This branch line was apparently built at the same time as the Hartsville to Sumter branch of the SAL, or after 1907. The branch left the Hartsville to Bishopville portion of the Sumter branch at Lydia and went through Lamar and then to Timmonsville. Lamar was on the ACL line from Sumter to Darlington and Timmonsville was on the ACL main line from Sumter to Florence. Interestingly, the surviving depot/station in Timmonsville is oriented NW to SE, indicating that SAL trains pulled right into and beside it. However, ACL trains had to take a circuitous route in order to get to the depot (see topo below). This branch was abandoned in the 1950s. It can still be made out in places, particularly on aerial photographs. The ACL/SCL trackage in Timmonsville was removed in the early 1980s, and then the CSX Sumter to Florence mainline was abandoned in pieces in the late 1980s.
Topo map of Timmonsville. The picture above was taken looking SE towards the depot. The picture of the former ACL/SCL/CSX Sumter to Florence main line was taken in front of the depot looking SW. The former SAL line is shown only as far as Johnson High School -- the line apparently continued into town and then paralleled SC 403 and approached the depot in a NW to SE direction, interchanging with ACL at the depot.
