South Carolina Central Railroad
Encyclopedia
The South Carolina Central Railroad is a class III railroad
that operates over 62 miles (99.8 km) on two separate track segments in South Carolina
. Originally a RailTex
subsidiary upon its start in 1987, the railroad passed to RailAmerica
following their acquisition of RailTex in 2000.
Primary commodities include steel, chemicals, trash, and plastics, amounting to about 30,000 carloads in 2008. Interchange is made with CSX Transportation
at Cheraw
and Florence
.
and Atlantic Coast Line
heritage. The oldest segment originally ran from Cheraw through Society Hill
and Floyd before ending at Florence
. It was constructed by the Cheraw and Darlington Railroad
prior to the Civil War
. The segment connecting Hartsville
to Floyd was built by the Hartsville Railroad
in 1890 for the purpose of connecting with the Cheraw & Darlington. Both segments were absorbed into the Atlantic Coast Line by 1900.
The rest of the line from Hartsville to Bishopville
was part of the Seaboard Air Line before being merged with the Atlantic Coast Line in 1967 to form the Seaboard Coast Line
. The SCL became the Seaboard System
in 1983 and CSX Transportation
in 1986. CSX sold both lines to RailTex
subsidiary South Carolina Central railroad on December 1, 1987. This gave the SCC two disconnected tracks, one running from Cheraw to Society Hill, 12 miles (19.3 km), and a second line from Florence to Bishopville, 42.4 miles (68.2 km).
Initially the South Carolina Central had four separate divisions independent of the operations in northeast South Carolina. The SCC served as a holding company for the Georgia & Alabama
, Georgia Southwestern
, Carolina Piedmont, and the Georgia Great Southern
.
The South Carolina Central's parent company RailTex was acquired by RailAmerica
in 2000.
Class III railroad
A Class III railroad, as defined by the Surface Transportation Board, is a railroad with an annual operating revenue of less than $20 million . The term only applies to United States railroads, but is sometimes applied to other countries...
that operates over 62 miles (99.8 km) on two separate track segments in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. Originally a 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...
subsidiary upon its start in 1987, the railroad passed to RailAmerica
RailAmerica
RailAmerica, Inc., based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a holding company of a number of short-line railroads and regional railroads in the United States and Canada....
following their acquisition of RailTex in 2000.
Primary commodities include steel, chemicals, trash, and plastics, amounting to about 30,000 carloads in 2008. Interchange is made with 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 Cheraw
Cheraw, South Carolina
Cheraw is a town on the Pee Dee River in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 5,524 at the 2000 census and center of an urban cluster with a total population of 9,069. It has been nicknamed "The Prettiest Town in Dixie." The harbor tub USS Cheraw was named in the...
and Florence
Florence, South Carolina
-Municipal government and politics:The City of Florence has a council-manager form of government. The mayor and city council are elected every four years, with no term limits...
.
History
Both routes that comprise the South Carolina Central were of Seaboard Air LineSeaboard Air Line Railroad
The Seaboard Air Line Railroad , which styled itself "The Route of Courteous Service," was an American railroad whose corporate existence extended from April 14, 1900, until July 1, 1967, when it merged with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, its longtime rival, to form the Seaboard Coast Line...
and Atlantic Coast Line
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad was an American railroad that existed between 1900 and 1967, when it merged with the Seaboard Air Line Railroad, its long-time rival, to form the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad...
heritage. The oldest segment originally ran from Cheraw through Society Hill
Society Hill, South Carolina
Society Hill is a town in Darlington County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 700 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Florence Metropolitan Statistical Area...
and Floyd before ending at Florence
Florence, South Carolina
-Municipal government and politics:The City of Florence has a council-manager form of government. The mayor and city council are elected every four years, with no term limits...
. It was constructed by the Cheraw and Darlington Railroad
Cheraw and Darlington Railroad
The Cheraw and Darlington Railroad was a shortline railroad that served South Carolina and, later, North Carolina, beginning before the American Civil War....
prior to the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. The segment connecting Hartsville
Hartsville, South Carolina
Hartsville is a small city in Darlington County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 7,764 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Hartsville is located at ....
to Floyd was built by the Hartsville Railroad
Hartsville Railroad
The Hartsville Railroad was a railroad that served eastern South Carolina in the late 19th century.The Hartsville Railroad Company was chartered by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1884, with the goal of constructing a line starting from Hartsville, South Carolina.The line was completed in...
in 1890 for the purpose of connecting with the Cheraw & Darlington. Both segments were absorbed into the Atlantic Coast Line by 1900.
The rest of the line from Hartsville to Bishopville
Bishopville, South Carolina
Bishopville is a city in Lee County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 3,670 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lee County.-Geography:Bishopville is located at ....
was part of the Seaboard Air Line before being merged with the Atlantic Coast Line in 1967 to form the Seaboard Coast Line
Seaboard Coast Line Railroad
The Seaboard Coast Line Railroad was a former Class I railroad company operating in the Southeastern United States beginning in 1967. Its passenger operations were taken over by Amtrak in 1971...
. The SCL became the Seaboard System
Seaboard System Railroad
The Seaboard System Railroad was a former Class I railroad created by merging the railroads of the Family Lines System. Although sharing common ownership, the railroads of the Family Lines System used different names when conducting business...
in 1983 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...
in 1986. CSX sold both lines to 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...
subsidiary South Carolina Central railroad on December 1, 1987. This gave the SCC two disconnected tracks, one running from Cheraw to Society Hill, 12 miles (19.3 km), and a second line from Florence to Bishopville, 42.4 miles (68.2 km).
Initially the South Carolina Central had four separate divisions independent of the operations in northeast South Carolina. The SCC served as a holding company for the Georgia & Alabama
Georgia and Alabama Railroad
The Georgia and Alabama Railway was formed in 1895 from the failed Savannah, Americus and Montgomery Railway. The G&A expanded rapidly, acquiring the Abbeville and Waycross Railroad and building it further South to Ocilla, GA, obtaining a lease from the Central of Georgia Railroad for trackage...
, Georgia Southwestern
Georgia Southwestern Railroad
The Georgia Southwestern Railroad is a Class III short line railroad company that operates over of track in southwestern Georgia and southeastern Alabama...
, Carolina Piedmont, and the Georgia Great Southern
Georgia Great Southern Railroad
The Georgia Great Southern Railroad was a shortline railroad formerly operating between Dawson and Albany, Georgia, . The railroad was partially abandoned in 1994...
.
The South Carolina Central's parent company RailTex was acquired by RailAmerica
RailAmerica
RailAmerica, Inc., based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a holding company of a number of short-line railroads and regional railroads in the United States and Canada....
in 2000.