These are the blogs of a man going where others have gone before. Trains are watched, cities photographed, and the past bravely explored as much as the future. Day trips, overnighters, vacations, and family visits are all opportunities for everything from trains to cityscapes to landscapes to ..... Other railroad videos and slideshows are on my YouTube Channel at gcm100x. If you would like to contribute to this blog, do so at http://paypal.me/Gregory643.
My trip to the Carolina Southern offered a few mysteries or rather, questions. The first has to do with ownership of the Railroad. In looking at ownership, the research mention that the railroad wasn now a division of Baltimore and Annapolis Railroad. In looking up information on the B&A, research call the railroad defunk. Further research gave a business address to the railroad. I now only see several options. It is no longer operating trains under its own name but is a holding company for other railroads. The only other option is that the research that I found is outdated.
Baltimore and Annapolis Engine #87, stored at Chadbourn, NC
The next mystery was the station at Chadbourn, NC. Rather, the nature of the two stations, there. When two stations exixt in a town, it is from two railroads crossing in town, one station for each raiload, However, here there was only one railroad. I found out that the passenger station is no longer used for the railroad and is nicely restored. The station that is used as office space for the railroad was the freight station, mystery solved.
Former ACL freight station, now Carolona Southern home
I first had question about 4002. It was not listed in any engine rosters. I did see a video of it pulling a train and an history. The other mystery engine was 3617. I still haven't seen it in any roster. 2613 is listed having faint impression of both ACL and Southern Heritage and is listed in rosters. 3617 is interesting that the numbering style is the same as the Laurenburg Southern. If you look carefully at the cab, you can see a shawdow of what may be the Laurenburg Southern logo. If anyone has information I would be interested.
I took the usual tour and headed south to Conway, SC. After some driving, I left the side of the railroad to find a restroom. I drove back to the court house to use their bathroom. Across the street was the old railroad station. As is common in many towns, the railroad station may be moved from the main line and restore or renovated. It than may take up public use as a library, restaurant, playground restroom, or some else. Here we have the same. However, I am not sure of what use this is put to. I do note that in fashion, elsewhere, an old caboose has been place in front or near by.
South of Tabor City I say the number 100 and a little further down the road, 4002.
Another view of luck and not turning around and finally getting the following. I arrived in Conway and had lunch. I drove down by the river and there were hoppers from the power plant, no switching, however, could be seen. Back uptown and around an interesting back road, called depot street. It might be a clue. It was a narrow road between swampy land. I came to this interesting station. Curiosity got the better of me. It did have a lot of ACL character. It was a station that began as a ACL station and after CSX came along the line became the Waccamau Coast Line, connecting Conway with Myrtle Beach, SC. More research is needed. For a short while ran excursions but what is their current statud? They are owned by The Baltimore and Annapolis Railroad, which owns the CSRR.
My trip from Chatbourn to Conway followed the rails as much as possible. The return trip was looser. Still, I parralled the tracks for the first half of the drive. I was looking for the second engine when I was what I thought was engine's headlight. As I got closer, I realized that it was not the headlight, a reflection of the engine. Further along, I did see the headlight of an appoaching train. I pulled over where and got into position. A chase to the another crossing and the following is the result.
My objective this trip is the Carolina Southern RR, Their offices are at Chadbourne, NC
The Railroad, according to research before the trip, forms a "T" as it Connects Mullens, SC and Whiteville, NC, with a branch between Chadbourn, NC and Conway, SC. I did not know what to expect. The website of the railroad looks as if it had not been update in a few years and videos were between two and five years old. All that I knew, it was best to start my excursion at Chadbourn.
First encounter while at Chadbourn is not only the old station that serves as office for the railroad, but a number of engines and equipment in varying conditions. text about engines around office at Chadbourn. the last two might require an explanation. The Carolina Southern was, at one time was known as the Mid Atlantic RR. Since then, a new owner and new name. Now the Carolina Southern has a new owner, that of the Baltimore and Annapolis Railroad, therefore the engine store here.
