Winston-Salem Southbound Railway

The Winston-Salem Southbound Railway (AAR reporting mark WSS) began operations in 1910. It was jointly owned by Norfolk and Western Railway (AAR reporting mark NW) and Atlantic Coast Line (AAR reporting mark ACL). It terminates about 80 miles away at the N&W in Winston-Salem, North Carolina at the north end, and the SAL and ACL in Wadesboro, North Carolina at the south end.

Dr. Jeff Miller and Jim Vaughn wrote a complete history book of the line in 1996 with color photographs, maps, and lots more. The book is out of print but can be found at RR shows.

Motive power

The WSS used a variety of steam locomotives from 1910 until 1957, since the Norfolk & Western Railroad continued to operate with steam engines, there was no hurry to dieselize the Winston-Salem Southbound Railway. A new day dawned on April 22, 1957, when four new EMD GP9 diesels arrived, priced at about $190,000 each. With diesels in full command, the handmaidens of steam engines, the water tanks and coaling stations would soon fall, as did the dark smudges of coal smoke. The 4 GP9's that were purchased, were from N&W and ACL, the two companies that owned the WSS. The were re-painted and into two 2 different paint schemes and served from the 1950's to the late 1960's due to the WSS relizing it wasn't cost effective to maintain servicing facilities, so the geeps went back to their respective owners and the WSS started to lease equipment from the ACL and N&W, and to this day, the WSSB continues to lease road power from the successors of the ACL (CSX) and N&W (NSC).

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GP9 unit #'s

WSS #1501 (N&W)

WSS #1502 (N&W)

WSS #1503 (ACL)

WSS #1504 (ACL)

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WSS GP9 info & pics

[http://www.hosam.com/roads/wss.html]

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In 1960, the Winston-Salem Southbound Railway acquired the High Point, Thomasville & Denton Railroad, but continues to be operated as a separate company with traffic interchange at High Rock, NC. There are no through trains between the two lines

The WSS operates from Winston-Salem to Wadesboro, 87.0 track miles. "Trains" magazine March 1957, pp 25-30, has a feature story about the line by noted editor DPM and photos by Philip Hastings.

Modern day on the WSS

Ownership of the WSS is still split 50/50 between its parent roads Norfolk Southern (AAR reporting mark NS) and CSX (AAR reporting mark CSXT). Trains operate daily using power mainly from one of these two roads.

Commodities carried by the railroad are grain, sand, gravel, stone, forest products, paper products, coal, coke, cement, clay fertilizer, aluminum, chemicals, iron, and steel.

Principal shippers are: Corn Products Co. of Winston-Salem - manufacturer of corn syrup and related products; and Owens Brockway Glass Co. of Eller - manufacturer of glass products.

The Winston-Salem Southbound connects with four railroads: Norfolk Southern; CSX; High Point, Thomasville & Denton; and Aberdeen, Carolina & Western.

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Miles of track: 87

Employees: 29

Carloads: 21,000 per year-2,100,000 tons

Industries served: 35

Equipment: CSX & NS leased locomotives

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