South Carolina Railfan's Handbook

Tourist railroads, museums, outdoor displays, and rail-trails in the Palmetto State

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This state has several attractions for railroad enthusiasts, most notably the South Carolina Railroad Museum near Winnsboro. Old railroad equipment is also on display in numerous other locations around the state.

In Florence, Greenwood, and North Augusta, abandoned railroad tracks have been paved over and made into hiking and bicycling paths. Several pieces of the Palmetto Trail have been built on old railroad lines also. For more information about these rail-trails, visit the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's web site at http://www.railtrails.org/.

South Carolina has several “firsts” in railroad history. In 1831, the the first regularly-scheduled steam train, pulled by a locomotive known as the “Best Friend”, began operating in Charleston. This line was later extended to Hamburg, SC, which is now part of North Augusta. The portion of this line between Charleston and Branchville is still in operation today, while most of the line from Branchville to North Augusta has been abandoned. In 1939, a piece of this line became America's first rail-trail opened to public use, the “Cathedral Aisle Trail”. You can still hike this trail today, located in the Hitchcock Woods.

For more information about the Best Friend, be sure to visit the web site of Charleston Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, located at http://www.bestfriendofcharleston.org/.

Name and Description	County
South Carolina Railroad Museum The Official Railroad Museum of South Carolina offers excursion rides over the restored portion of its 11-mile railroad. The demonstration train ride lasts approxmately one hour. For more information, see the museum's web site at http://www.scrm.org/.	Fairfield
Florence Museum An old steam locomotive built in 1917 by Vulcan Iron Works sits outside this museum.	Florence
Richburg Park An old saddle-tank steam locomotive sits here in the town of Richburg for visitors to view.	Chester
Gyles Park Two railroad dining cars and a caboose await restoration here.	Aiken
West Ashley Greenway This ten-mile long rail-trail is part of the East Coast Greenway. The scenery varies from suburban to rural along the way. Most of the trail is unpaved, hard-packed dirt, and there are virtually no hills. Altho it runs parallel to US #17, it is far enough away that you cannot see the highway or hear the traffic noise.	Charleston
North Augusta Greenway A paved rail-trail is now a popular place for walking, bicycling, and roller skating.	Aiken
Railroad and Mill Village Heritage Trail In the town of Greenwood, South Carolina, you will find a bicycle trail built along an abandoned railroad right-of-way. It begins on Main Street and runs about 2 ¹/₂ miles out to an old mill village.	Greenwood
Cathedral Aisle Trail Cathedral Aisle is America's oldest rail-trail. It is now an unpaved hiking trail located in Hitchcock Woods, just outside of Aiken, SC.	Aiken
Swamp Fox Passage The Swamp Fox Passage of the Palmetto Trail lies deep in the heart of the Francis Marion National Forest. Much of this passage has been built over old logging railroad lines. Altho there are no hills, this trail is unpaved and very rough. It does go by some interesting scenery, however. It is accessible from the Witherbee Ranger Station, Halfway Creek Trail Camp, or the Swamp Fox Parking Area.	Charleston, Berkeley
Peak-to-Prosperity Rail-Trail This section of the Palmetto Trail is on an abandoned railroad right-of-way thru the towns of Peak, Pomaria, and Prosperity.	Newberry
Florence Rail Trail This 1¹/₂-mile long paved trail is a popular place for walkers and runners in a residential neighborhood of Florence.	Florence

South Carolina Railfan's Handbook

Cathedral Aisle Trail

Swamp Fox Passage

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