South Carolina

While working on projects around the country I try to collect some memories of my short visits. What follows are some of the scenes of rail action I saw in South Carolina and a little from North Carolina. I guess I should title this page "The Carolinas". Mostly CSX coal trains can be found on the line between Spartanburg and Columbia, but a few mixed freights do pop up from time to time. Mixed NS freights head northward towards Charlotte, NC and lots of woodchip trains come into the NS Andrews yard in Columbia from the west.

The main hotspot for CSX action is at the Cayce, SC yard just across the river from downtown Columbia, SC. Trains are made up here by road power or whatever is available for switching. Here a GP40 slug is coupled to another GP40 and are switching the south end of the yard. The yard is in the shape of a boomarang.
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This is one of my recent favorites railroad shots that I have taken. This eastbound loaded coal train is departing Clinton, SC headed for a power plant south of Columbia. Most of these coal trains terminate next to the NS's Andrews yard in Columbia near I-77 and Shop Rd where they may be parked until the power plant needs them. Same for empties.
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The majority of the coal trains will pass through Columbia, SC headed south. They will not cross the river and go to the Cayce yard in Cayce, SC. This full coal train is waiting for the light to cross the NS at the Columbia Amtrak station.
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I never did see any Amtrak at the Columbia Amtrak station, but the CSX and NS were frequent visitors past the covered passenger loading platform as seen here of this northbound mixed freight headed for Spartenburg, SC.
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There are four routes for the NS to take out of Columbia. This train just departed Andrews yard, passed through the USC campus and is climbing upgrade on the line that goes to Charlotte, NC and points east from there. This is only the second unpainted widecab that I have photographed and the other was on Conrail in Conway, PA.
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Another coal train headed east through the countryside near Jalapa, SC.
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Not too many coal trains are found on the NS in this area from what I have observed, but here is one of those rare moves at the NS St. Andrews yard in Columbia, SC.
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A GP-60 is dwarfted by the huge wood chip hopper at the NS St. Andrews yard in Columbia, SC.
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A special move moving at walking speed makes the turn at the CSX Cayce yard in Cayce, SC. Giant GE gas turbines manufactured in Greenville, SC are moving on the CSX headed for Charleston, SC and will then be loaded onto a ship bound for Turkey. Evidence of the world's need for more power.
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Bringing up the rear of that special move is the GE caboose. Turbines were loaded on GE 16-axle heavy duty flatcars for the move. The turbines are the largest manufactured by GE and shipped by rail.
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A mixed freight winds it way over the roller coster terrain near Little Mountain, SC. Red dirt cuts are ever present in this part of the state while other parts are very sandy, almost like beach sand.
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One of the stars at the North Carolina Transportation museum in Spencer, NC is the 604 seen here hauling some of the museums passenger cars.
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A view of 604 backing from the depot on the grounds of the North Carolina Transportation museum in Spencer, NC.
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A roster shot of the 604 at Spencer, NC. Steam is only run on the weekend at the museum. The month of August had the 604 with the honors and in September the museums Shay will fill the bill. During weekdays diesels perform the chores.
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This is the first time I have ever seen a Shay. If you do not know, all the running gear and mechanics are on the engineer's side of the engine, while the fireman's side is just a frame and wheels as seen in the image that follows.
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Here a shot of the Shay climbing up a slight grade on the North Carolina Transportation museum grounds and trackage.
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