the western part of the state in the early part of the 20th century....
, and rechartered as the Greenville and Northern in 1920. After being cut back to Travelers Rest the remaining line was purchased by the Pinsly Railroad Company in July 1957.
Primary traffic included scrap, cotton waste, vermiculite, peat moss, paper, lumber, and chemicals, generating approximately 2,000 carloads in 1993. Annual carloads over the line declined from 1,642 in 1994 to 1,066 by 1996. The railroad interchanged with Norfolk Southern
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
and CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
at Greenville near the end of its life, as well as numerous predecessor railroads to both companies.
On April 24, 1997, the Carolina Piedmont Railroad acquired the entire line from Greenville to Travelers Rest and on May 28, 1999, Greenville County purchased the Greenville and Northern from the Carolina Piedmont Railroad. The railroad was abandoned in 2005 and is in the process of being converted into a rail-trail, although the rails are still intact in many sections.