Wilmington and Conway Railroad
| Company type | Railroad |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Predecessor | Chadbourn Lumber Company (builder) |
| Founded | 1885 |
| Defunct | 1895 |
| Successor | Wilmington and Conway Railroad |
| Headquarters | Chadbourn , United States |
Area served | Southeastern United States (North Carolina and South Carolina) |
The Wilmington, Chadbourn and Conway Railroad was a Southeastern rail line functioning in the late 1800s, linking Chadbourn, North Carolina with Conway, South Carolina.
History
Originally constructed by the Chadbourn Lumber Company based in Chadbourn, North Carolina to facilitate timber transport, this railroad connected at Chadbourn with the Wilmington and Manchester Railroad. The route passed through Tabor City, North Carolina, entering South Carolina near that location, then proceeded southward through Loris, South Carolina, terminating at the Waccamaw River in Conway.
In 1895, following foreclosure, the railroad was sold and renamed the Wilmington and Conway Railroad. A year later, it became part of the Wilmington, Columbia and Augusta Railroad, which succeeded the Wilmington and Manchester Railroad.
By 1898, control shifted to the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. Subsequently, in 1912, Atlantic Coast Line acquired the Conway Seashore Railroad, thereby extending its service from Conway to Myrtle Beach. These segments were incorporated into Atlantic Coast Line’s Myrtle Beach Branch.
The Atlantic Coast Line merged with the Seaboard Air Line Railroad in 1967, forming the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad. Later, in 1980, its parent company combined with the Chessie System, resulting in the creation of the CSX Corporation. Although Chessie and Seaboard Systems operated independently for a period, they unified under CSX Transportation in 1986.
Current operation
Currently, this railway line is still operational and managed by the R.J. Corman Railroad Group.