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The '''Blue Ridge Railway''' was originally chartered in 1852 as the ''Blue Ridge Railroad'' (not to be confused with [[Virginia]]'s [[Blue Ridge Railroad]]). Original plans were for a 195 mile line from [[Anderson, South Carolina]] to [[Knoxville, Tennessee]] going through the mountains with as many as thirteen tunnels. By 1859, the railroad had built between Anderson and [[Walhalla, South Carolina]] and substantial work on several tunnels had started. However, with the outbreak of the civil war, no further work was ever completed despite efforts after the war, including one by the [[Black Diamond Railroad]]. In 1894, [[Southern Railway (US)]] acquired the 34 miles of track that had been laid. In 1901 the Southern reorganized the Blue Ridge at which time the original "Railroad" name was changed to "Railway." Eventually, the Blue Ridge was fully consolidated into the Southern.
The '''Blue Ridge Railway''' was a 19th-century railroad in the U.S. state of [[South Carolina]]. It was originally chartered in 1852 as the '''Blue Ridge Railroad of South Carolina'''. Original plans were for a 195-mile line from [[Anderson, South Carolina]], to [[Knoxville, Tennessee]] going through the mountains with as many as 13 tunnels including the incomplete [[Stumphouse Mountain Tunnel]].


By 1859, the railroad had built between Anderson and [[West Union, South Carolina]] and substantial work on [[Stumphouse Mountain Tunnel|several tunnels]] had started. However, with the outbreak of the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], no further work was ever completed on the tunnels despite efforts after the war, including one by the [[Black Diamond Railroad]]. A final extension from West Union to [[Walhalla, South Carolina]] at the urging of the Town Council and local citizens saw the first train arrive November 14, 1877, but no more track would ever be laid along the alignment up Stumphouse Mountain. In 1880, the [[Columbia and Greenville Railroad]] acquired the {{Convert|34|mi}} of track that had been laid. In 1901 the [[Southern Railway (U.S.)|Southern Railway]], successor to the Columbia and Greenville, split out the line as the Blue Ridge Railway.<!--this needs details-->
{{US-rail-stub}}

The Southern leased the Blue Ridge to subsidiary [[Carolina and Northwestern Railway]] on July 1, 1951, and eventually merged the company. Passenger service from [[Belton, South Carolina]], through Anderson to Walhalla ended by the latter part of 1951.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Blue Ridge Railway |journal=Official Guide of the Railways |publisher=National Railway Publication Company |volume=82 |issue=3 |date=August 1949}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Carolina and Northwestern Railway, 'Belton and Walhalla (Anderson Division)' |journal=Official Guide of the Railways |publisher=National Railway Publication Company |volume=84 |issue=7 |date=December 1951}}</ref>

==References ==
{{reflist}}
*{{cite book|last=Brown|first=George Dewitt|title=A History of the Blue Ridge Railroad, 1852-1874|type=MA thesis|publisher=University of South Carolina|year=1967}}
*{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8as2AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA44|title=Chattooga National Wild and Scenic River(s) (NWSR), Proposed: Environmental Impact Statement|date=1973-01-01|page=44}}

==External links==
* [https://railga.com/bluer.html Blue Ridge Railroad history]
* [http://www.oconeecountry.com/stumphouse.html Blue Ridge History trail] at Stumphouse Tunnel Park and Issaqueena Falls in Oconee County, South Carolina

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blue Ridge Railway 1901}}
[[Category:Defunct South Carolina railroads]]
[[Category:Predecessors of the Southern Railway (U.S.)]]
[[Category:Railway companies established in 1901]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1901]]
<!--[[Category:Railway companies disestablished in not sure when, but apparently between 1987 and 1994]]-->

{{US-rail-transport-stub}}
{{SouthCarolina-transport-stub}}

Latest revision as of 18:27, 26 November 2024

The Blue Ridge Railway was a 19th-century railroad in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was originally chartered in 1852 as the Blue Ridge Railroad of South Carolina. Original plans were for a 195-mile line from Anderson, South Carolina, to Knoxville, Tennessee going through the mountains with as many as 13 tunnels including the incomplete Stumphouse Mountain Tunnel.

By 1859, the railroad had built between Anderson and West Union, South Carolina and substantial work on several tunnels had started. However, with the outbreak of the Civil War, no further work was ever completed on the tunnels despite efforts after the war, including one by the Black Diamond Railroad. A final extension from West Union to Walhalla, South Carolina at the urging of the Town Council and local citizens saw the first train arrive November 14, 1877, but no more track would ever be laid along the alignment up Stumphouse Mountain. In 1880, the Columbia and Greenville Railroad acquired the 34 miles (55 km) of track that had been laid. In 1901 the Southern Railway, successor to the Columbia and Greenville, split out the line as the Blue Ridge Railway.

The Southern leased the Blue Ridge to subsidiary Carolina and Northwestern Railway on July 1, 1951, and eventually merged the company. Passenger service from Belton, South Carolina, through Anderson to Walhalla ended by the latter part of 1951.[1][2]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Blue Ridge Railway". Official Guide of the Railways. 82 (3). National Railway Publication Company. August 1949.
  2. ^ "Carolina and Northwestern Railway, 'Belton and Walhalla (Anderson Division)'". Official Guide of the Railways. 84 (7). National Railway Publication Company. December 1951.
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