List of North Carolina railroads explained

The following railroads operate in the U.S. state of North Carolina.

Common freight carriers

Passenger carriers

Defunct railroads

NameMarkSystem[1] FromToSuccessorNotes
Aberdeen and Asheboro RailroadNS18971912Raleigh, Charlotte and Southern Railway
Aberdeen and Briar Patch RailwayABPR19831987Aberdeen, Carolina and Western Railway
Aberdeen and West End RailroadNS18891897Aberdeen and Asheboro Railroad
Air Line Railroad in South CarolinaSOU18681870Atlanta and Richmond Air–Line Railway
Albemarle and Pantego RailroadNS18871891Norfolk and Southern Railroad
Albemarle and Raleigh RailroadACL18831894Wilmington and Weldon Railroad
Alma Railway1911Maxton, Alma and Southbound Railroad
Appalachian Railway19081935N/A
Asheboro and Montgomery RailroadNS18961897Aberdeen and Asheboro Railroad
Asheville and Craggy Mountain RailwaySOU18891941Southern Railway
Asheville Southern RailwaySOU19051941Southern Railway
Asheville and Spartanburg RailroadSOU18811902Southern Railway – Carolina Division
Atlanta and Charlotte Air Line RailwaySOU18771996Norfolk Southern Railway
Atlanta, Knoxville and Northern RailwayL&N18961905Louisville and Nashville Railroad
Atlanta and Richmond Air–Line RailwaySOU18701876North Carolina Air–Line Railway
Atlantic and Carolina Railroad19141948N/A
Atlantic Coast Line RailroadACLACL18981967Seaboard Coast Line Railroad
Atlantic and Danville RailwayADN&W18891962Norfolk, Franklin and Danville Railway
Atlantic and East Carolina RailwayAECSOU19392003Norfolk Southern Railway
Atlantic and French Broad Valley RailroadSOU18811882Carolina, Cumberland Gap and Chicago Railway
Atlantic and North Carolina CompanyNS19051906Norfolk and Southern Railway
Atlantic and North Carolina RailroadANCNS18521989North Carolina Railroad
Atlantic, Tennessee and Ohio RailroadSOU18551894Southern Railway
Atlantic and Western Railroad18891927Atlantic and Western Railway
Atlantic and Yadkin RailwaySOU18991950Southern Railway
Beaufort and Morehead RailroadBMH19371998North Carolina Railroad
Beaufort and Morehead RailwayBMH19912002Carolina Rail Services
Black Mountain RailwayACL/ L&N19101955Yancey Railroad
Blue Ridge and Atlantic RailwaySOU19011909Tallulah Falls Railway
Bonlee and Western Railway19081932N/A
Caldwell and Northern RailroadSOU18931910Carolina and Northwestern Railway
Cape Fear and Northern RailwaySCL18981903Durham and Southern Railway
Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley RailwayACL, SOU18791898Atlantic and Yadkin Railway, Wilmington and Weldon Railroad
Carolina RailroadNS19121931N/A
Carolina, Atlantic and Western RailwaySAL19141915Seaboard Air Line Railway
Carolina Central RailroadSAL18801901Seaboard Air Line Railway
Carolina Central RailwaySAL18731880Carolina Central Railroad
Carolina, Clinchfield and Ohio RailwayCC&OACL/ L&N19081990CSX Transportation
Carolina Coast RailroadNS19031906Norfolk and Southern Railway
Carolina, Cumberland Gap and Chicago RailwaySOU18821895N/ASold at foreclosure; no property in North Carolina
Carolina and Georgia Railway19191927Tennessee and North Carolina Railway
Carolina, Glenanna and Pee Dee Railway and Development CompanyACL/ N&W19051907Carolina Valley Railway
Carolina Narrow-gauge RailroadSOU18721873Chester and Lenoir Narrow Gauge Railroad
Carolina and Northeastern Railroad19171931Carolina and Northeastern Railway
Carolina and Northeastern Railway19311934N/A
Carolina Northern RailroadSAL18991905Raleigh and Charleston Railroad
Carolina and Northwestern RailwayCRNNS1994Caldwell County RailroadLine from Hickory to Lenoir purchased by Caldwell County Economic Development Commission; Leased to CWCY.
Carolina and Northwestern RailwayCRNSOU19821988Southern Railway
Carolina and Northwestern RailwayCRNSOU18971974Norfolk Southern Railway
Carolina Rail ServicesCRIJ19862005Morehead and South Fork Railroad
Carolina Southern Railway19261961N/A
Carolina and Tennessee Southern RailwaySOU19021944N/A
Carolina Valley RailwayACL/ N&W19071909Piedmont Railway
Carolina and Yadkin River RailwayACL/ N&W19121923High Point, Thomasville and Denton Railroad
Carthage Railroad18861920Randolph and Cumberland Railway
Carthage and Pinehurst RailroadNS19071922N/A
Carthage and Western Railroad1893
Cashie and Chowan Railroad and Lumber Company1883
Cashie and Roanoke Railroad18871893Wellington and Powellsville Railroad
Chapel Hill Iron Mountain RailroadSOU18731879State University Railroad
Charleston, Cincinnati and Chicago RailroadACL/ L&N, SOU18861893Ohio River and Charleston Railway
Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta RailroadSOU18691894Southern Railway
Charlotte and South Carolina RailroadSOU18471869Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta Railroad
Chatham RailroadSAL18611871Raleigh and Augusta Air Line Railroad
Cheraw and Coalfields RailroadACL18671868Cheraw and Salisbury Railroad
Cheraw and Darlington RailroadACL18821898Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
Cheraw and Salisbury RailroadACL18681882Cheraw and Darlington Railroad
Chester and Lenoir Narrow Gauge RailroadSOU18731897Carolina and Northwestern Railway
Chowan River Railway and Baltimore Steamboat CompanyACL18831886Chowan and Southern Railroad
Chowan and Southern RailroadACL18861889Norfolk and Carolina Railroad
Cliffside RailroadCLIF19051987N/A
Clinchfield RailroadCRRACL/ L&N19241983Seaboard System Railroad
Clinton and Faison RailroadACL18811885Clinton and Warsaw Railroad
Clinton and Warsaw RailroadACL18851888Wilmington and Weldon Railroad
Dan Valley and Yadkin River RailroadSOU18791880North Carolina Midland Railroad
Dan Valley and Yadkin River Narrow Gauge RailroadSOU18811883North Carolina Midland Railroad
Danville, Mocksville and Southwestern RailroadSOU18801899Danville and Western Railway
Danville and New River RailroadSOU18731890Danville and Western Railway
Danville and Western RailwayD&WSOU1891
Dismal Swamp Railroad18961941N/A
Dover and South Bound Railroad19051930N/A
Dunn-Erwin RailwayDER19871989Aberdeen and Rockfish Railroad
Durham and Charlotte RailroadNS18931912Raleigh, Charlotte and Southern Railway
Durham and Northern RailwaySAL18871901Seaboard Air Line Railway
Durham and Roxboro RailroadN&W18851887Lynchburg and Durham Railroad
Durham and South Carolina RailroadNS19051993New Hope Valley Railway
Durham and Southern RailwayDSSCL19041981Seaboard Coast Line Railroad
Durham Union Station CompanyN&W/ SAL/ SOU19041965N/A
Duval Transportation of the Carolinas19871987Mid Atlantic Railroad
East Carolina RailwayACL18981965N/A
East Carolina Land and Railway CompanyACL18871894Wilmington, Newbern and Norfolk Railroad
East Tennessee and Western North Carolina RailroadETWN18661950N/A
Edenton and Norfolk RailwayNS18881902Suffolk and Carolina Railway
Egypt RailwayNS18921910Sanford and Troy Railroad
Elizabeth City and Norfolk RailroadNS18701883Norfolk Southern Railroad
Elizabeth City and Western RailroadNS18991902Suffolk and Carolina Railway
Elkin and Alleghany Railroad19201931N/A
Elkin and Alleghany Railway19071919Elkin and Alleghany Railroad
Florence and Fayetteville RailroadACL18621881Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley Railway
Franklin County Railroad19851990LRS subsidiary; operated ex-SAL Franklinton-Louisburg branch (originally Louisburg Railroad); to NCDOT after shutdown, trail lease/rail bank
French Broad Railroad19191925N/A (leased the Madison County Railway)
Georgia, Carolina and Northern RailwaySAL18871901Seaboard Air Line Railway
Georgia and North Carolina RailroadL&N18711887Marietta and North Georgia Railway
Glendon and Gulf Mining and Manufacturing CompanyNS18911896Durham and Charlotte Railroad
Goldsboro Union Station CompanyACL/ NS/ SOU19081968N/A
Graham County RailroadGC19051984N/A
Great Smoky Mountains RailwayGSM19881999Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Greensville and Roanoke RailroadACL18341855Petersburg Railroad
Greenville and French Broad RailroadSOU18551874Spartanburg and Asheville Railroad
Gumberry and Jackson Railroad and Lumber Company18871896Northampton and Hertford Railroad
Halifax and Weldon RailroadACL18341837Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad
Hendersonville and Brevard Railway, Telegraph and Telephone CompanySOU18911897Transylvania Railroad
High Point and Randleman RailroadSOU18831887High Point, Randleman, Asheboro and Southern Railroad
High Point, Randleman, Asheboro and Southern RailroadSOU1887Still exists as a lessor of the Norfolk Southern Railway
Hoffman and Troy Railroad1883
Howland Improvement CompanyNS19031905Atlantic and North Carolina Company
Jackson Springs RailroadNS19011907Aberdeen and Asheboro Railroad
Kinston Carolina RailroadNS19181929N/A
Kinston and Carolina RailroadNS1909Kinston–Carolina Railroad and Lumber Company
Kinston–Carolina Railroad and Lumber CompanyNS19101918Kinston Carolina Railroad
Kinston and Snow Hill RailroadNS1913Carolina Railroad
Lawndale Railway and Industrial Company19031943N/A
Linville River Railroad18961899Linville River Railway
Linville River Railway18991940N/A (owned by East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad)
Louisburg RailroadSAL18811901Raleigh and Gaston Railroad
Louisville and Nashville RailroadL&N, LNL&N19051983Seaboard System Railroad
Lower Creek and Linville Valley Transportation CompanySOU18911893Caldwell and Northern Railroad
Lynchburg and Durham RailroadN&W18871896Norfolk, Lynchburg and Durham Railroad
Madison County Railway19101925N/A
Marietta and North Georgia RailwayL&N18871895Atlanta, Knoxville and Northern Railway
Maxton, Alma and Southbound RailroadMA&S19111937N/A
Mid Atlantic RailroadMRR19871995Carolina Southern Railroad
Midland North Carolina RailwayACL18731884Wilmington and Weldon Railroad
Milton and Sutherlin Railroad18761894N/A
Moore Central Railroad19451948N/A
Moore Central Railway19241945Moore Central Railroad
Moore County Railroad18931904N/A
Mount Airy RailroadSOU18791879Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley Railway
Mount Airy and Eastern Railway18991910Virginia and Mount Airy Railway
Mount Airy and Ore Knob RailroadSOU18711879Mount Airy Railroad
Mount Hope Valley RailroadNS19041905Durham and South Carolina Railroad
Norfolk and Carolina RailroadACL18891900Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
Norfolk, Franklin and Danville RailwayNFDN&W19621983Norfolk and Western Railway
Norfolk, Lynchburg and Durham RailroadN&W18961896Norfolk and Western Railroad
Norfolk, Roanoke and Southern RailroadN&W18961896Norfolk and Western Railroad
Norfolk Southern RailroadNSNS19101942Norfolk Southern Railway
Norfolk Southern RailroadNS18831891Norfolk and Southern Railroad
Norfolk and Southern RailroadNS18911906Norfolk and Southern Railway
Norfolk Southern RailwayNSNS19421982Carolina and Northwestern Railway
Norfolk and Southern RailwayNS19061910Norfolk Southern Railroad
Norfolk and Western RailroadN&W18921896Norfolk and Western Railway
Norfolk and Western RailwayN&W, NWN&W18961998Norfolk Southern Railway
North Carolina RailroadSOU1849Still exists as a lessor of the Norfolk Southern Railway
North Carolina Air–Line RailwaySOU18771877Atlanta and Charlotte Air Line Railway
North Carolina Connecting Railway19051907Roanoke River Railway
North Carolina Midland RailroadSOU1880Still exists as a lessor of the Norfolk Southern Railway
North Carolina Mining, Manufacturing and Development CompanyACL/ N&W19031905Carolina, Glenanna and Pee Dee Railway and Development Company
North Carolina Ports Railway CommissionNCPR19792002North Carolina State Ports Authority
North and South Carolina RailroadSOU18991940N/A
North and South Carolina RailwaySAL19101914Carolina, Atlantic and Western Railway
North Western North Carolina RailroadSOU18681894Southern Railway
Northampton and Hertford Railroad18911908Northampton and Hertford Railway
Northampton and Hertford Railway19091917Carolina and Northeastern Railroad
Ohio River and Charleston RailwayACL/ L&N, SOU18941902South Carolina and Georgia Extension Railroad, South and Western Railway
Oxford and Clarksville RailroadSOU18851894Southern Railway
Oxford and Coast Line RailroadSAL18911906Seaboard Air Line Railway
Oxford and Henderson RailroadSOU18711894Southern Railway
Palmetto RailroadSAL18831895Palmetto Railway
Palmetto RailwaySAL18951901Seaboard Air Line Railway
Pee Dee Valley RailwayACL19091910Rockingham Railway
Petersburg RailroadACL18311898Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
Piedmont RailroadSOU18621894Southern Railway
Piedmont RailwayACL/ N&W19091912Carolina and Yadkin River Railway
Piedmont and Northern RailwayP&N19141969Seaboard Coast Line RailroadElectric until 1954
Pigeon River Railway19061931N/A
Pittsboro RailroadSAL18851899Raleigh and Augusta Air Line Railroad
Portsmouth and Roanoke RailroadSAL18331846Seaboard and Roanoke Railroad
Raleigh and Augusta Air Line RailroadSAL18711901Seaboard Air Line Railway
Raleigh and Cape Fear RailwayNS18981905Raleigh and Southport Railway
Raleigh, Charlotte and Southern RailwayNS19111913Norfolk Southern Railroad
Raleigh and Charleston RailroadSAL19061941N/A
Raleigh and Eastern North Carolina RailroadNS19031903Raleigh and Pamlico Sound Railroad
Raleigh and Gaston RailroadSAL18351901Seaboard Air Line Railway
Raleigh and Pamlico Sound RailroadNS19031906Norfolk and Southern Railway
Raleigh and Southport RailwayNS19051912Raleigh, Charlotte and Southern Railway
Raleigh and Western RailwayNS18931908N/ALeased the Egypt Railway
Randolph and Cumberland Railroad19061907Randolph and Cumberland Railway
Randolph and Cumberland Railway19071924Moore Central Railway
Richmond and Danville RailroadSOU18661894Southern Railway
Richmond, Petersburg and Carolina RailroadSAL18921900Seaboard Air Line Railway
Roanoke RailroadSAL18471849Seaboard and Roanoke Railroad
Roanoke River Railway19071919Townsville Railroad
Roanoke and Southern RailwayN&W18871896Norfolk, Roanoke and Southern Railroad
Roanoke and Tar River RailroadSAL18851911Seaboard Air Line Railway
Roanoke Valley Railroad18551863N/A
Rockingham RailroadRKGACL19101968N/A
Rockingham RailwayACL19101910Rockingham Railroad
Roxboro RailroadN&W18811887Lynchburg and Durham Railroad
Roxboro and Narrow Gauge RailroadN&W18791881Roxboro Railroad
Rutherfordton, Marion and Tennessee RailwayACL/ L&N, SOU18811886Charleston, Cincinnati and Chicago Railroad
Sanford and Glendon RailroadNS1910Sanford and Troy Railroad
Sanford and Troy RailroadNS19101912Raleigh, Charlotte and Southern Railway
Seaboard Air Line RailroadSALSAL19461967Seaboard Coast Line Railroad
Seaboard Air Line RailwaySAL19001945Seaboard Air Line Railroad
Seaboard Air Line SystemSAL18931900Seaboard Air Line Railway
Seaboard Coast Line RailroadSCL19671983Seaboard System Railroad
Seaboard and Raleigh RailroadACL18731883Albemarle and Raleigh Railroad
Seaboard and Roanoke RailroadSAL18461911Seaboard Air Line Railway
Seaboard System RailroadSBD19831986CSX Transportation
Smoky Mountain RailwaySMN19051927N/A
South Carolina and Georgia Extension RailroadSOU18981902Southern Railway – Carolina Division
South and Western RailroadACL/ L&N19051908Carolina, Clinchfield and Ohio Railway
South and Western RailwayACL/ L&N19011906South and Western Railroad
Southeastern RailroadACL18971900Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
Southern RailwaySOUSOU18941990Norfolk Southern Railway
Southern Railway – Carolina DivisionSOU19021996Norfolk Southern Railway
Spartanburg and Asheville RailroadSOU18741881Asheville and Spartanburg Railroad
Statesville and Western RailroadSOU18871894Southern Railway
Suffolk and Carolina RailwayNS18841906Norfolk and Southern Railway
Tallulah Falls RailwayTFSOU19091961N/A
Tennessee and North Carolina Railroad19031920Tennessee and North Carolina Railway
Tennessee and North Carolina Railway19201951N/A
Town Creek Railroad and Lumber Company19051911Wilmington, Brunswick and Southern Railroad
Townsville Railroad19191933N/A
Transylvania RailroadSOU1899
Tuckaseegee and Southeastern Railway19201945N/A
Virginia and Carolina RailroadSAL18831892Richmond, Petersburg and Carolina Railroad
Virginia–Carolina RailwayN&W19111919Norfolk and Western Railway
Virginia and Carolina Southern RailroadACL1903
Virginia and Mount Airy Railway1920N/ANever operated
Warrenton RailroadWAR18761985N/A
Washington and Plymouth RailroadNS19011904Norfolk and Southern Railroad
Washington and Vandemere RailroadACL19031944Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
Weldon and Roanoke Rapids Electric Railway19071917Carolina and Northeastern Railroad
Wellington and Powellsville Railroad18931926Carolina Southern Railway
Western RailroadACL, SOU18521879Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley Railway
Western North Carolina RailroadSOU18551894Southern Railway
Wilmington Railway Bridge CompanyACL/ SAL18661956Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, Seaboard Air Line Railroad
Wilmington, Brunswick and Southern Railroad19071945N/A
Wilmington and Carolina RailroadACL18701870Wilmington, Columbia and Augusta Railroad
Wilmington, Chadbourn and Conway RailroadACL18871895Wilmington and Conway Railroad
Wilmington, Chadbourn and Conwayboro RailroadACL18831887Wilmington, Chadbourn and Conway Railroad
Wilmington and Charlotte RailroadSAL18551855Wilmington, Charlotte and Rutherford Railroad
Wilmington, Charlotte and Rutherford RailroadSAL18551873Carolina Central Railroad
Wilmington, Columbia and Augusta RailroadACL18701898Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
Wilmington and Conway RailroadACL18951896Wilmington, Columbia and Augusta Railroad
Wilmington and Manchester RailroadACL18471870Wilmington and Carolina Railroad
Wilmington and Newbern RailroadACL18971897Wilmington and Weldon Railroad
Wilmington, Newbern and Norfolk RailroadACL18931897Wilmington and Newbern Railroad
Wilmington, Onslow and East Carolina RailroadACL18851893Wilmington, Newbern and Norfolk Railroad
Wilmington and Raleigh RailroadACL18341855Wilmington and Weldon Railroad
Wilmington and Tarboro RailroadACL18611873Seaboard and Raleigh Railroad
Wilmington and Weldon RailroadACL18551900Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
Winston-Salem and Madison RailroadSOU18791880North Carolina Midland Railroad
Winston-Salem and Mooresville RailroadSOU18781880North Carolina Midland Railroad
Winston-Salem Terminal CompanyACL/ N&W/ SOU19221972Norfolk and Western Railway, Southern Railway, Winston-Salem Southbound Railway
Winton Railroad and Lumber Company1889
Yadkin RailroadSOU1871Still exists as a lessor of the Norfolk Southern Railway
Yancey RailroadYAN19551982N/A
Electric railways
Private carriers
Not completed

References

Notes and References

  1. This is one or more of the Class I railroads that the railroad became part of, if any.