Morehead and South Fork Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Morehead and South Fork Railroad is a terminal switching railroad serving the port facilities of Morehead City, North Carolina
and Radio Island with 9.5 miles (15.3 km) of track. Created in 2005 as a successor to Carolina Rail Services, the railroad was initially a Gulf & Ohio
subsidiary before a change of contract in 2010 transferred operational responsibility to the Carolina Coastal Railway
.
Traffic includes rubber, chemicals, metal, and others, generating 3,000 annual carloads.
was dropped by NS in 1937. As a result, the Beaufort & Morehead was created on May 31, 1937 to operate the line vacated by NS.
On January 12, 1981 the North Carolina Ports Railway Commission acquired the Beaufort & Morehead Railway and began independent operations. In 1986, the NCPRC transferred operations of the Beaufort & Morehead to Carolina Rail Services. 1998 brought an additional change, as the Beaufort & Morehead was merged with the state owned North Carolina Railroad
. The following year control of the franchise was transferred back to the North Carolina Ports Railway Commission.
Action by the state government in 2002 abolished the NCPRC and merged its assets with the North Carolina State Ports Authority
. Further change came in 2005 as Gulf & Ohio created a new subsidiary, Morehead & South Fork, to replace the Beaufort & Morehead and take control of the lease from Carolina Rail Services. Ownership remained with the State Port Authority.
In February 2010, the Carolina Coastal Railway
took control of the lease and began operating the Morehead & South Fork.
Morehead City, North Carolina
Morehead City is a port city in Carteret County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 8,661 at the 2010 census. Morehead City celebrated the 150th anniversary of its founding on May 5, 2007...
and Radio Island with 9.5 miles (15.3 km) of track. Created in 2005 as a successor to Carolina Rail Services, the railroad was initially a Gulf & Ohio
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...
subsidiary before a change of contract in 2010 transferred operational responsibility to the Carolina Coastal Railway
Carolina Coastal Railway
Carolina Coastal Railway is a shortline railroad.CLNA operates of line from Pinetown to Belhaven, North Carolina. CLNA interchanges with Norfolk Southern at Pinetown....
.
Traffic includes rubber, chemicals, metal, and others, generating 3,000 annual carloads.
History
The first rail line reached Morehead City in 1858, and was constructed by the state sponsored Atlantic and North Carolina Railroad. Beginning in 1904 the railroad was operated under lease by the original Norfolk Southern Railway. The lease on the segment from Morehead City to BeaufortBeaufort, North Carolina
Beaufort is a town in Carteret County, North Carolina, United States. Established in 1709, it is the third-oldest town in North Carolina.The population was 4,189 at the 2008 census and it is the county seat of Carteret County...
was dropped by NS in 1937. As a result, the Beaufort & Morehead was created on May 31, 1937 to operate the line vacated by NS.
On January 12, 1981 the North Carolina Ports Railway Commission acquired the Beaufort & Morehead Railway and began independent operations. In 1986, the NCPRC transferred operations of the Beaufort & Morehead to Carolina Rail Services. 1998 brought an additional change, as the Beaufort & Morehead was merged with the state owned North Carolina Railroad
North Carolina Railroad
The North Carolina Railroad is a state-owned rail corridor extending from Morehead City, North Carolina to Charlotte, North Carolina. The railroad carries over seventy freight trains and eight passenger trains daily...
. The following year control of the franchise was transferred back to the North Carolina Ports Railway Commission.
Action by the state government in 2002 abolished the NCPRC and merged its assets with the North Carolina State Ports Authority
North Carolina State Ports Authority
The North Carolina State Ports Authority is an authority set up by the state of North Carolina to develop and operate seaports in Wilmington and Morehead City, two inland container facilities, one in Charlotte and one in Greensboro, and a marina in Southport. It is planning a large international...
. Further change came in 2005 as Gulf & Ohio created a new subsidiary, Morehead & South Fork, to replace the Beaufort & Morehead and take control of the lease from Carolina Rail Services. Ownership remained with the State Port Authority.
In February 2010, the Carolina Coastal Railway
Carolina Coastal Railway
Carolina Coastal Railway is a shortline railroad.CLNA operates of line from Pinetown to Belhaven, North Carolina. CLNA interchanges with Norfolk Southern at Pinetown....
took control of the lease and began operating the Morehead & South Fork.