This Saturday, June 5, will be Opening Day for The South Carolina Railroad Museum's 2004 season. It will also mark the return of regular train service through Rion, SC. Come be a part of the first day of service on the newly-rebuilt Blue Granite Line.

The Museum has just completed a major rebuild of most of its track from Rockton to Rion Quarry, a distance of nearly five miles. Several thousand crossties were replaced, and new rail was installed in two locations to replace badly corroded or kinked rail. The track has also been ballasted, lined, and tamped. Anyone familiar with the Museum's operations will be amazed by the difference -- the old "Rusty, Rickety and Weedy RR" is a thing of the past!

At the moment, the Museum is working to repair USAF #1249, a Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton model RS4TC-1A repowered with a Caterpillar engine. Cosmetic restoration efforts on several passenger cars are also nearing completion. The 1249's sister, USAF #1276, is currently in service along with two ex-Army EMD SW8s.

Train rides are offered on the first and third Saturdays, June through October. See the Museum's website (link below) for more information on fares and schedules.

The South Carolina Railroad Museum
mconrad@msmgmt.com