Aberdeen & Briar Patch

Company History: This line launched in 1984 as a spinoff of Southern Railway, running the 34 miles between Star and Aberdeen, North Carolina. This line was part of the "original" Norfolk Southern. Traffic included beer, carpeting, fertilizer, furniture, LPG, rubber, pulpwood, lumber, and limestone. The company was run by Willard Formyduval who also ran the Horry County Railway. Barely 3 years into their run, the line was sold to Aberdeen Carolina & Western.

Successor/Parent History: The Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway is the largest privately held shortline or regional freight railroad in North Carolina that connects with both CSX and Norfolk Southern national rail networks. Our lines run from Charlotte towards Raleigh, and extends south towards Pinehurst. Logistically, our railroad is centrally located between all major metropolitan areas in NC. We actively market greenfield industrial sites along our corridor to attract new industry.

This line was launched in 1987 to take over the assets of the Aberdeen & Briar Patch. That line ran from Aberdeen to Star, North Carolina. Two years later, ACWR leased the line from Charlotte to Gulf, North Carolina from Norfolk Southern. The two routes connect at Star and the total length is about 150 miles. This is the largest shortline in North Carolina requiring a fleet of 20 EMD road switchers to keep the trains moving. Traffic includes aggregates, brick, butane, ethanol, lumber, plastics, poultry, wood chips and propane.

Brief History: The U.S. is a country of 50 states covering a vast swath of North America, with Alaska in the northwest and Hawaii extending the nation’s presence into the Pacific Ocean. Major Atlantic Coast cities are New York, a global finance and culture center, and capital Washington, DC. Midwestern metropolis Chicago is known for influential architecture and on the west coast, Los Angeles' Hollywood is famed for filmmaking.