Croft to Edgefield - Southern/Norfolk Southern

This trestle in Edgefield over US 25 and other streets is now a rails-to-trails walking trail called Ten Governor's Trail.  Slade Lake is located behind the photograph.  This section was abandoned more recently by Norfolk Southern. (Photo by Jared Gfeller)

Special thanks to Jared Gfeller for the pictures and Julian Finley for information on this line.

The Edgefield Branch Railroad was incorporated in South Carolina in 1878 for the purpose of constructing a railroad from Edgefield Court House, South Carolina, to connect with the Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta Railroad at Trenton. The charter was amended in 1879 to change the railroad's name to the Edgefield, Trenton and Aiken Railroad Company, and apparently the line was extended from Trenton to Aiken at that time.  The ET&A RR was consolidated with the Atlantic and French Broad Valley Railroad Company in 1882 to form the French Broad and Atlantic Railway Company.  The FB&A apparently became part of the Cincinnati, Cumberland Gap & Charleston Railroad by 1895.  It is believed that the CCG&C became part of the Southern Railway by 1900.

The section from Croft to Trenton was abandoned in the late 1970s.  The section from Trenton to Edgefield has just recently been taken out of service or abandoned by Norfolk Southern, and most of the rail to the outskirts of Edgefield is still in place.  Rails are still in service (NS) from Aiken to Croft, where the last customer on the line is Southeastern Clay.

Towns along the abandoned section N and W of Croft are Laketon, Milledgeville, Eureka, Baynham, Trenton, Parkhill and into Edgefield.

Looking N near Croft.  The end of the line is just ahead past the clay mine.  (Photo by Jared Gfeller)

Looking S at Eureka.  The rails here were pulled in the late 1970s.  A very well preserved ROW, typical of the Sandhills.  (Photo by Jared Gfeller)

Former crossing of the NS main at Trenton between Columbia and Augusta (the old Charlotte, Columbia & Augusta).  This was the original terminus of the Edgefield Branch Railroad in 1878.  Note the rail still in place under Julian's foot, as he diligently works the GPS unit.  (Photo by Jared Gfeller)

Tracks still in place between Trenton and Edgefield.  This section is either out of service or is abandoned. (Photo by Jared Gfeller)

Topo showing the location of the trestle in the picture at the top of this page, and the abandoned rails still in place between Trenton and Edgefield (location 5).  Note the abandoned ROW of the Georgia & Floride line between Augusta and Greenwood on the lefthand side of this topo.

Details of the GPS and USGS work of Julian Finley and Jared Gfeller at Trenton, SC.  The photo above (showing the NS Augusta - Columbia main line) was taken at point E.  Sections G to F and D to C are still in place, while section F to E is not.