“S” is for South Carolina Railroad

“S” is for South Carolina Railroad. In the early nineteenth century, Charleston sought to bolster its economy by attempting to attract trade from the west. One portion of this effort was the South Carolina Railroad. Construction began in 1830 and was completed in 1833. The road stretched for 136 miles, from Charleston to Summerville, Branchville, Blackville, Aiken, and ending in Hamburg. At the time, it was the longest railroad under single management in the world. By 1848 the road had branches to Columbia and Camden. The South Carolina Railroad’s track, buildings, and rolling stock were thoroughly destroyed during the Civil War. Rebuilding began immediately but the company quickly became mired in debt. In 1889 the road was leased to the Southern Railway. In 1902 it was consolidated into the Southern Railway, ending the South Carolina Railroad's existence as an independent company.