OR THE LAST 74 YEARS, the Alexander Railroad has shuttled thousands of times across the 18 miles between its interchange with Norfolk Southern in Statesville, N.C., and its headquarters in Taylorsville, N.C., population 2,000. Created from an abandoned Southern Railway branch, it has exceeded expectations with a vibrant switching business in West Statesville, and a host of industries scattered along N.C. Route 90 in communities called Loray, Stony Point, and Hiddenite. For years, the Junebug Line, as it was nicknamed for its green paint that evoked images of the summer beetle found in the southeast, was famous for its fleet of end-cab Alco-built switchers. Such units were always rare in the region and that made them special. The Alco roster eventually gave way to a fleet of four SW1500s. Half the roster kept the line's traditional green and the other half all black. While the Alcos oozed character, the SW1500s bring their own style to the Piedmont of North Carolina: No. 9's numberboards and offset headlights stamp it as of Southern Pacific origin. As the locals would say, it's not from around here. But it will fit in, and the fans will find No. 9 and its sisters more attractive as the years go by. Meanwhile, the Alexander will go about its business, serving industries for the people of lredell and Alexander counties, going out every morning with loads for interchange and coming back home every afternoon with empties to be filled. The railroad has done this some 20,000 times since 1946 by my best calculations. That in itself is an achievement.

Jim Wrinn / TRAINS magazine / Jun 2020 / image RWH