Aberdeen and Rockfish Railroad
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railroad transportation |
| Founded | 1892 |
| Founder | John Blue |
| Headquarters | Aberdeen, North Carolina , United States |
Area served | North Carolina |
| Products | Freight transportation (chemicals, animal feed, grain, animal by-products, building materials, fertilizer solution) |
Number of employees | 6 (locomotives fleet size) |
The Aberdeen and Rockfish Railroad is a short-line railroad based in North Carolina, operating a stretch of track between Aberdeen and Fayetteville, North Carolina. Previously designated as a Class 2 railroad, it continues to serve as an important freight carrier within the region.
History
Founded in 1892 by entrepreneur John Blue, the AR was created primarily to haul his timber and turpentine goods to market. The initial segment launched on June 30, 1895, connecting Aberdeen with Endon. By 1898, the primary route shifted to run from Ashley Heights to Raeford, while the Endon line became a branch extended further to Juniper. Expansion of the main line followed in stages: reaching Dundarrach in 1900, Rockfish in 1902, Fenix in 1904, along with a branch from Rockfish to Hope Mills in 1905. At one point, the Aberdeen–Hope Mills section functioned as the main line with branches extending to Juniper and Fenix.
A branch line from Raeford to Wagram was introduced on November 14, 1909. In 1912, the Endon branch was dismantled and its rails repurposed to lengthen the Fenix line all the way to Fayetteville, which opened on December 23. Simultaneously, the Hope Mills branch was discontinued due to the new connection established with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad’s main line in Fayetteville. Over time, AR’s freight emphasis transitioned from lumber towards agricultural commodities. The Blue family remains owners and operators of the freight service running between Aberdeen and Fayetteville. The Wagram branch was sold off to the Laurinburg and Southern Railroad in 1921. Passenger operations ended in 1949.
Traffic
- Chemicals
- Animal Feed
- Grain
- Animal By-Products
- Building Materials
- Fertilizer Solution
Route
- M.P. 00 Aberdeen, North Carolina – interchange points with CSX (former SAL), Aberdeen, Carolina and Western Railway (ACWR), and NS (former Southern Railway).
- Spivey Hill Siding
- M.P. 05 Ashley Heights, North Carolina (abandoned AR branch extending eastward to Endon and Juniper)
- McCain
- M.P. 10 Montrose
- M.P. 13 Timberland
- M.P. 19 Raeford, North Carolina – interchange with Laurinburg and Southern Railroad (LRS) on former AR track stretching to Edinburgh, Purcell, and Wagram, North Carolina.
- Upchurch Siding
- M.P. 24 Dundarrach, North Carolina
- M.P. 26 Arabia, North Carolina
- M.P. 30 Rockfish, North Carolina
- M.P. 31 Hope Mills Junction (branch to Hope Mills, NC now abandoned)
- M.P. 34 Fenix
- M.P. 36 Cliffdale – former junction with branch leading to Clifbragg (previously part of Cape Fear Railways)
- M.P. 40 Skibo – former junction with defunct Cape Fear Railways track (route toward Fort Bragg)
- M.P. 42 Owens
- M.P. 45 South Fayetteville, North Carolina – connections with CSX (former ACL) and NS (former Norfolk & Southern) lines
- River Terminal located on the Cape Fear River
Fleet
The Aberdeen and Rockfish operates a fleet of six locomotives, all originally manufactured by EMD, including three units acquired new by the railroad itself. Historically, steam locomotives were part of its roster; notably, Locomotive Number 40 now operates on the Valley Railroad.
| Number | Type | Built | Notes | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 200 | EMD F3 | 04/1947 | Purchased new; later traded back to EMD as credit toward GP18 unit number 300. | Off Roster |
| 201 | EMD F3 | 11/1948 | Acquired new; sold in 1952 to RF&P as unit 1111 to finance GP7 number 205. | Off Roster |
| 205 | EMD GP7 | 09/1951 | Bought new; last GP7 remaining under original ownership. | Active |
| 300 | EMD GP18 | 08/1963 | Purchased new. | Active |
| 400 | EMD GP38 | 06/1968 | Acquired new. | Active |
| 405 | EMD GP38 | 01/1967 | Originally Erie Mining unit 700; obtained from NIWX. | Active |
| 2486 | Santa Fe CF7 | 08/1951 | Rebuilt from EMD F7 by AT&SF in 1975. | Active |
| 5830 | EMD GP38-2 | 1980 | Originally Southern unit 7033 GP50; rebuilt into GP38-3 by Juniata Shop. | Active |