South Carolina Pacific Railway
Encyclopedia
The South Carolina Pacific Railway was a shortline railroad
operation that existed in eastern South Carolina
in the late 19th century and much of the 20th century.
The line was chartered in 1882 and completed in 1884. It ran 10.5 miles from Bennettsville, South Carolina
, east to the border with North Carolina
.
It was leased to the Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley Railway
Company beginning in 1884.
In January 1885, a 30-year lease went into effect in which the Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley paid $12,000 annually, covered the interest on bonds taken out by the South Carolina Pacific (nearly $6,300 a year) and agreed to pay for maintenance of the line. At this point, the board of the South Carolina Pacific resigned, as agreed, and the Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley's directors took over.
The Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley was placed in receivership in 1894 and the South Carolina Pacific was first sold for $1 million, then, two weeks later, it was resold for $5 million.
For three decades ownership of the Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley changed hands repeatedly, until a North Carolina Supreme Court
decision in 1924. The southern routes of the Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley, including the South Carolina Pacific, went to the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
.
The lease for the South Carolina Pacific passed to the Atlantic Coast Line. In 1914, the Atlantic Coast Line renewed its lease with the South Carolina Pacific for 99 years, beginning on Jan. 1, 1915. However, the company was merged into the Seaboard System in 1983 and the South Carolina Pacific was officially dissolved.
Although the company itself existed for just over 100 years, it appears the only item it owned was official company correspondence.
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...
operation that existed in eastern 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...
in the late 19th century and much of the 20th century.
The line was chartered in 1882 and completed in 1884. It ran 10.5 miles from Bennettsville, South Carolina
Bennettsville, South Carolina
Bennettsville is a city in and the county seat of Marlboro County, South Carolina, United States. and home to the Bennettsville Historic District...
, east to the border with 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...
.
It was leased to the Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley Railway
Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley Railway
The Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley Railway was a Southeastern railroad that operated in the Carolinas immediately after Reconstruction.The Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley Railway was created in 1879 with the consolidation of the Western Railroad and the Mount Airy Railroad.The Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley...
Company beginning in 1884.
In January 1885, a 30-year lease went into effect in which the Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley paid $12,000 annually, covered the interest on bonds taken out by the South Carolina Pacific (nearly $6,300 a year) and agreed to pay for maintenance of the line. At this point, the board of the South Carolina Pacific resigned, as agreed, and the Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley's directors took over.
The Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley was placed in receivership in 1894 and the South Carolina Pacific was first sold for $1 million, then, two weeks later, it was resold for $5 million.
For three decades ownership of the Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley changed hands repeatedly, until a North Carolina Supreme Court
North Carolina Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of North Carolina is the state's highest appellate court. Until the creation of the North Carolina Court of Appeals in the 1960s, it was the state's only appellate court. The Supreme Court consists of six associate justices and one chief justice, although the number of justices...
decision in 1924. The southern routes of the Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley, including the South Carolina Pacific, went to the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
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...
.
The lease for the South Carolina Pacific passed to the Atlantic Coast Line. In 1914, the Atlantic Coast Line renewed its lease with the South Carolina Pacific for 99 years, beginning on Jan. 1, 1915. However, the company was merged into the Seaboard System in 1983 and the South Carolina Pacific was officially dissolved.
Although the company itself existed for just over 100 years, it appears the only item it owned was official company correspondence.
External links
- [Railroading in the Carolina Sandhills, Volume 1: The 19th Century (1825–1900); S. David Carriker, page 85]