THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CERTAIN “SOMETHING” about the shortline railroads of the southeastern United States. Many photographers and authors from Lucius Beebe to H. Reid have explored the region, and they come away with descriptions that include “charming,” “persevering,” and, perhaps above all, “friendly.” The final days of steam were a big attraction in the 1950s and 1960s, as many of these lines held on to tired Ten-wheelers and Consolidations. Once steam was vanquished, the shortlines turned to second-hand diesels. I had the opportunity to visit the South on a
few occasions during the winter of 2014-’15. What I found, however, was not a bunch of railroads
scraping by – the modern southern shortline scene is bustling with activity. Most of the railroads have attractive paint schemes that please photographers, and most have long trains and stable traffic bases that please the owners and shareholders. The lines of the South include some of the most
storied names in railroad history — Lancaster & Chester, Sandersville, and others — as well as modern railroads that have sprung up in the last quarter-century, well after the “classic” era that Reid photographed, such as the Aberdeen, Carolina & Western. Colorful, busy, and, yes, still charming and friendly — there’s still a lot to like in the South.
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