Branchville, SC Railroad Station

1907

        Branchville, South Carolina is the oldest railroad junction in the world.  Also, route of  the first scheduled train in the United States, which operated between Charleston, Branchville, Blackville, Aiken and Hamburg, South Carolina...initial run December 25, 1833.  Later operating across the Savannah River at Hamburg into Augusta, Georgia.  Also, line constructed from Branchville to Columbia, SC, making Branchville the first junction point in the world.

        The depot was largely destroyed in a fire of 1995.   Residents of Branchville saved historic relics from the railroad museum, carrying them out the front of the depot while the back of the building was burning.    A benefactor donated $300,000 toward the restoration of the building and museum.

 

1992

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2000

SOUTHERN  630 Southern Railway's 2-8-0 No. 630 polishes the rails at Branchville, S.C. in 1968 during tone of many excursions over the system.  Photo by B. F. Roberts.  Unused postcard, published by Audio Visual Designs,  Earlton, N.Y.   (This postcard is out of print, but the company still specializes in railroad images and postcards.

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More Branchville Views - October 2000

Restored Depot - Front View
Restored Depot - Side View
Passenger Train Coming Through!
Branchville Town Hall
Branchville Water Tower- "Ralerode Daze"

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