South Carolina Canal & Rail Road

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South Carolina Canal & Rail Road

South Carolina Canal & Rail Road

Photo: Replica of the Best Friend of Charleston in 1986, Roger Puta.

The South Carolina Canal and Rail Road Company (SCC&RR), chartered in 1827, holds a significant place in American railroad history. It was one of the nation’s earliest chartered railways and it pioneered America’s first steam-powered passenger service. The SCC&RR began operations with its first 6-mile line west of Charleston on Christmas Day, 1830, using the American-built locomotive, “The Best Friend of Charleston”.

By 1833, the company completed its ambitious 136-mile line connecting Charleston to Hamburg, making it the longest continuous railroad under a single management in the world at the time. The railroad, built primarily on piles through South Carolina’s lowcountry swamps, was instrumental in transporting agricultural goods from the state’s interior to the port of Charleston. Despite its early success, the SCC&RR was plagued by issues with its early, experimental locomotives and the challenges of maintaining its wooden track.

South Carolina Railroad Company

The railroad was absorbed by the Louisville, Cincinnati and Charleston Railroad in 1839, though it continued to operate under its original name until the two companies formally merged in 1844 to become the South Carolina Railroad Company. The line continued to expand, connecting Charleston to Columbia and Augusta, Georgia, before its destruction during the Civil War. After rebuilding, it ultimately became a part of the Southern Railway system in the late 19th century. The SCC&RR’s early innovations and the engineering marvels of its construction cemented its legacy as a trailblazer in American railroad development.

SCC&RR Stats

Informally known as the Charleston & Hamburg Railroad

  • Founded/Chartered: 1827
  • Operated: 1833 -1843
  • Abbreviation: SCC&RR
  • Initial Route: Charleston to Hamburg SC (SC city adjacent to Augusta GA)
  • Length: 136 miles Charleston to Hamburg SC mainline, 66 mile branch to Columbia SC
  • Known For: First American passenger train pulled by their first locomotive “The Best Friend of Charleston.’ One of the first railroads in the nation.
  • Successors: South Carolina Railroad Company, South Carolina & Georgia Railroad Company, South Carolina & Georgia Extension Railroad, Southern Railway
  • Cities: Charleston SC, Branchville, Hamburg, Columbia SC
  • Key Individuals: William Aiken, Horatio Allen, Elias Horry
  • Related Railroads: Louisville Cincinnati & Charleston Railroad
  • Today: Norfolk Southern Railway

More Southern Railway information will be added to this page and others in the days ahead. Please let me know if you have any edits that should be made or any content you are willing to share by utilizing the comment form below. Would enjoy hearing from you if you have similar interests in the railroads, the region, or model railroading.

Southern-Railroads.org Sources and Resources

The following are excellent resources for those of you wanting to explore and learn more about the Southern Railway and its predecessors. These sources of information also serve as reference and historical materials for Southern-Railroads.org. Much of the content on the website is verified across multiple sources.

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Would enjoy hearing from you if you have questions, suggestions, edits, or content that you are willing to share. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have similar interests in the Southern or Model Railroads.

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3Cs Websites

Appalachian-Railroads.org | Clinchfield.org | Southern-Railroads.org