Columbia, Newberry and Laurens Railroad

The Columbia, Newberry and Laurens Railroad (reporting mark CNL) was a railroad line that served a 75-miles stretch between Columbia, and Laurens.

A ticket for a passenger service on the Columbia, S.C., Newberry and Laurens Railroad, date unknown.

In 1885, the South Carolina General Assembly issued a charter for the Columbia, Newberry and Laurens Railroad,^[1] and the line was officially christened on Christmas Day 1885. In 1890, work began on the track and by July 1891, the line was complete from Columbia through Newberry to Dover Junction, nearly 65 miles north of the state capital.^[2]

In 1896, the Laurens Railroad was purchased from the Richmond and Danville Railroad^[3] to complete the line to Laurens.^[4]

The first locomotive of the CN&L was built in 1887 and sold in 1922. The CN&L ran daily passenger trains that originated from Union Station in Columbia, and traveled up the line to Laurens. These trains were always pulled by steam, until the service was discontinued in 1952.^[5]

Not surprisingly, the railroad saw to the creation of towns along its line. Towns such as Irmo, Chapin, Little Mountain, Prosperity and Joanna all owe their existence in part to their locations along the CN&L.

In 1924, the Atlantic Coast Line acquired control of the line.^[6]

The Columbia, Newberry and Laurens Railroad was formerly merged into CSX Transportation in 1984.^[7]

References

1. ^ South Carolina Railroads, Columbia, Newberry and Laurens Railroad
2. ^ South Carolina Railroads, Columbia, Newberry and Laurens Railroad
3. ^ South Carolina Railroads, Laurens Railroad
4. ^ South Carolina Railroads, Columbia, Newberry and Laurens Railroad
5. ^ South Carolina Railroads, Columbia, Newberry and Laurens Railroad
6. ^ South Carolina Railroads, Columbia, Newberry and Laurens Railroad
7. ^ Irmo and the Dutch Fork Legacy, The Columbia, Newberry and Laurens Railroad

External links

• Facebook fan page, Columbia, Newberry and Laurens Railroad