Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta Railroad

The Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta Railroad was formed in 1869 with the merger of the Charlotte and South Carolina Railroad and the Columbia and Augusta Railroad.

The combined line stretched 191 miles between Augusta, Georgia, and Charlotte, North Carolina. Originally, the line had a gauge of 5-feet, but that was changed to 4-feet, 9-inches in 1886.^[1]

The railroad was acquired by the Richmond and Danville Railroad in 1878 and officially merged into the Richmond & Danville in 1882. The latter went into receivership in 1892 and the Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta was foreclosed on the following year.^[2] It was sold to Southern Railway on July 10, 1894.^[3]

After the acquisition in 1894, the Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta dropped its name and began using the Southern moniker.

The Charlotte Columbia and Augusta Railroad printed fare tickets in $1, $2, $5 and $10 denominations that resembled US currency with the vignette of a steam locomotive on the front. The $1 fare ticket was good for one person for 20 miles. The $2 fare was good for two people 20 miles. The $5 fare was good for one person 100 miles and the $10 fare was good for two people 100 miles.

Many businesses along the railroad would accept the railroad fare notes as currency for goods.

References

1. ^ Manual of the Railroads of the United States, Vol. 22, Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta Railroad, page 614
2. ^ Federal Reporter, Southern Railway Co. v. Bouknight, November 7, 1895, page 444
3. ^ Federal Reporter, Southern Railway Co. v. Bouknight, November 7, 1895, page 444