SC Picture Project » Depots

Elloree Historict District

SCIWAY — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 17:50:56 +0000

These two buildings are located in the historic district of Elloree. They are the former Atlantic Coast Line Railroad depot and the observation post used by the US Army Air Corp during World War II. A sign on the building says US Air Force, but that name was not adopted until after the war.

Greer Depot

SCIWAY — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 16:42:41 +0000

Piedmont & Northern Railroad built this depot in 1913 in downtown Greer. At one time Greer had multiple track lines for the Southern Railroad, the Greenville Railroad, and the Spartanburg & Asheville Railroad. The city also had three depots for a period of time, but the depot pictured here is the only one left and it now houses a number of businesses.

Salters Depot

SCIWAY — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:07:38 +0000

Salters Depot is located in the small unincorporated community of Salters in Williamsburg County. The depot dates back to the early 1900s, when it served as one of many South Carolina depots along the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad.

McBee Library and Railroad Museum

SCIWAY — Mon, 07 May 2012 20:44:50 +0000

The Seaboard Air Line Railway Depot in McBee, located on West Pine Avenue (SC 151 at US 1), was built in 1914. McBee was a stop along Seaboard’s 91-mile route between Columbia and Cheraw, which was in turn part of Seaboard’s main route between Richmond and Tampa.

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Amazingly, given its age, the building has not undergone any major renovations since it was built. When Seaboard stopped its passenger line in the 1960s, the depot stood vacant for 20 years. Eventually, it was purchased by the Town of McBee and converted into the McBee Library and Railroad Museum. It is now listed in the National Historic Register.

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Many thanks to Melissa Roberts of Barnwell for these great pictures she took in 2012.

Ninety Six Train Depot

SCIWAY — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 17:15:56 +0000

Constructed by Southern Railway (now Norfolk Southern) in 1852, the Ninety Six Train Depot is one of the oldest buildings in Ninety Six. The depot was used by Norfolk Southern until the company took up its rail in 1970. It has been carefully restored and now serves as a meeting place for the community.

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After the rail was removed, the town used the remaining railroad bed to create the Historic Downtown Walking Trail. Lined with beautiful crepe myrtles trees, the 1.4 mile trail begins at the Ninety Six Train Depot and features many of the town’s most notable landmarks, including the Kinard House, the gazebo, and the Star Fort Fountain.

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SCIWAY thanks frequent contributor Mark Clark, an Abbeville native currently residing in Winnsboro, for sharing these photos.

Miley Train Depot

SCIWAY — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:44:15 +0000

Miley is a small, unincorporated community located in Hampton County. The Miley Train Depot was constructed in the early 1900s and served residents along the area’s only railroad line until 1957, when passenger service was discontinued.

The Hampton and Branchville Railroad was chartered in 1891 to accommodate the region’s thriving logging industry. The line originally ran from the town of Hamburg and continued through Hampton into Colleton County and Orangeburg County. It’s currently being used by CSX to transport coal and kraft paper to facilities in Canadys.

Gilbert Depot

SCIWAY — Wed, 18 May 2011 15:58:38 +0000

The railroad first came to Gilbert in the late 1860s with the Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta Railroad. The Gilbert depot was built by Norfolk Southern in the early 1900s. Even though the tracks still run through the middle of town, the depot ceased operations in the 1970s. The town of Gilbert saved the building from destruction and moved it just a short distance from the tracks.

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A caboose, pictured here, was also restored and added to the site. More recently, the track bed, repair truck, and crossing sign were added.

Special thanks to Ann Helms of Spartanburg for submitting this picture she took in May 2011.

Dixiana Station Office

SCIWAY — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 19:12:14 +0000

The small community of Dixiana is located just southwest of Columbia. The Seaboard Air Line Railroad tracks once ran through Dixiana, even though it wasn’t much more than a mail or request stop. This small station office, which is not currently in use, must have seen many freight and passenger trains pass by for years.

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The building and the caboose (seen in the background) were restored and eventually moved to the Cayce Historical Site.

SCIWAY thanks Ann Helms of Spartanburg for this great information and picture she took in 2010.

Cope Depot

SCIWAY — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 18:35:31 +0000

The small town of Cope was named after Jacob Martin Cope, who sold a piece of his farmland for a town and train depot in the 1890s. The Cope Depot was built in 1894 for the Manchester & Augusta Railroad, and was later used by the Atlantic Coast Line.

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The tracks are still in use, but the depot ceased operations in the 1960s. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is still considered the center of town, where locals can meet and visit.

SCIWAY thanks Ann Helms of Spartanburg for this great historical information and picture she took in 2010.

Blackville Train Depot

SCIWAY — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 16:33:55 +0000

The Blackville Train Depot was constructed in the early 1900s, and newly renovated in 2005. It once sat next to the now demolished courthouse on West Main Street, and was moved to its current location on Solomon Blatt Avenue in 1985. The depot is now home to the Blackville Library.

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The small town of Blackville is located along the SC Heritage Corridor. A popular stop for visitors is the Region 3 Discovery Center which has hands-on features highlighting the region’s connection to the railroad and agricultural industries. God’s Acre Healing Springs, a legendary artesian well, is also a neat place to visit.

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Many thanks to frequent contributor Melissa Roberts of Barnwell for submitting these pictures taken in January 2011.