Camp Lejeune Railroad
| Company type | Government-owned |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | 1941 |
| Defunct | 1999 (partial abandonment) |
| Fate | Partial abandonment of 5.5-mile segment in 1999; remaining operations continue |
| Headquarters | Jacksonville, North Carolina , United States |
Area served | Camp Lejeune, Havelock, Jacksonville (former segment) |
| Products | Rail freight transport, military logistics support |
| Owner | U.S. Department of the Navy |
Camp Lejeune Railroad is a shortline rail system entirely owned by the U.S. Department of the Navy. It operates over a stretch exceeding 25 miles of government-owned rail lines through a trackage rights agreement with Norfolk Southern Railway. In 1999, a 5.5-mile portion connecting Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Lejeune with downtown Jacksonville, North Carolina, was abandoned and later transformed into a rail-trail. The active segment currently extends from MCB Camp Lejeune to Havelock, North Carolina, supporting essential military and logistical operations.
History
Founded in 1941, the Camp Lejeune Railroad originally linked the Marine Corps base to the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in Jacksonville, enabling the transport of construction supplies and other materials vital to Marine operations. Additionally, the railroad facilitates connectivity to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point as well as the Wilmington port, strengthening military logistics within the region.
In October 1999, the Camp Lejeune Railroad Company submitted an abandonment request for the 5.5-mile track section between Camp Lejeune and Jacksonville. This petition received approval in December of the same year, terminating service on that segment. The discontinued track was subsequently converted into a recreational rail-trail.
A GE 65-ton switcher locomotive that was once utilized on this line is now preserved at the New Hope Valley Railway after being declared surplus by the Department of Defense.
Towns served
See also
Further reading
- Working on the railroad, United States Marine Corps (retrieved 11 July 2014)