I am A Southeast modeler and fan I like ACL/SCL but I am more into the step-child Clinchfield and the West point routes But I also Like Southern and even some N&W. Are there any more Clinchfield Fans here or am I on my own I would love to see Photos of industries along the Clinchfield or even the Interstate rr I am looking into modeling the area around Miller and the interchage and up the north end of the CRR to Shelby TIA Rick
Rick- You might try searching the online magazine indexes. I recall articles on the Clinchfield. And if memory serves me at all, Railfan & RR magazine did one on the Interstate RR years ago. Boxcab E50
Rick, CRR probably has a small Fan base, mainly (in my humble opinion) due to a lack of information about this fascinating line! Harold
Rick - Agree with Harold, but for a short Class 1 line and being somewhat obscure, the Clinchfield has had quite a number of articles about it, especially a two-part series in "Railroad Model Craftsman" by (I think) David DeVault back in 1976. And of course there was the N-scale Clinchfield that "Model Railroader" had (again trying to recall) in 1979 as a project layout (3 or 4 parts if I recall). Harold & Larry - due to some "improvements" I made to the computer, had problems getting into Trainboard. Wish I did have a 1950's-1960's map of Charleston, Lord knows I had a lot of opportunities, but it was like photographing the East Carolina line - whats going to change so much, so fast???
I thought about the Clinchfield today as I was travelling and listening to the scanner: They were calling for a train at ClinchCross (Site of the Southern crossing Clinchfield) I still like Clinchfield: SD45's U30C's, and GP38's Harold
Use to think about Clinchfield quite a lot as my last HO layout (nearly completed) was based on an all Alco powered free-lanced competitor, the Piedmont Southern. It was a 2'x12' Ell-shaped layout with a 4'x4' "loops" area with an atrocious grade and severe curvature. Had everything complete (including scenery) except the upper yard/interchange when I had to tear it down. Still have a couple of almost scale C-628's, four or five of the old AHM C-425's and at least one RS-2. The C-628's would take the curvature that my Athearn SD-54's/U-30C's did not like at all.
While talking of the Clinchfield- Can anyone tell me if the Clinchfield was ever officially renamed from being the Carolina, Clinchfield & Ohio, to simply being Clinchfield? If so, is there a known date? Boxcab E50
16 Feb 05 A number of years back, a neighbor friend of mine and I would make rail fan trips around the upstate area of South Carolina and in western North Carolina. One of those day trips was over to Spartanburg to check out the Southern and Clinchfield's facilities in that area. In those same ‘currently lost photo albums’, are a lot of pictures of the Clinchfield’s track, yard, equipment, a caboose (parked on the short yard trestle), the tunnel (both ends) going under the Southern tracks and some switching operations near I-85. I’m sure many of you know about the long court battle between Clinchfield and Southern concerning that tunnel. Up until it was completed, Southern interchanged all trains moving between the Clinchfield’s end of line and the Piedmont Northern and the Charleston and Western Carolina lines. Today CSX moves trains through these old Spartanburg C&WC, PN and Clinchfield lines. It is still a good train watching spot. Sometimes you can get Norfolk Southern and CSX trains at the same time. My problem now is allowing time to stop in Spartanburg. The South Carolina Highway department built a real nice I-85 by-pass around the West side of Spartanburg - away from all the rail areas. Dave – good to know that your processor is up and operating. And yes, much O scale hi-rail Southeastern rail lines equipment is available. According to my wife, too much. Boxcab E50 – I do not know if their name was officially changed. Perhaps someone else will know. Need to go. Larry @ SCRS.
Boxcab E50 - Somewhere in my collection of railroadiana (?) I have a business card from one of the Clinchfields' salesmen where the CC&O and the word "Clinchfield" were both displayed. The card dates from the 1960's, so it may be that at least 'til then, both names were used.
Boxcab E50 - (adder) Should have said that the name was fully spelled out as "Carolina, Clinchfield & Ohio".
23 Feb 06 Dave. Did you ever get down to the Megget area below Hollywood, SC? All the rails from both the ACL and SAL had been removed when I made my side trip to Megget. The ACL wye and station was was still in place at Ravenel and the rails on the line into Hollywood were still in place, however ended before Megget. This line had good size trees growing up in it - very apparent that it had not been used for many years. Thi time period was before we moved to Mauldin in 1976 (a year after my retirement from the USAF) - about 1973. I took a lot of 35MM slides in those days, perhaps one day I will take time to review them. I am rather certain I took pictures of the area. Since we had purchased land near the beach on Edisto Island, I was able to trace out the ACL 'farm line' as it meandered around the islands - crossing the SAL line at least three times. While traveling to Edisto, I woud try to deviate off SC Hwy 174 to check the area for left over - still standing - packing sheds.. The ACL and SAL still had one each at Barrelville. We still own that land (11+ acres) and it would made a great place to have a 7.5 gauge railroad (one of my dreams). Should Jesus let me live that long (now 69+), that may take place. Larry @ SCRS.
Larry Yes, as a matter of fact, that general area is serving as the basis for "my" half-mile addition to the Seaboards Charleston-Savannah main. It's hard to realize now, how much commerce took place in that area. The thousands of ventilators and reefers loaded out between the Ashley and Edisto rivers every year. I'm afraid I was rather lax in photographing this area. The last time I was in Megget was in the early 70's. The SAL station there was on the point of collapse, but I went in, being younger and dumber, and retrieved a Virginia and Carolina division timetable and a rather complete set of newsletters for the EC line. My grandmother helped Ms. Nita Gibson on Yonges Island and got to take many trips there in the 1950's - think thats about the time that both ACL and SAL started to cut back on the farm branch lines. Instead of trips to Savannah, Raleigh, Wilson, and Rocky Mount - should really have photgraphed more in that area. If you ever do start your 7.5" gauge line, I'm already retired so keep me in mind for some of the navvy work.
What ahs me curious, is that some otherw ell known railraods used their popular nicname for many years, before actually making the official changeover. For example- The nickname "Monon" was used from the 1800's, to 1956, before they changed it to their official name. It wasn't until 1961, when the official change was made to "Soo Line RR Company." But I have never seen this as a date for CC&O to Clinchfield. Boxcab E50
My understanding is that the name was changed with the 999 year lease to ACL and L&N. A company I worked for in the 1960's received typically 5 or 6 hoppers a week off the Clinchfield, and all were marked "Clinchfield" with reporting marks "CRR". At the same time, I received business cards with the name fully spelled out, though in much smaller print than the name "Clinchfield." Also, I could swear that I saw a photo of an early, small steel box car with reporting marks CC&O!!??
I have a 1959 Official Guide. Which still indexes the CC&O. But it also shows Clinchfield. When I go to the pages for this RR, it shows both the name Clinchfield RR Company, and the initials next that of "CC&O." Interesting little historical mystery! Boxcab E50
