The Laurinburg and Southern Railroad (reporting mark

Reporting mark

A reporting mark is a two-, three-, or four-letter alphabetic code used to identify owners or lessees of rolling stock and other equipment used on the North American railroad network. The marks are stenciled on each piece of equipment, along with a one-to-six-digit number, which together uniquely...

 LRS) is a short-line railroad operating in North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...

. The railroad has 28 mi (45.1 km) of track that runs south from Raeford

Raeford, North Carolina

Raeford is a city in Hoke County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,386 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Hoke County. The county was named after Confederate General Robert F. Hoke, as Tar Heel native....

 to Laurinburg, North Carolina

Laurinburg, North Carolina

Laurinburg is a mid-sized city in Scotland County, North Carolina, United States. It is the county seat of Scotland County. Located in southern North Carolina near the South Carolina state border, Laurinburg is southwest of Fayetteville and is home to St. Andrews Presbyterian College...

. In the past the Laurinburg and Southern controlled a number of other small railroads in North Carolina and Virginia. The railroad has been owned by Gulf and Ohio Railways

Gulf and Ohio Railways

Gulf & Ohio Railways is a holding company for seven different short-line railroads in the Southern United States, as well as a tourist-oriented passenger train, and locomotive leasing and repair service through Knoxville Locomotive Works...

 since 1994.

History

The Laurinburg & Southern was formed on March 4, 1909 as the Laurinburg & Southern Railroad Company and began operations in July over a line from Laurinburg to Wagram

Wagram, North Carolina

Wagram is a town in Scotland County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 801 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Wagram is located at ....

. Additional trackage was purchased from the Aberdeen & Rockfish

Aberdeen and Rockfish Railroad

The Aberdeen and Rockfish Railroad is a shortline operating in North Carolina. At one time the AR was a Class 2 railroad. The railroad has of track that runs from Aberdeen to Fayetteville, North Carolina.-History:...

 into Raeford

Raeford, North Carolina

Raeford is a city in Hoke County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,386 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Hoke County. The county was named after Confederate General Robert F. Hoke, as Tar Heel native....

 in 1921.

In addition to rail services over the 28 miles (45.1 km) between Laurinburg and Raeford the Laurinburg & Southern expanded to include several other shortline railroads in North Carolina and one operation in Virginia. Acquisitions included the Fairmont & Western and Red Springs & Northern in 1984, the Franklin County Railroad and Nash County Railroad

Nash County Railroad

The Nash County Railroad is the operator of the Rocky Mount & Western railroad, connecting with CSX Transportation at Rocky Mount and running to Nashville, North Carolina...

 in 1985, as well as the Saltville Railroad in Virginia from 1982. The Yadkin Valley Railroad

Yadkin Valley Railroad

The Yadkin Valley Railroad is the trade name of the Piedmont and Atlantic Railroad and is a shortline railroad operating two lines leased from the Norfolk Southern Railway originating out of Rural Hall, North Carolina for a distance of...

 would begin operations in 1989 under L&S control.

Upon the 1994 acquisition of the Laurinburg & Southern holding company by Gulf & Ohio the railroad had been reduced to owning only its namesake line and two others, the Nash County railroad and Yadkin Valley Railroad. The other railroads had been abandoned or were out of service. The Nash County railroad and Yadkin Valley railroad are still operated by Gulf & Ohio along with the Laurinburg & Southern.

Traffic

L&S moves 7,500 cars annually serving four industries utilizing three locomotives. The following items are currently shipped on the L&S:

• Feed Ingredients
• Soda Ash
• Lime
• Fertilizer
• Chemicals
• Glass

The L&S has interchanges with the Aberdeen and Rockfish Railroad

Aberdeen and Rockfish Railroad

The Aberdeen and Rockfish Railroad is a shortline operating in North Carolina. At one time the AR was a Class 2 railroad. The railroad has of track that runs from Aberdeen to Fayetteville, North Carolina.-History:...

 in Raeford, North Carolina

Raeford, North Carolina

Raeford is a city in Hoke County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,386 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Hoke County. The county was named after Confederate General Robert F. Hoke, as Tar Heel native....

 and with CSX in Laurinburg, North Carolina

Laurinburg, North Carolina

Laurinburg is a mid-sized city in Scotland County, North Carolina, United States. It is the county seat of Scotland County. Located in southern North Carolina near the South Carolina state border, Laurinburg is southwest of Fayetteville and is home to St. Andrews Presbyterian College...

.