Greenville and Western Railway

The Greenville and Western Railway (reporting mark GRLW) is a Class III railroad that operates 12.74 miles (20.50 km) from a point south of Belton to Pelzer, South Carolina. Connections are made with Pickens Railway at Belton and CSX at Pelzer. The railroad is a subsidiary of Western Carolina Railway Service Corporation.[1]

Greenville and Western Railway
Overview
HeadquartersGreenville, South Carolina
Reporting markGRLW
LocaleUpstate South Carolina
Dates of operation2006–
PredecessorCSX Transportation
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) (standard gauge)
Length12.74 miles (20.50 km)
Greenville and Western Railway
CSX to Greenville
AKL 39.0
 Pelzer
AKL 38.4
 Williamston
AKL 38.3
Southern (Abandoned)
AKL 33.1
 Cheddar
AKL 31.2
To Anderson (Abandoned)
AKL 30.9
 Belton
Pickens to Anderson
AKL 29.0
 Belton Junction Yard
Pickens to Honea Path
AKL 26.2
 End of Line
(Abandoned)

History

The Greenville, Spartanburg and Anderson Railway was formed in 1910 to build an interurban railroad between its namesake cities. The Pelzer-Belton segment was built as part of its mainline from Greenwood to Greenville between 1910-1912. This line became part of the Piedmont and Northern Railway in 1914. The P&N was merged into the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad in 1969. Additional mergers occurred in 1983 with the Seaboard System merging with Chessie System, becoming CSX Transportation in 1986.

On April 26, 2006 CSX sought to abandon the line from Belton to Pelzer.[2] The abandonment was rejected by the Surface Transportation Board in August 2006 as the line was still profitable. 87 carloads had originated from or terminated at two online industries in 2005 in addition to overhead traffic from 10 customers on the Pickens Railway.[3] On October 20, 2006 CSX sold the line to the current operator.[4]

Traffic surged to 1,872 carloads by 2009, primarily fueled by growth in ethanol traffic. Other commodities include scrap metal, limestone, fertilizer, feed products, plastics, and paper.[5]

Motive power

GRLW currently operates two EMD GP9 locomotives numbered 3751 and 3752. GRLW Also operates 4 EMD GP30u locomotives, 4201-4204.[6]

Unit 3751 was formerly ECBR 6513 (2003–2007), formerly PTR 6513 (1987–2003) and originally B&O 6513 (1957–1987) - EMD frame no. 5519-3, serial no. 22987, built May 1957.[7]

Unit 3752 was formerly ECBR 6554 (2004–2008), formerly PTR 6554 (1987–2004) and originally B&O 6554 (1957–1987) - EMD frame no. 5519-44, serial no. 23028, built July 1957.[8][9]

4201, branded for Western Carolina Railway's subsidiary Aiken Railroad, was built in May 1963 as ATSF 1270 (EMD GP30). Rebuilt and renumbered several times by ATSF, then owned by BNSF when ATSF merged with Burlington Northern, it was purchased by WCRS and originally plated GRLW until it was repainted in WCRS colors and branded with AIKR.[10]

4202, also branded for AIKR, was built in May of '63, as ATSF 1275. It also went through the same process, staying with ATSF/BNSF until sold to WCRS.[11]

4203, built as ATSF 1209 (GP30), built in May 1962, stayed with ATSF/BNSF before being sold to LTEX, and bought by WCRS for GRLW.[12]

4204, built as ATSF 1251 in March 1963, came down the same path as 4203.[13]

References
  1. "Greenville & Western Railway". 2 April 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
  2. "STB Docket No. AB-55 (Sub. No. 644 X)". 18 May 2006. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
  3. "STB Docket No. AB-55 (Sub. No. 644 X)". 15 August 2006. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
  4. "STB Finance Docket No. 34926". 20 October 2006. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
  5. Judge, Tom (2010). "Infrastructure Work Helps GRLW". Railway Track & Structures. Simmons-Boardman Publishing. 106 (4): 33–42.
  6. "Greenville & Western Railway". thedieselshop.us. Retrieved 2017-06-26.
  7. "Pictures of GRLW 3751". www.rrpicturearchives.net. Retrieved 2017-06-26.
  8. "Pictures of GRLW 3752". www.rrpicturearchives.net. Retrieved 2017-06-26.
  9. Steven C. Hawkins, President, Greenville & Western Railway. 26 February 2008.
  10. "Pictures of AIKR 4201". rrpicturearchives.net.
  11. "Pictures of GRLW 4202". rrpicturearchives.net.
  12. "Pictures of GRLW 4203". www.rrpicturearchives.net. Retrieved 2017-06-26.
  13. "Pictures of GRLW 4204". www.rrpicturearchives.net. Retrieved 2017-06-26.
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