This spur off of the Seaboard Air Line main line at Spence (Catawba) between Hamlet and Atlanta was built around 1907 as Duke Power began to build the hydroelectric generating stations at Great Falls. The line served coal-fired units at the power stations around Great Falls, and also served industries in Great Falls, mainly textile mills. The line paralleled the Catawba River and ran almost directly North/South. There was not much other traffic generated along the line. The branch did interchange with the Lancaster & Chester Railroad in Fort Lawn, the only such interchange even though the roads also passed close to each other in Chester. This interchange was moved to Chester when the branch was abandoned. The line was abandoned in 1980, and the rail was removed soon after. The SC 9 bridge over the former ROW at Fort Lawn has been removed. The ROW can be seen as a deep cut on either side of 4-lane SC-9 in Fort Lawn just W of US 21. The US 21 bridge just N of the location where the picture below was taken is still in place. The ROW can be made out in most places, including extensive industrial spurs in Great Falls.
Towns on the are Spence (Catawba), Rowell, Landsford, Fudges, Fort Lawn and down to Great Falls.
Abandoned for 23 years, and ballast, rail, and other evidence of a grade crossing are still apparent. Looking N towards the US 21 bridge (about 1 mile away), with US 21 to the right.
