Bennettsville & Cheraw

Company History: The B&CW ran from Kollock, South Carolina (2 miles northeast of Cheraw) to Everett, Bennettsville, Blenheim, Drake, Brownsville and Sellers, a total of 43 miles. The 10 miles from Brownsville to Sellers was abandoned in 1921. By the end of the Second World War, it had been cut back to Blenheim. One Sunday in 1945, engine #31 pulled out of the yard in Bennetsville with a pair of hoppers and headed into the night. The problem was, like many southern shortlines, the B&CW didn’t run on Sundays and no one was in the cab. A local resident noticed and called the master mechanic at home. He raced the train to a grade crossing and hopped aboard, regained control and backed the train to Bennettsville. The rest of the railroad was abandoned in 1950. It’s believed the Palmetto Brick Company would later use a short segment of the B&CW right of way for their 3’ gauge line.

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