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Aberdeen, Carolina & Western Railroad
The Aberdeen, Carolina & Western Railroad operates more than 138 miles of trackage in south central North Carolina: a 35 mile branch between a CSX interchange at Aberdeen to Star; a 104 mile leased line from Charlotte to Gulf. The latter line is a segment of the original Norfolk Southern's main line. The ACWR hosts connections to the modern Norfolk Southern at both ends of its run and a Winston Salem Southbound connection at Norwood. A CSX connection is maintained at Aberdeen. The AC&W began operations in 1987, leasing the old NS main line in 1989. Station and shop are boht in Star, where the two lines meet. The ACWR operates the most mileage among all North Carolina shortlines.
ACWR system map / web
Motive Power
Aberdeen, Carolina & Western #3802
Star, NC / Mar 1999 / JCH
Aberdeen, Carolina & Western #3802
- builder:Electro Motive Division
- model:GP38
- type:B-B road switcher
- built:1967, EMD #33364
- series:466 produced 1966-71
- engine:EMD 645E (16 cyls. 2000 hp)
- notes:
- blt Baltimore & Ohio #3846
to CSXT #2046
Star, NC / Mar 1999 / JCH
Star, NC / Mar 1999 / RWH
Star, NC / Jan 1995 / Warren Calloway
Warren Calloway
Star, NC / Jan 1995 / Warren Calloway
Star, NC / Jan 1995 / Warren Calloway
Star, NC / Jan 2007 / Ben Wells
Star, NC / Jan 2007 / Ben Wells
Aberdeen, Carolina & Western #3803
Pinehurst, NC / Mar 1999 / RWH
Aberdeen, Carolina & Western #3803
- builder:Electro Motive Division
- model:GP38
- type:B-B road switcher
- built:1967, EMD #33728
- series:466 produced 1966-71
- engine:EMD 645E (16 cyls. 2000 hp)
- notes:
- blt Chesapeake & Ohio #3897
to CSXT #2097
Aberdeen, NC / Mar 1999 / RWH
Aberdeen, NC / Mar 1999 / CSXT interchange / RWH
Aberdeen, NC / Mar 1999 / RWH
Aberdeen, NC / Mar 1999 / RWH
Star, NC / Jan 1999 / Warren Calloway
Aberdeen, Carolina & Western #703
Star, NC / Jan 2007 / Ben Wells
Aberdeen, Carolina & Western #6926
Aberdeen, NC / Mar 2012 / Warren Calloway
Aberdeen, Carolina & Western #6926
- builder:Electro Motive Division
- model:SD40-3 (rebuilt SD40)
- type:C-C special duty
- built:1971, EMD #A2600
- series:865 produced 1966-72
- engine:EMD 645E (16 cyl, 3000 hp)
- notes:
- blt Canadian National #5238
to Wisconsin Central #6926
to Aberdeen, Carolina & Western #6926
Aberdeen, Carolina & Western #703
Star, NC / Jan 2007 / Ben Wells
Aberdeen, Carolina & Western #703
- builder:Electro Motive Division
- model:GP40-2LW
- type:B-B road switcher, wide cab
- built:Dec 1973, GMDD #A2941
- series:812 produced 1972-86
- engine:EMD 645E (16 cyl. 3000 hp)
- notes:
- ex Canadian National #9671
to GO Transit #703
Aberdeen, Carolina & Western #9538
Star, NC / Jan 2007 / Ben Wells
Aberdeen, Carolina & Western #9538
- builder:Electro Motive Division
- model:GP40-2LW
- type:B-B road switcher, wide cab
- built:Jan 1975, GMDD #A3173
- series:812 produced 1972-86
- engine:EMD 645E (16 cyl. 3000 hp)
- notes:
- ex Taylor Rail Group
ex Canadian National #9538
Star, NC / Jan 2007 / Ben Wells
Aberdeen, Carolina & Western #9593
Star, NC / Jan 2007 / Ben Wells
Aberdeen, Carolina & Western #9593
- builder:Electro Motive Division
- model:GP40-2LW
- type:B-B road switcher, wide cab
- built:_________
- series:812 produced 1972-86
- engine:EMD 645E (16 cyl. 3000 hp)
- notes:
- ex Taylor Rail Group
ex Canadian National #9593
Aberdeen, Carolina & Western #700
Star, NC / Jan 1995 / Warren Calloway
Aberdeen, Carolina & Western #700
- builder:Electro Motive Division
- model:GP7
- type:B-B road switcher
- built:Nov 1950, EMD #9943
- series:2601 produced 1949-54
- engine:EMD 567B (16 cyl, 1500 hp)
- notes:
- ex Bangor & Aroostook #71, former #571
to Aberdeen, Carolina & Western #71
renumbered #700; retired
Star, NC / Jan 1995 / Warren Calloway
Aberdeen, Carolina & Western #1600
Star, NC / Jan 1995 / Warren Calloway
Aberdeen, Carolina & Western #1600
- builder:Electro Motive Division
- model:GP16 (SCL rebuild)
- type:B-B road switcher
- built:Sep 1960, EMD #26122
- engine:EMD 567 (16 cyl)
- notes:
- Seaboard Air Line #408
Seaboard Coast Line #1064, later #4621
Seaboard #4621; later CSXT #1721
to Aberdeen, Carolina & Western #1600
Aberdeen, Carolina & Western #1602
Scandor, NC / Jan 1995 / Warren Calloway
Aberdeen, Carolina & Western #1602
- builder:Electro Motive Division
- model:GP16 (SCL rebuild)
- type:B-B road switcher
- built:Feb 1951, EMD #13898
- engine:EMD 567 (16 cyl)
- notes:
- Atlantic Coast Line #1531
Seaboard Coast Line #741, later #4709
Seaboard #4709; later CSXT #1755
to Aberdeen, Carolina & Western #1602
Aberdeen, Carolina & Western #1606
Scandor, NC / Jan 1995 / Warren Calloway
Aberdeen, Carolina & Western #1606
- builder:Electro Motive Division
- model:GP16 (SCL rebuild)
- type:B-B road switcher
- built:Dec 1951, EMD #14947
- engine:EMD 567 (16 cyl)
- notes:
- Charleston & Western Carolina #213
Atlantic Coast Line #267
Seaboard Coast Line #867, later #4709
Seaboard #4709; later CSXT #1835
to Aberdeen, Carolina & Western #1606
Rolling Stock
Star, NC / Mar 1999 / RWH
Locations
Aberdeen, NC / Mar 1999 / JCH
Aberdeen, NC / Mar 1999 / JCH
Star, NC / Jan 1995 / Warren Calloway
Lagniappe
Scandor, NC / Jan 1995 / Warren Calloway
Seven Lakes, NC / Jan 1995 / Warren Calloway
For railfans, one a great benefits of the Norfolk Southern's well known "Thoroughbred Lease Program" is an interesting operation like the ACWR. The road has made this old segment of the orginial Norfolk Southern into a profitable shorltine enterprise, and along the way the operators have formed quite a nice collection of second hand road power -- much of it rebuilt by class one shops, as in the case of the Seabord Coast line GP16s. My father and I enjoyed chasing a local movement from the CSX interchange in Aberdeen northwest to Star -- true piney woods shortlining at its best. Having grown up chasing ICG Paducah rebuilds, I appreciate the AC&W's collection of Seaboard Coast Line GP16 rebuilds a great deal. I hope to visit the AC&W again, mostly to see the GP40 wide cabs that arrived on the line since our last visit.
Links / Sources
- Aberdeen, Carolina & Western Railroad - official company website
- Diesel Shop roster for ACWR
- Peach State Rails page for ACWR
- Wikipedia article for ACWR
- Edward A. Lewis, American Shortline Railway Guide - Fifth Edition (Kalmbach, 1996) 14
- Charles W. McDonald, Diesel Locomotive Rosters (Kalmbach, 1992) 12