Cheraw and Darlington Railroad

Cheraw and Darlington Railroad

Company type	Railroad
Industry	Rail transport
Founded	1849
Defunct	1898
Headquarters	Cheraw, South Carolina , United States
Area served	South Carolina, North Carolina
Products	Rail transport services

The Cheraw and Darlington Railroad was a regional shortline railroad operating initially in South Carolina and later extending into North Carolina, with origins dating back to the period preceding the American Civil War. Its track gauge was altered to in 1886.

History

Established by charter in 1849, the Cheraw and Darlington commenced service in 1853, connecting Cheraw, South Carolina and Darlington, South Carolina.

During the Civil War, the railroad incurred extensive destruction. In March 1865, Union troops led by Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman demolished key infrastructure, including several trestle bridges, station buildings, freight and passenger rolling stock, as well as supplies located in Florence, South Carolina. However, Confederate forces managed to prevent total obliteration of the line.

By 1867, daily operations had resumed between Cheraw and Florence. By 1887, the company maintained a fleet consisting of four locomotives, three passenger coaches, and twenty-nine freight cars.

In 1892, the Cheraw and Darlington expanded its network by acquiring the Cheraw and Salisbury Railroad for $90,000, thereby extending its reach northward to Wadesboro, North Carolina.

The railroad was absorbed by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in 1898 and integrated into its Wadesboro—Florence Line. Later mergers saw the Atlantic Coast Line combine with the Seaboard Air Line Railroad in 1967 to create the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad, which through subsequent consolidations became part of CSX Transportation.

Currently, the segment running from Florence to Floyds remains operational under the management of the South Carolina Central Railroad.

External links

• Cheraw and Darlington R.R. Company Proceedings, 1883-1897