This branch off of the Southern Railway main line between Columbia and Spartanburg was built some time around 1894 when a textile mill was built on the Broad River. A small hydro-electric power plant was built along the river to serve the textile and the mill town of Lockhart sprang to life. The textile mill was shut down in the late 1980s, however rail service ended long before that. The Lockhart Branch was officially abandoned by the Southern Railway in the early 1970s. The hydro-electric plant remains in service, forming the basis of the local electric co-op.
The ROW is evident along SC Highway 9 between Lockhart Junction (E of Jonesville) on the Norfolk-Southern line between Columbia and Spartanburg and Lockhart. The ROW follows the road most of the way to Lockhart, only leaving the highway for short stretches.
Along SC Highway 9 between Jonesville and Lockhart, the former ROW of the Lockhart Branch can be seen in many places. The ROW embankment to the R of the road is now visible on this recently cleared piece of land. The branch followed SC 9 most of the way into Lockhart. (Photo from July 2003)
SC Highway 49 bridge over the former ROW in Lockhart. The line made a big 180 turn less than a mile from this bridge, bringing it along the river and to the textile mill. The subtitle for this picture should be "Why it is best to take abandoned railroad pictures during the fall and winter"! (Photo from July 2003)
