Raleigh and Augusta Air Line Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Raleigh and Augusta Air Line Railroad was a North Carolina railroad that operated in the second half of the 19th century.
The Raleigh and Augusta Air Line Railroad traces its history back to the early 1850s, when the line was chartered by the North Carolina General Assembly
as the Chatham Railroad in February 1851. It changed its name to the Raleigh and Augusta Air Line Railroad in 1871, and was chartered by the South Carolina General Assembly
in February 1878.
In 1871, the Chatham Railroad was reorganized as the Raleigh and Augusta Air Line Railroad. The carrier's goal was to build a line from Raleigh to Augusta, Georgia
, through Columbia, South Carolina
. However, it never progressed past the North Carolina-South Carolina state line, where it met the Palmetto Railroad
.
The Raleigh and Gaston Railroad
controlled the Raleigh and Augusta Air-Line Railroad, owning most of its stock. By this time, the Raleigh and Augusta stretched from Raleigh, North Carolina
, toward Hamlet, North Carolina
. Later, the Raleigh and Gaston, and Raleigh and Augusta both fell on hard times during the Panic of 1873
, and John M. Robinson, president of the Seaboard and Roanoke Railroad, acquired financial control of both carriers, becoming president of all three railroads in 1875.
By 1881, the Seaboard and Roanoke, the Raleigh and Gaston, and others were operating as a coordinated system under the Seaboard Air-Line System name for marketing purposes, combining the nicknames of the two principal roads.
By 1883, the Raleigh and Augusta was operating nearly 100 miles of track, between Raleigh and Hamlet.
In November 1899, stockholders of the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad met in Raleigh, to consider the consolidation of the Raleigh and Gaston with Raleigh and Augusta Air Line Railroad, along with the Durham and Northern Railway, the Roanoke and Tar River Railroad, the Seaboard and Roanoke Railroad, the Louisburg Railroad, the Carolina Central Railroad, the Palmetto Railroad, the Chesterfield and Kershaw Railroad
, the Georgia, Carolina and Northern Railway
, the Seaboard Air Line Belt Railroad, the Georgia and Alabama Railroad
, the Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad
, the Georgia and Alabama Terminal Company, the Logansville and Lawrenceville Railroad, the Richmond, Petersburg and Carolina Railroad, the Pittsboro Railroad and the Southbound Railroad.
The resulting company became known as the Seaboard Air Line Railroad
. The Raleigh and Augusta Air Line was merged into the Seaboard in November 1901.
The Raleigh and Augusta Air Line Railroad traces its history back to the early 1850s, when the line was chartered by the North Carolina General Assembly
North Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...
as the Chatham Railroad in February 1851. It changed its name to the Raleigh and Augusta Air Line Railroad in 1871, and was chartered by the South Carolina General Assembly
South Carolina General Assembly
The South Carolina General Assembly, also called the South Carolina Legislature, is the state legislature of the U.S. state of South Carolina. The legislature is bicameral and consists of the lower South Carolina House of Representatives and the upper South Carolina Senate. Altogether, the General...
in February 1878.
In 1871, the Chatham Railroad was reorganized as the Raleigh and Augusta Air Line Railroad. The carrier's goal was to build a line from Raleigh to Augusta, Georgia
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
, through Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
. However, it never progressed past the North Carolina-South Carolina state line, where it met the Palmetto Railroad
Palmetto Railroad
The Palmetto Railroad was a Southeastern railroad that served South Carolina and North Carolina in the late 19th century.The Palmetto Railroad was chartered by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1882 and the North Carolina General Assembly in 1883....
.
The Raleigh and Gaston Railroad
Raleigh and Gaston Railroad
The Raleigh and Gaston Railroad was a Raleigh, North Carolina-based railroad opened in 1840 between Raleigh and the town of Gaston, North Carolina on the Roanoke River...
controlled the Raleigh and Augusta Air-Line Railroad, owning most of its stock. By this time, the Raleigh and Augusta stretched from Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
, toward Hamlet, North Carolina
Hamlet, North Carolina
Hamlet is a town in Richmond County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 6,018 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hamlet is located at ....
. Later, the Raleigh and Gaston, and Raleigh and Augusta both fell on hard times during the Panic of 1873
Panic of 1873
The Panic of 1873 triggered a severe international economic depression in both Europe and the United States that lasted until 1879, and even longer in some countries. The depression was known as the Great Depression until the 1930s, but is now known as the Long Depression...
, and John M. Robinson, president of the Seaboard and Roanoke Railroad, acquired financial control of both carriers, becoming president of all three railroads in 1875.
By 1881, the Seaboard and Roanoke, the Raleigh and Gaston, and others were operating as a coordinated system under the Seaboard Air-Line System name for marketing purposes, combining the nicknames of the two principal roads.
By 1883, the Raleigh and Augusta was operating nearly 100 miles of track, between Raleigh and Hamlet.
In November 1899, stockholders of the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad met in Raleigh, to consider the consolidation of the Raleigh and Gaston with Raleigh and Augusta Air Line Railroad, along with the Durham and Northern Railway, the Roanoke and Tar River Railroad, the Seaboard and Roanoke Railroad, the Louisburg Railroad, the Carolina Central Railroad, the Palmetto Railroad, the Chesterfield and Kershaw Railroad
Chesterfield and Kershaw Railroad
The Chesterfield and Kershaw Railroad was a railroad that operated in South Carolina in the late 19th and early 20th century.The company was chartered by South Carolina General Assembly in 1889....
, the Georgia, Carolina and Northern Railway
Georgia, Carolina and Northern Railway
The Georgia, Carolina and Northern Railway was a Southeastern railroad that began after Reconstruction and operated up until the start of the 20th century....
, the Seaboard Air Line Belt Railroad, the Georgia and Alabama Railroad
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...
, the Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad
Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad
The Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad was the final name of a system of railroads throughout Florida, becoming part of the Seaboard Air Line Railway in 1900...
, the Georgia and Alabama Terminal Company, the Logansville and Lawrenceville Railroad, the Richmond, Petersburg and Carolina Railroad, the Pittsboro Railroad and the Southbound Railroad.
The resulting company became known as the 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...
. The Raleigh and Augusta Air Line was merged into the Seaboard in November 1901.