Carolina Rails -- Railfanning in and around the Carolinas!

The L&C train gif was created by Chris Denbow.The L&C train gif was created by Chris Denbow.This hopper could be going to either Circle S on the Original 29 or to ADM on the Kershaw District.This gondola would be going to AmeriSteel in Lancaster north of the old interchange.Not a lot of Southern box cars show up on line anymore, at one time Springs would take them in Lancaster or Fort Lawn. Later, they would show up at GAF.Porter-Warner receives BNSF cars from time to time. These origginate from ex-Burlington Northern trackage and can come in BN or BNSF cars.These old Chessie cars often show up at Porter-Warner. Some are lettered CSX; others are B&0.CSX coil steel car would be going to one of the Thyssen plants in Richburg.
The Lancaster and Chester Railway
of South Carolina

My first memories of the L&C are from when I was ten or so years old, of watching it couple cars at the Springs Lancaster Complex from my grandmother's kitchen window in the late 70s and early 80s. Back then, it had two EMD SW900s, 90 and 91, many times using one at a time, and mainly hauled freight associated with the Springs Textile Mills that was then -- and remains today -- the parent company of the L&C. Now they own nine EMD end cab switchers and lease two more.

But that's not why you're here.

What this page offers:

Carolina Rails -- This is where you are. Please read the About This Site section at the bottom of this page.
Carolina Rail News -- This is a new part of the web site as of summer 2001 to bring you some of the more pertinent railroad news from the Carolinas. Carolina Rail News: Page 2  was started 12/272001 with a story about me by Erica Pippins of the Herrald.
The Blue Blazes: A Brief History of the Lancaster and Chester -- Quick! What does Gypsy Rose Lee, a devastating 1916 hurricane and a train trip to a baseball game have in common? Find out in this section.
Outlook: A Look Ahead for the Lancaster and Chester -- Now that we've handled the first 105+ years of the L&C's existence, what does the next few years offer?
Hinson's Railroad Photography: Shortlines of the Carolinas -- An ongoing exercise to photograph most, if not all, of the Carolina shortlines. I'm currently most of the way finished updating this page.
Hinson's Railroad Photography: Class 1 Carriers -- From the many and varied paint schemes of BNSF to the black oil dip of the horse, I've got all of the existing Class 1s here. (This page was completely updated 12/28/2001!)
Other Visions: Hinson's Non-Railroad Photography -- I don't just take railroad shots. I also shoot cows. And water towers. Oh, and bridges too! (This page will be updated soon.)
An All-Time Diesel Roster of the L&C -- Also includes a few roster shots not in the L&C Gallery. I recently updated this page to include pre-L&C shots of SW1200 #94 and all three 1500s currently on L&C as well as information regarding the latest LLPX end cab to appear on L&C rails.
Trainspotting on the L&C -- No, not that kind of trainspotting, but rather nice spots to catch the L&C in action. This page was just updated to include information on L&C's Kershaw District. As of 11/23/2001, this page now offers an L&C Railway System Map!
Other Railroads in Lancaster and Chester -- CSX and NS spots in the two counties and surrounding areas.
Carolina Shortlines Guide --  This page is still in it's infancy, but when it is complete, it will have all the pertinent information on each shortline in North and South Carolina. I am currently working on the Laurinburg & Southern section and have that line's locomotive roster up.
Bibliography and Acknowledgment Page -- Some people don't tell you where they get their information. I do. And it's listed on this page.
Hinson's Interchange Page-- At last count, I had upwards of 60 rail related links. After you've visited my site, pick out a couple of these nice places to visit.
Carolina Rails -- I started this service in March, 2000, an e-mail based news group devoted to rails in the Carolinas. Do you have a question about Carolina railroading? Then get on here and let us know! Did you just see something rare on Carolina Rails? If so, there's currently over 240 subscribers that would like to hear from you. Unlike Trainorders, I'm reasonably sure Yahoo won't start charging to post information anytime soon. (First it was Onelist, then it was eGroups. Now it's Yahoo Groups. Next month I guess it'll be Union Pacific.)
Leased Locos -- My second rail-related Yahoo Group, dealing in the many and varied lease locomotives out and about on American rails. 150 strong as of 11/13/2001.
EMD Switchers -- This is my third rail-related Yahoo Groups.  Switchers is dedicated to Electro Motive Divison's long standing SW and NW type switcher locomotive. These small horsepower locomotives are often overlooked and underappreciated. Here we celebrate them!
The Joseph C. Hinson Personal Home Page -- This is my personal site and includes original fiction, poetry, non-railroad photography and rants and raves about everyday life.
[email protected] -- E-mail comments or suggestions directly to me.

Joseph C. Hinson
Chester, South Carolina
1998/1999/2000/2001/2002

[email protected]
ICQ 20186233#

Carolina Rails:
Railfanning and railroading in the Carolinas

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The L&C train gif was created by Chris Denbow and used with his permission from his web site,
Train Gifs Station. Tony Hill and others use him.