Cliffside Railroad
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | March 2, 1905 |
| Defunct | 1987 |
| Headquarters | Cliffside, North Carolina , United States |
Area served | Southwestern North Carolina |
| Products | Freight services (textile goods, waste, scrap materials) |
Cliffside Railroad operated as a Class III railroad delivering freight services in the southwestern region of North Carolina from its inception in 1905 until it halted operations in 1987. The railroad was officially abandoned in 1992.
History
The Cliffside Railroad was established on March 2, 1905, and commenced service that same year with a 3.7-mile track connecting Cliffside, North Carolina to Cliffside Junction.
In 1984, the company extended its network by purchasing the branch line from Ellenboro, North Carolina to Cliffside Junction from the Seaboard System Railroad, which brought its total trackage to 8.14 miles.
During the 1980s, the railroad's freight primarily involved transporting textile goods, along with waste and scrap materials. Ownership included interests such as the Cone Mills Corporation.
Operations were discontinued in late 1987, and the railroad was formally abandoned by January 1992.
Preserved Equipment
Two steam locomotives, representing the final steam units before diesel engines took over in 1962, have been preserved:
- Number 110 is a 2-6-2 locomotive constructed by Vulcan Iron Works in 1927 originally for McRae Lumber & Manufacturing as Gulf No. 1. Cliffside acquired this engine in 1933, and it remained in revenue service until July 20, 1962. Following a short period with the Swamp Rabbit Railroad, it was sold to the Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad, where it operated under the name "Yonah II" until mechanical problems led to its retirement in 1982. Since 1984, it has been exhibited at Stone Mountain's Memorial Depot and was later sold in late 2012 to the New Hope Valley Railway located in Bonsal, NC for restoration intended for their tourist operations.
- Number 40 is a 2-8-0 locomotive built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1925 for the Lancaster and Chester Railway. After Cliffside purchased it in 1947, it was retired alongside No. 110 in 1962. This engine was then sold to the New Hope Railroad, where it continues to operate.