The story of the railroads in South Carolina, like most other places in these United States, is growth, division, rise and demise. Like most things, they begin, grow, and eventually come to the end of a useful life.
Rail crossing at Graniteville Highway
The railroads are no different, especially when lines and routes are no longer profitable, are redundant, and serve a very limited purpose.
This is the case of the line from Aiken to Trenton, last maintained by the Southern Railway.
1939 Highway map showing the Aiken to Edgefield Line by way of Trenton.
This particular line was concieved as part of the Carolina, Cumberland Gap and Chicago Railroad (CCG & C RR). This venture was another attempt to open the trade of the Mississippi Valley to the port of Charleston. This railroad was operational by 1888 with 23 miles of track.
In 1894, this company was reorganized as the Carolina, Cumberland Gap, & Chicago Railway
Sometime between 1896 and 1898, the Ohio River & Charleston Railroad ,(OR&C RR) acquired the recently reorganized Carolina & Cumberland Gap Railway. In August 1898 the line from Edgefield to Aiken was sold to the South Carolina and Georgia Railroad Company (SC&GA RR), which operated it as the South Carolina & Georgia Extension Railroad Company for a short time.
Old trestle at Shaw's Creek
In 1902, this line was part of the 999 year lease to the Southern Railway Company.
Southern Railway operated these lines until 1980, when Norfolk Southern resulted out of the mergers of the 1970's.
Between 1970 and 1980, this stretch was abandoned.
Today, the only trains to be heard on this line is from its nearby sister track, still operated by Norfolk Southern from Graniteville to Trenton. The only wheels that meet this once busy line are from autos travelling up and down its well worn route along what is now hunt clubs, residences and wooded lands.
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