Piedmont and Northern Railway
Encyclopedia
The Piedmont & Northern Railway was a heavy electric interurban company operating over two disconnected divisions in North
and South Carolina
. Tracks spanned 128 miles (206 km) total between the two segments, with the northern division running 24 miles (38.6 km) from Charlotte
, to Gastonia, North Carolina
, including a three-mile (5 km) spur to Belmont
. The southern division main line ran 89 miles (143.2 km) from Greenwood
to Spartanburg, South Carolina
, with a 31 mi (49.9 km) spur to Anderson
. Initially the railroad was electrified
at 1500 volts DC, however, much of the electrification was abandoned when dieselisation was completed in 1954.
Unlike similar interurban systems the Piedmont & Northern survived the Great Depression
and was later absorbed into the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad
in 1969. Although part of the railroad was abandoned between Greenwood and Honea Path
and Belton to Anderson, much of the original system exists today as shortlines and as part of CSX Transportation
.
On March 20, 1909, the Greenville, Spartanburg and Anderson Railway was chartered and presided over by Duke. The company used the Anderson Traction Company rails terminating at Belton as a starting point for northward construction to Greenville and construction toward Greenwood to the south, with both cities connected on November 1912. An extension from Greenville to Spartanburg was completed in April 1914. The North Carolina division started with the Piedmont Traction Company, also owned by Duke, and completed its route between Charlotte and Gastonia, North Carolina on July 3, 1912.
Both sections were electrified to 1,500 volts DC with power supplied from mainly hydroelectric sources. Additionally both segments were built to steam road standards with minimal street running. This would later prove extremely beneficial, as freight revenues surpassed passenger revenues following World War II
.
, however, the plans never materialized due to stiff resistance from the Southern Railway, which the P&N paralleled in both states.
Although many railroads were hostile to the Piedmont & Northern, a friend was found with the Seaboard Air Line
, which connected with the P&N at Charlotte and Greenwood. Throughout its existence the P&N stressed interchange traffic over its efficient electric lines, and with good reason: the railroad shared numerous interchanges with several major railroads.
(CRR), Carolina and North Western Railroad (C&NW), Georgia and Florida Railroad (G&F), Norfolk Southern
(NS), Seaboard Air Line Railroad
(SAL), Southern Railway
(SOU), Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
(ACL), Greenville and Northern Railroad (G&N), Charleston and Western Carolina (C&WC) and Ware Shoals Railroad
.
Though owned by Duke Power, the P&N operated coal trains over a branch from Mount Holly, NC, to Terrell, NC, supplying Duke Power's Lake Norman powerplants.
, were successfully blocked by appeals by the Southern Railway and other entities in court cases in the 1930s, specifically PIEDMONT & N. RY. CO. v. UNITED STATES, 280 U.S. 469 (1930) and PIEDMONT & N R. CO. v. INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION, 286 U.S. 299 (1932).
(Data from P&N 1955 Annual Report)
The interurban #2102, Office Car "Carolina" (formerly Saluda) and Caboose x-23 are preserved and on display to the public at the Railroad Historical Center in Greenwood, SC.
The Thrift depot in the Paw Creek community in Charlotte, NC is the only remaining P&N station in Mecklenburg County
, NC
; it is presently for sale."
In Gaston County, several structures are still standing. The depot in Mt. Holly, NC
is still standing and is currently undergoing restoration. The former P&N depot in Belmont, NC
has been restored and was a P&N museum until 2004, when the lease ran out and was not given extension by the owner. The former P&N station in Gastonia, NC, burned down in 1995. Lastly, the small depot of McAdenville, NC
is still standing, though it has been relocated from its previous location.
In South Carolina, at least five stations are still standing: Donalds
, Hodges
, Greer
, Piedmont
and Anderson
. The abandoned depot at Pelzer
burned on the night on January 26, 2011.
In Piedmont, SC, the building is still standing, and appears to be in use as a storage shed in reasonable condition.
Nothing remains of the P&N in Honea Path, SC
, apart from power poles still standing, delineating the former right-of-way.
The station at Taylors, SC
was still standing in 1987. Though it is now gone, a former substation - including some overhead poles of the P&N line - can still be found near the CSX
's Enoree River
viaduct.
Some of the P&N's former lines are still in existence, with limited amounts still in operation. The track from Pelzer, SC to Spartanburg, SC is presently the CSX's Belton Subdivision. The segment from Pelzer to Belton was taken over by the Greenville and Western Railway
in 2006. The track from Mt. Holly, NC to Gastonia, NC and from Mount Holly to Belmont, NC is still in place. Initially the track belonged to CSX; it is now owned by the North Carolina Department of Transportation
, which awarded a contract in May of 2010 to Patriot Rail Corporation
to restore the track and operate trains along the 12 miles (19.3 km) line.
The former P&N RR Charlotte terminal freight depot was in the Mint/Graham/Second(MLK)St /Third St block, while the Charlotte terminal passenger depot was in the Mint/Graham/Third St/Fourth St block in Charlotte. The International League Charlotte Knights
had announced plans to build a new ballpark on the two block site to open for the 2009 or 2010 season.
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...
and 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...
. Tracks spanned 128 miles (206 km) total between the two segments, with the northern division running 24 miles (38.6 km) from Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
, to Gastonia, North Carolina
Gastonia, North Carolina
Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. It is also the third largest suburb of the Charlotte Area, behind Concord and Rock Hill. The population was 71,226 as of Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina,...
, including a three-mile (5 km) spur to Belmont
Belmont, North Carolina
Belmont is a small suburban city in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States, located about west of uptown Charlotte, North Carolina and east of Gastonia. The population was 8,705 at the 2000 census. Once known as Garibaldi, the city named in honor of August Belmont, a prominent New York banker...
. The southern division main line ran 89 miles (143.2 km) from Greenwood
Greenwood, South Carolina
Greenwood is a city in and the county seat of Greenwood County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 22,071 at the 2000 census and had slightly increased to 22,710 according to a 2009 estimate.-Geography:...
to Spartanburg, South Carolina
Spartanburg, South Carolina
thgSpartanburg is the largest city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. It is the second-largest city of the three primary cities in the Upstate region of South Carolina, and is located northwest of Columbia, west of Charlotte, and about northeast of...
, with a 31 mi (49.9 km) spur to Anderson
Anderson, South Carolina
Anderson is a city in and the county seat of Anderson County, South Carolina, United States. The population was estimated at 26,242 in 2006, and the city was the center of an urbanized area of 70,530...
. Initially the railroad was electrified
Railway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
at 1500 volts DC, however, much of the electrification was abandoned when dieselisation was completed in 1954.
Unlike similar interurban systems the Piedmont & Northern survived the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
and was later absorbed into the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad
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...
in 1969. Although part of the railroad was abandoned between Greenwood and Honea Path
Honea Path, South Carolina
Honea Path is a town in Abbeville and Anderson counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 3,504 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Honea Path is located at ....
and Belton to Anderson, much of the original system exists today as shortlines and as part of 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...
.
History
Although interurban railroads were not nearly as common in the sparsely populated and largely agrarian Deep South, there were a number of small electric networks constructed in the region throughout the early 20th century. Among them was the Anderson Traction Company, created on June 22, 1904 to build and operate within the city of Anderson. Eventually the railroad expanded to complete construction of an extension to Belton by 1910. The railroad was acquired by James B. Duke of Duke Power around the same time.On March 20, 1909, the Greenville, Spartanburg and Anderson Railway was chartered and presided over by Duke. The company used the Anderson Traction Company rails terminating at Belton as a starting point for northward construction to Greenville and construction toward Greenwood to the south, with both cities connected on November 1912. An extension from Greenville to Spartanburg was completed in April 1914. The North Carolina division started with the Piedmont Traction Company, also owned by Duke, and completed its route between Charlotte and Gastonia, North Carolina on July 3, 1912.
Both sections were electrified to 1,500 volts DC with power supplied from mainly hydroelectric sources. Additionally both segments were built to steam road standards with minimal street running. This would later prove extremely beneficial, as freight revenues surpassed passenger revenues following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Consolidation
The Piedmont & Northern was created in 1914 to consolidate both the Greenville, Spartanburg & Anderson in South Carolina and the Piedmont Traction Company in North Carolina. In 1916 the railroad completed a 3 miles (4.8 km) spur to Belmont, North Carolina. On numerous occasions the company sought to link the two disconnected segments and expand to Durham, North CarolinaDurham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
, however, the plans never materialized due to stiff resistance from the Southern Railway, which the P&N paralleled in both states.
Although many railroads were hostile to the Piedmont & Northern, a friend was found with the Seaboard Air Line
Seaboard 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...
, which connected with the P&N at Charlotte and Greenwood. Throughout its existence the P&N stressed interchange traffic over its efficient electric lines, and with good reason: the railroad shared numerous interchanges with several major railroads.
Network
The P&N's network in 1964 was connected to the Clinchfield RailroadClinchfield Railroad
The Clinchfield Railroad was an operating and holding company for the Carolina, Clinchfield and Ohio Railway . The line ran from the coalfields of Virginia and Elkhorn City, Kentucky, to the textile mills of South Carolina...
(CRR), Carolina and North Western Railroad (C&NW), Georgia and Florida Railroad (G&F), Norfolk Southern
Norfolk Southern Railway (former)
The Norfolk Southern Railway was the final name of a railroad running from Norfolk, Virginia southwest and west to Charlotte, North Carolina. It was acquired by the Southern Railway in 1974, which was merged with the Norfolk and Western Railway in 1990 to form the current entity of the Norfolk...
(NS), Seaboard Air Line Railroad
Seaboard 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...
(SAL), Southern Railway
Southern Railway (US)
The Southern Railway is a former United States railroad. It was the product of nearly 150 predecessor lines that were combined, reorganized and recombined beginning in the 1830s, formally becoming the Southern Railway in 1894...
(SOU), 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...
(ACL), Greenville and Northern Railroad (G&N), Charleston and Western Carolina (C&WC) and Ware Shoals Railroad
Ware Shoals Railroad
The Ware Shoals Railroad was a shortline connecting the town of Ware Shoals, South Carolina, to the Southern Railway and Piedmont and Northern Railway at Shoals Junction, South Carolina, a distance of .-History:...
.
Though owned by Duke Power, the P&N operated coal trains over a branch from Mount Holly, NC, to Terrell, NC, supplying Duke Power's Lake Norman powerplants.
| Mile | Station | Interchange | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | Charlotte | Southern, NS | Piggyback ramps |
| 3.8 | Chemway | ||
| 4.1 | Pinoca | SAL | Shops (still in use by CSX) |
| 5.4 | Toddville | ||
| 6.9 | Thrift | ||
| 10.6 | Sodyeco | ||
| 11.1 | Mount Holly | ||
| -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 0.0 | Mount Holly | ||
| Riverbend | |||
| Cowans Ford | |||
| Denrock | |||
| Denver | |||
| Terrell | |||
| -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 13.5 | North Belmont | ||
| -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 0.0 | North Belmont | ||
| 3.1 | Belmont | Southern | |
| -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 16.5 | McAdenville Junction | ||
| 17.6 | McAdenville | ||
| 17.9 | Lowell | ||
| 19.7 | Ranlo | ||
| 21.7 | Groves | ||
| 23.4 | Gastonia | Southern, C&NW | Piggyback ramp |
| Mile | Station | Interchange | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | Spartanburg | ACL, Southern, Clinchfield, C&WC | Piggyback ramp |
| 3.9 | Saxon (Camp Wadsworth?) | ||
| 6.6 | Clevedale | ||
| 10.2 | Startex | Southern | |
| 12.0 | Lyman | Southern | |
| 13.4 | Duncan | ||
| 18.3 | Greer | Southern | |
| Chick Springs Chick Springs Chick Springs is a mineral springs in present-day Taylors, Greenville County, South Carolina, which from the mid-nineteenth to the early twentieth century served as the focus of a small Upstate South Carolina resort community.... |
|||
| 23.1 | Taylors | Southern | |
| 27.1 | Paris (Hampton Heights?) | ||
| 33.5 | Greenville (River Junction) | ACL, G&N, Southern, C&WC | Piggyback ramp |
| 36.5 | White Horse | ||
| Golden Grove | |||
| 43.7 | Piedmont | Southern | |
| 48.4 | Pelzer | Southern | |
| 50.5 | Williamston | Southern | |
| Thomason/Cheddar | |||
| 58.0 | Belton | Southern, C&NW | |
| -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 0.0 | Belton | Southern, C&NW | |
| Campbell | |||
| Toxaway | |||
| 11.6 | Anderson | C&NW, ACL, C&WC | |
| -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 65.8 | Honea Path | Southern | |
| 71.4 | Donalds | ||
| 74.3 | Shoals Junction | Southern, Ware Shoals RR | |
| 80.2 | Hodges | ||
| 83.9 | Downs | Southern | |
| Harris | |||
| 88.9 | Greenwood | ACL, G&F, SAL, Southern, C&WC | Piggyback ramp |
Extension
Plans to connect the North and South Carolina divisions between Spartanburg, SC and Gastonia, NC, and to expand northwards towards Winston-Salem, NCWinston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to...
, were successfully blocked by appeals by the Southern Railway and other entities in court cases in the 1930s, specifically PIEDMONT & N. RY. CO. v. UNITED STATES, 280 U.S. 469 (1930) and PIEDMONT & N R. CO. v. INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION, 286 U.S. 299 (1932).
Traffic
The P&N, though involved heavily in passenger operations, was primarily a heavy freight carrier. The most important commodity transported was coal and coke, but also of significance were cotton (including cotton waste) and paper.| Commodity | Carloads, 1954 |
Carloads, 1955 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grain and Grain Products |
3221 | 3258 | +37 |
| Packing House Products |
2200 | 2381 | +181 |
| Fruits and Vegetables |
1874 | 1838 | -36 |
| Coal and Coke | 30203 | 37995 | +7792 |
| Building Materials |
4465 | 4966 | +501 |
| Cotton and Wastes |
8093 | 8907 | +814 |
| Textile Products |
2746 | 2842 | +96 |
| Sand and Stone |
2196 | 2521 | +325 |
| Automobiles | 1889 | 2061 | +172 |
| Oil and Gasoline |
2920 | 2738 | -182 |
| Fertilizer and Fertilizer Products |
4056 | 3176 | -880 |
| Machinery | 613 | 732 | +119 |
| Paper and Paper Products |
6480 | 6786 | +306 |
| Clay and Fullers Earth |
1897 | 1805 | -92 |
| Iron and Steel Articles |
2746 | 3297 | +37 |
| Forest Products |
2257 | 2054 | -203 |
| Merchandise | 4767 | 4350 | -417 |
| Miscellaneous | 17128 | 17986 | +858 |
(Data from P&N 1955 Annual Report)
P&N Motive Power
| Road Number | Builder | Build Date | Engine Number | Tractive Effort | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5000 | Baldwin Baldwin Locomotive Works The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of... -Westinghouse Westinghouse Electric (1998) Westinghouse Licensing, doing business as Westinghouse Electric Corporation , is a Delaware General Corporation Law organized subsidiary that was founded by CBS Corporation in managing the intellectual property assets relating to the Westinghouse trademarks.Westinghouse Licensing has... |
10-1911 | 37124 | 13,700 | Built with two trolley poles; pantograph installed 1935 |
| 5001 | Baldwin Baldwin Locomotive Works The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of... -Westinghouse Westinghouse Electric (1886) Westinghouse Electric was an American manufacturing company. It was founded in 1886 as Westinghouse Electric Company and later renamed Westinghouse Electric Corporation by George Westinghouse. The company purchased CBS in 1995 and became CBS Corporation in 1997... |
10-1911 | 37150 | 13,700 | Built with two trolley poles; pantograph installed 1935 |
| 5002 | Baldwin Baldwin Locomotive Works The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of... -Westinghouse Westinghouse Electric (1886) Westinghouse Electric was an American manufacturing company. It was founded in 1886 as Westinghouse Electric Company and later renamed Westinghouse Electric Corporation by George Westinghouse. The company purchased CBS in 1995 and became CBS Corporation in 1997... |
10-1911 | 37151 | 13,700 | Built with two trolley poles; pantograph installed 1935 |
| 5003 | Baldwin Baldwin Locomotive Works The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of... -Westinghouse Westinghouse Electric (1886) Westinghouse Electric was an American manufacturing company. It was founded in 1886 as Westinghouse Electric Company and later renamed Westinghouse Electric Corporation by George Westinghouse. The company purchased CBS in 1995 and became CBS Corporation in 1997... |
10-1911 | 37152 | 13,700 | Built with two trolley poles; pantograph installed 1935 |
| 5004 | Baldwin Baldwin Locomotive Works The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of... -Westinghouse Westinghouse Electric (1886) Westinghouse Electric was an American manufacturing company. It was founded in 1886 as Westinghouse Electric Company and later renamed Westinghouse Electric Corporation by George Westinghouse. The company purchased CBS in 1995 and became CBS Corporation in 1997... |
11-1911 | 37272 | 13,700 | Built with two trolley poles; pantograph installed 1935 |
| 5005 | Baldwin Baldwin Locomotive Works The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of... -Westinghouse Westinghouse Electric (1886) Westinghouse Electric was an American manufacturing company. It was founded in 1886 as Westinghouse Electric Company and later renamed Westinghouse Electric Corporation by George Westinghouse. The company purchased CBS in 1995 and became CBS Corporation in 1997... |
11-1911 | 37273 | 10,000 | Built with two trolley poles; pantograph installed 1935 |
| 5006 | Baldwin Baldwin Locomotive Works The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of... -Westinghouse Westinghouse Electric (1886) Westinghouse Electric was an American manufacturing company. It was founded in 1886 as Westinghouse Electric Company and later renamed Westinghouse Electric Corporation by George Westinghouse. The company purchased CBS in 1995 and became CBS Corporation in 1997... |
4-1917 | 44508 | 12,000 | Ex Salt Lake & Utah #102, bought by P&N in 1947 |
| 5100 | GE Gê Gê are the people who spoke Ge languages of the northern South American Caribbean coast and Brazil. In Brazil the Gê were found in Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Bahia, Piaui, Mato Grosso, Goias, Tocantins, Maranhão, and as far south as Paraguay.... 63t boxcab Boxcab A boxcab, in railroad terminology, is a locomotive in which the machinery and crew areas are enclosed in a box-like superstructure . It is a term mostly used in North America while in Victoria , such locomotives have been nicknamed "butterboxes"... |
12-1913 | 4651 | 13,000 | GE class 404-E-120-4-GE-212F 63 ton boxcab Boxcab A boxcab, in railroad terminology, is a locomotive in which the machinery and crew areas are enclosed in a box-like superstructure . It is a term mostly used in North America while in Victoria , such locomotives have been nicknamed "butterboxes"... . |
| 5101 | GE Gê Gê are the people who spoke Ge languages of the northern South American Caribbean coast and Brazil. In Brazil the Gê were found in Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Bahia, Piaui, Mato Grosso, Goias, Tocantins, Maranhão, and as far south as Paraguay.... 63t boxcab Boxcab A boxcab, in railroad terminology, is a locomotive in which the machinery and crew areas are enclosed in a box-like superstructure . It is a term mostly used in North America while in Victoria , such locomotives have been nicknamed "butterboxes"... |
12-1913 | 4652 | 13,000 | GE class 404-E-120-4-GE-212F 63 ton boxcab Boxcab A boxcab, in railroad terminology, is a locomotive in which the machinery and crew areas are enclosed in a box-like superstructure . It is a term mostly used in North America while in Victoria , such locomotives have been nicknamed "butterboxes"... . |
| 5102 | GE Gê Gê are the people who spoke Ge languages of the northern South American Caribbean coast and Brazil. In Brazil the Gê were found in Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Bahia, Piaui, Mato Grosso, Goias, Tocantins, Maranhão, and as far south as Paraguay.... 63t boxcab Boxcab A boxcab, in railroad terminology, is a locomotive in which the machinery and crew areas are enclosed in a box-like superstructure . It is a term mostly used in North America while in Victoria , such locomotives have been nicknamed "butterboxes"... |
12-1913 | 4653 | 13,000 | GE class 404-E-120-4-GE-212F 63 ton boxcab Boxcab A boxcab, in railroad terminology, is a locomotive in which the machinery and crew areas are enclosed in a box-like superstructure . It is a term mostly used in North America while in Victoria , such locomotives have been nicknamed "butterboxes"... . |
| 5103 | GE Gê Gê are the people who spoke Ge languages of the northern South American Caribbean coast and Brazil. In Brazil the Gê were found in Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Bahia, Piaui, Mato Grosso, Goias, Tocantins, Maranhão, and as far south as Paraguay.... 63t boxcab Boxcab A boxcab, in railroad terminology, is a locomotive in which the machinery and crew areas are enclosed in a box-like superstructure . It is a term mostly used in North America while in Victoria , such locomotives have been nicknamed "butterboxes"... |
12-1913 | 4654 | 13,000 | GE class 404-E-120-4-GE-212F 63 ton boxcab Boxcab A boxcab, in railroad terminology, is a locomotive in which the machinery and crew areas are enclosed in a box-like superstructure . It is a term mostly used in North America while in Victoria , such locomotives have been nicknamed "butterboxes"... . Preserved at Southeastern Railway Museum, Spencer, NC |
| 5104 | GE Gê Gê are the people who spoke Ge languages of the northern South American Caribbean coast and Brazil. In Brazil the Gê were found in Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Bahia, Piaui, Mato Grosso, Goias, Tocantins, Maranhão, and as far south as Paraguay.... 63t boxcab Boxcab A boxcab, in railroad terminology, is a locomotive in which the machinery and crew areas are enclosed in a box-like superstructure . It is a term mostly used in North America while in Victoria , such locomotives have been nicknamed "butterboxes"... |
12-1913 | 4655 | 13,000 | GE class 404-E-120-4-GE-212F 63 ton boxcab Boxcab A boxcab, in railroad terminology, is a locomotive in which the machinery and crew areas are enclosed in a box-like superstructure . It is a term mostly used in North America while in Victoria , such locomotives have been nicknamed "butterboxes"... . |
| 5105 | GE Gê Gê are the people who spoke Ge languages of the northern South American Caribbean coast and Brazil. In Brazil the Gê were found in Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Bahia, Piaui, Mato Grosso, Goias, Tocantins, Maranhão, and as far south as Paraguay.... 63t boxcab Boxcab A boxcab, in railroad terminology, is a locomotive in which the machinery and crew areas are enclosed in a box-like superstructure . It is a term mostly used in North America while in Victoria , such locomotives have been nicknamed "butterboxes"... |
12-1913 | 4656 | 13,000 | GE class 404-E-120-4-GE-212F 63 ton boxcab Boxcab A boxcab, in railroad terminology, is a locomotive in which the machinery and crew areas are enclosed in a box-like superstructure . It is a term mostly used in North America while in Victoria , such locomotives have been nicknamed "butterboxes"... . |
| 5106 | GE Gê Gê are the people who spoke Ge languages of the northern South American Caribbean coast and Brazil. In Brazil the Gê were found in Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Bahia, Piaui, Mato Grosso, Goias, Tocantins, Maranhão, and as far south as Paraguay.... |
1912 | 3806 | 14,800 | Ex Oregon Electric #25; Sold to Utah-Idaho Central as #25, 1945; bought by P&N in 1948 |
| 5500 | P&N Pinoca Shops | 1917 | - | 14,800 | Built from bodies of 4000-series express motors |
| 5501 | P&N Pinoca Shops | 1918 | - | 17,072 | Built from bodies of 4000-series express motors |
| 5502 | P&N Pinoca Shops | 1918 | - | 17,072 | Built from bodies of 4000-series express motors |
| 5600 | P&N Pinoca Shops | 1918 | - | 27,072 | Built from body of 4000-series express motors; rebuilt with steel cab in 1937; rebuilt as #5612 in 1949 |
| 5601 | P&N Greenville Shops | 1924 | - | 22,400 | Baldwin trucks |
| 5602 | P&N Greenville Shops | 1928 | - | 25,600 | Baldwin trucks |
| 5610 | P&N Greenville Shops | 1938 | - | 69,000 | GE trucks |
| 5611 | GE | 1941 | - | 34,500 | Built by GE to P&N design |
| 5612 | P&N Greenville Shops | 1949 | - | 75,000 | Rebuilt from #5600 |
| Road Numbers | Builder / Dates Built | Model | Livery Livery A livery is a uniform, insignia or symbol adorning, in a non-military context, a person, an object or a vehicle that denotes a relationship between the wearer of the livery and an individual or corporate body. Often, elements of the heraldry relating to the individual or corporate body feature in... |
Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000-1005 | 6 | Alco / 1954 | S-4 ALCO S-2 and S-4 The ALCO S2 and S4 were switcher diesel locomotives produced by ALCO and Canadian licensee Montreal Locomotive Works . Basically, the two locomotives differed only in trucks, with the S-2 using ALCO's own Blunt trucks, and the S-4 riding on standard AAR type A switcher trucks. Both were powered... |
gloss black, yellow striping | |
| 1600-1609 | 10 | Alco /1950-1951 | RS-3 ALCO RS-3 The ALCO RS-3 is a 1,600 hp , B-B road switcher railroad locomotive. It was manufactured by American Locomotive Company and Montreal Locomotive Works from May 1950 to August 1956, and 1,418 were produced — 1,265 for American railroads, 98 for Canadian railroads, 48 for Brazilian and 7... |
gloss black, yellow striping | Formerly numbers 100-109 |
| 2000-2001 | 2 | Alco / 1965 | C420 ALCO Century 420 The ALCO Century 420 was a four-axle, 2000 horsepower diesel locomotive of the road switcher type. 131 were built between June 1963 and August 1968. Cataloged as a part of ALCO's "Century" line of locomotives, the C420 was intended to replace the earlier RS-32 model.- Original Owners :Since... |
gloss black, yellow striping |
| Road Numbers | Type | Builder / Dates Built | Construction | Seats | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Birney | Brill, 1916 | Steel | 32 | Use and fate unknown | |
| 2 | City | Stephenson, 1917 | Wood | |||
| 4 | City | Southern Car, 1917 | Wood | |||
| 350 | Combine | AC&F, 1913 | Steel | 26 | Purchased from Pennsylvania Railroad Pennsylvania Railroad The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.... - wrecked on February 21, 1941 |
|
| 351 | Express | P&N, 1942 | Steel | - | Rebuilt from wreck of #350 | |
| 400-403 | Trailer | PRR, 1913 | Steel | 72 | Bought from the Pennsylvania Railroad; ran for a while with old nos. 325, 400, 408, 428 | |
| 404 | Trailer | Jewett Jewett Car Company The Jewett Car Company was an early 20th century American industrial company that manufactured street cars.The company was founded in 1893 in Jewett, Ohio, where its first factory was located. In 1904, the company relocated from Jewett to a site along South Williams Street in Newark, Ohio, but... , 1911 |
Wood | 60 | Original trailer coach no. 2404 | |
| 405-407 | Trailer | PRR, 1913 | Steel | 60 | Bought from Long Island Railroad, ex-numbers 401, 402, 405 | |
| 2000-2022 | Combine | Jewett, 1911-1912 | Wood | 60 | ||
| 2050-2051 | Combine | P&N, 1928 | Wood | 36 | Rebuilt by P&N from number 2014 and 2008 | |
| 2060 | Express | P&N, 1942 | Wood | - | Rebuilt from #2005 | |
| 2100-2101 | Combine | Southern Car, 1914 | Steel | 54 | Former 2500 class trailer, powered in 1919 | |
| 2102 | Combine | Southern Car, 1914 | Steel | 68 | Former 2500 class trailer powered in 1919, 10' express section added in 1924 | |
| 2103-2107 | Coach | Southern Car, 1914 | Steel | 68 | Former 2500 class trailer, powered in 1919 | |
| 2108 | Coach | Southern Car, 1914 | Steel | 68 | Electric coach rebuilt from parlor-observation car "Catawba" in 1928 | |
| 2200 | Parlor-Observation | Southern Car, 1914 | Steel | - | Open observation parlor-observation car "Catawba". Rebuilt in 1935 with glassed-in solarium section | |
| 2201 | Parlor-Observation | Southern Car, 1914 | Steel | - | Open observation parlor-observation car "Saluda". Rebuilt as business car "Carolina" | |
| 2300 | Express | 1912 | Wood | Former freight car; doors built onto ends for train access. | ||
| 2400-2405 | Coach trailer | Jewett, 1911 | Wood | 60 | Demotorised 2000-class rebuilt into 2100-class | |
| 2500-2507 | Coach trailer | Southern Car, 1914 | Steel | 54 | Motorised 1923-1925 | |
| 3000-3004 | Coach trailer | Niles, 1910 | Wood | 54 | Five coaches obtained for military transport by USRA USRA USRA may refer to:*United States Railroad Administration , the nationalized rail system during World War I**The USRA standard locomotives built by this administration... from Louisville & Northern Railway |
|
| 4000-4007 | Express | Southern Car, 1911 | Wood | - | Later used to build 5500 and 5600 class electric locomotives |
Fate of the Rolling Stock
Some of the electric locomotives were shipped to South America, the rest were scrapped. The diesels were taken over by the Seaboard Coast Line in 1969 after that railroad took over the P&N; of them, all have been scrapped except for one S-4 surviving in the US on the Laurinburg and Southern, and four that were sent to Venezuela.The interurban #2102, Office Car "Carolina" (formerly Saluda) and Caboose x-23 are preserved and on display to the public at the Railroad Historical Center in Greenwood, SC.
Remnants
Only four of the stations built for the P&N, designed by Charles Christian Hook are still in existence today in North Carolina.The Thrift depot in the Paw Creek community in Charlotte, NC is the only remaining P&N station in Mecklenburg County
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
-Air:The county's primary commercial aviation airport is Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte.- Intercity rail :With twenty-five freight trains a day, Mecklenburg is a freight railroad transportation center, largely due to its place on the NS main line between Washington and Atlanta...
, NC
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 is presently for sale."
In Gaston County, several structures are still standing. The depot in Mt. Holly, NC
Mount Holly, North Carolina
Mount Holly is a small suburban city in northeastern Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. The city is situated on the western bank of the Catawba River in the Southern Piedmont area of North Carolina, north of Interstate 85, south of North Carolina State Highway 16, and west of Charlotte....
is still standing and is currently undergoing restoration. The former P&N depot in Belmont, NC
Belmont, North Carolina
Belmont is a small suburban city in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States, located about west of uptown Charlotte, North Carolina and east of Gastonia. The population was 8,705 at the 2000 census. Once known as Garibaldi, the city named in honor of August Belmont, a prominent New York banker...
has been restored and was a P&N museum until 2004, when the lease ran out and was not given extension by the owner. The former P&N station in Gastonia, NC, burned down in 1995. Lastly, the small depot of McAdenville, NC
McAdenville, North Carolina
McAdenville, also known as Christmastown USA, is a town in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States and is considered to be a suburb of both Charlotte and Gastonia. The population was 619 at the 2000 census....
is still standing, though it has been relocated from its previous location.
In South Carolina, at least five stations are still standing: Donalds
Donalds, South Carolina
Donalds is a town in Abbeville County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 354 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Donalds is located at ....
, Hodges
Hodges, South Carolina
Hodges is a town in Greenwood County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 158 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hodges is located at ....
, Greer
Greer, South Carolina
Greer is a city in Greenville and Spartanburg counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina, between the cities of Greenville and Spartanburg. The population was 25,515 at the 2010 census. It is projected to hit 30,000 within 4 years. Each day, more than three times that number of people pass...
, Piedmont
Piedmont, South Carolina
Piedmont is a census-designated place along the Saluda River in Anderson and Greenville counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 4,684 at the 2000 census....
and Anderson
Anderson, South Carolina
Anderson is a city in and the county seat of Anderson County, South Carolina, United States. The population was estimated at 26,242 in 2006, and the city was the center of an urbanized area of 70,530...
. The abandoned depot at Pelzer
Pelzer, South Carolina
Pelzer is a town in Anderson County, South Carolina, United States, along the Saluda River. The population was 97 at the 2000 census.-Government:As of 2010 the town was governed by a Mayor and four council members, for a population of 89.-Geography:...
burned on the night on January 26, 2011.
In Piedmont, SC, the building is still standing, and appears to be in use as a storage shed in reasonable condition.
Nothing remains of the P&N in Honea Path, SC
Honea Path, South Carolina
Honea Path is a town in Abbeville and Anderson counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 3,504 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Honea Path is located at ....
, apart from power poles still standing, delineating the former right-of-way.
The station at Taylors, SC
Taylors, South Carolina
Taylors is a census-designated place in Greenville County, United States. The population was 20,125 at the 2000 census. Taylors is the Greenville/Spartanburg area's largest suburb although it is not incorporated as a city. It is part of the Greenville–Mauldin–Easley Metropolitan...
was still standing in 1987. Though it is now gone, a former substation - including some overhead poles of the P&N line - can still be found near the CSX
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...
's Enoree River
Enoree River
The Enoree River is a tributary of the Broad River, 85 mi long, in northwestern South Carolina in the United States . Via the Broad and Congaree Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Santee River, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean ....
viaduct.
Some of the P&N's former lines are still in existence, with limited amounts still in operation. The track from Pelzer, SC to Spartanburg, SC is presently the CSX's Belton Subdivision. The segment from Pelzer to Belton was taken over by the Greenville and Western Railway
Greenville and Western Railway
The Greenville and Western Railway is a Class III railroad that operates from a point south of Belton to Pelzer, South Carolina. Connections are made with Pickens Railway at Belton and CSX at Pelzer...
in 2006. The track from Mt. Holly, NC to Gastonia, NC and from Mount Holly to Belmont, NC is still in place. Initially the track belonged to CSX; it is now owned by the North Carolina Department of Transportation
North Carolina Department of Transportation
The North Carolina Department of Transportation is responsible for building, repairing, and operating highways, bridges, and other modes of transportation, including ferries in the U.S. state of North Carolina.-History:...
, which awarded a contract in May of 2010 to Patriot Rail Corporation
Patriot Rail Corporation
Patriot Rail Corporation is a holding company for a number of shortline railroads across the United States, including one contract operation in North Carolina. The company was started in 2006 by RailAmerica co-founder Gary Marino and is headquartered at Boca Raton, Florida...
to restore the track and operate trains along the 12 miles (19.3 km) line.
The former P&N RR Charlotte terminal freight depot was in the Mint/Graham/Second(MLK)St /Third St block, while the Charlotte terminal passenger depot was in the Mint/Graham/Third St/Fourth St block in Charlotte. The International League Charlotte Knights
Charlotte Knights
The Charlotte Knights are a minor league baseball team representing Charlotte, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox of the American League...
had announced plans to build a new ballpark on the two block site to open for the 2009 or 2010 season.