Columbia and Sumter Railroad
| Company type | Railroad |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | 1866 |
| Fate | Acquired by Wilmington, Columbia and Augusta Railroad in 1870 |
| Successor | Wilmington, Columbia and Augusta Railroad; later Atlantic Coast Line Railroad; now operated by CSX Transportation |
| Headquarters | Columbia , United States |
Area served | South Carolina |
The Columbia and Sumter Railroad was a rail corridor in South Carolina linking the cities of Columbia and Sumter, commencing service shortly after the American Civil War. Eventually, it became part of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad system and is currently operated as CSX Transportation's Eastover Subdivision.
History
Established through legislation by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1866, the Columbia and Sumter Railroad remained an independent entity for a short period before being acquired in 1870 by the Wilmington, Columbia and Augusta Railroad, which succeeded the Wilmington and Manchester Railroad.
In 1898, the Wilmington, Columbia and Augusta Railroad was incorporated into the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL). ACL managed this track as its Sumter—Columbia Line, offering both freight and passenger services, with Sumter functioning as a key junction. By 1902, passenger trains were serving Columbia's newly constructed Union Station, which was shared with the Southern Railway.
During the 1950s, ACL maintained daily local passenger trains along with two daily through freight services on this route, complemented by an additional local freight train running six days per week.
After the 1967 merger between ACL and its competitor, the Seaboard Air Line Railroad, which formed the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (SCL), this line was renamed the Eastover Subdivision. Passenger train operations were discontinued by 1971, leaving freight as the sole service.
In 1980, SCL’s parent company merged with the Chessie System to create CSX Corporation. Although initially operated separately, these systems united in 1986 under CSX Transportation, which continues to run this rail line today.
Current operations
CSX presently operates the Eastover Subdivision, which connects with CSX’s S Line (Columbia Subdivision) as well as multiple Norfolk Southern Railway routes within Columbia. A significant customer on this subdivision is a Sylvamo paper manufacturing facility located near Eastover.
Historic stations
| Milepost | City/Location | Station | Connections and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 332.0 | Sumter | Sumter | junction with: |
| 338.3 | Cane Savannah | ||
| 342.0 | Wedgefield | ||
| 344.3 | Foxville | junction with Charleston, Cincinnati and Chicago Railroad (SOU) | |
| 346.2 | Malta | ||
| 350.3 | Acton | ||
| 352.7 | Eastover | Eastover | |
| 359.2 | Congaree | ||
| 365.6 | Lykes | ||
| 368.5 | Sims | ||
| 372.0 | Andrews | ||
| 374.9 | Columbia | Columbia Union Station | junction with: |