The Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway is a North Carolina
success story. Formed from parts of the original Norfolk Southern
Railway, the railroad essentially started from scratch and has grown
into the largest privately held shortline or regional railroad in the
state. It provides both freight and passenger service in the rural
region east of Charlotte and through the booming Sandhills Region near
Pinehurst.
The Aberdeen Carolina &
Western Railway dates to 1987, but the history of the railroad routes
goes back to logging activities of the 1870s, and a railroad boom during
the early 1900s. For historic shippers and passengers, the railroad was
a transportation option to get to cities like Charlotte, or resort
communities like Pinehurst. Over the more than 100 years since the
line’s initial construction, the railroad has served as a conduit for
the movement of timber, lumber, agricultural products, machinery, and
the ordinary products needed by the communities along its route.
Although the early shippers are gone, new ones have sprung up. Tourists
looking to ride classic passenger trains have also discovered the
railroad.
This book is written for those who want
to know more about the Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway.
Information on the line’s history and current status, as well as a
mile-by-mile route guide, are included. Enjoy this review of the
Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway, a successful part of North
Carolina’s rail network.
