1854 Wilmington and Weldon Railroad Map

sjw83071

Sergeant
Joined
Jul 30, 2013
Location
Dixie Land
In 1840 the longest railroad in the world opened in North Carolina, running from Wilmington in New Hanover County to Weldon in Halifax County via Goldsboro and Rocky Mount. The Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad Company designed and built the railroad which, at 161½ miles, was longer than any other track in the world. The Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad was originally chartered to connect the state’s largest port city, Wilmington, with the capitol city, Raleigh, but the track was rerouted to Weldon instead of Raleigh. The Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad was officially renamed the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad in 1855.

http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-antebellum/4885


http://www.learnnc.org/lp/media/collections/nc/maps/1854/nc-railroads-1854.jpg
 
The Wilmington and Weldon line was also essential to the Confederacy during the Civil War, becoming known as the “lifeline of the Confederacy.” The line moved goods and supplies from the single open Confederate port of Wilmington to Robert E. Lee’s Army in Virginia and throughout the Confederacy. The fall of Wilmington, denying access to the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, was a major factor leading up to Lee’s surrender at Appomattox.

http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-antebellum/4885
 
http://thomaslegion.net/northcarolinaamericancivilwarrailroads.html

"A great point would be gained in any event by the effectual destruction of the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad." United States Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, January 7, 1862

northcarolinarailroads.gif



http://thomaslegion.net/wilmington_and_weldon_railroad_history.html

Cheers,
USS ALASKA
 
In 1840 the longest railroad in the world opened in North Carolina, running from Wilmington in New Hanover County to Weldon in Halifax County via Goldsboro and Rocky Mount. The Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad Company designed and built the railroad which, at 161½ miles, was longer than any other track in the world. The Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad was originally chartered to connect the state’s largest port city, Wilmington, with the capitol city, Raleigh, but the track was rerouted to Weldon instead of Raleigh. The Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad was officially renamed the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad in 1855.

http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-antebellum/4885


http://www.learnnc.org/lp/media/collections/nc/maps/1854/nc-railroads-1854.jpg
Thanks for sharing.
 
The First Railroad Hub of the South - Weldon NC

https://historicweldonnc.com/history/weldon-s-railroad-history.html

"...Lying on a plateau above the fall line, the Roanoke River and at the edge of the Coastal Plain and the Piedmont, Weldon's Apple Orchard was a strategic location for transportation in the early and mid-1800's for North Carolina as well as the South. With its name changed! in the mid-1800's, Weldon was home to five railroads. These included the Petersburg & Roanoke (later ACL), Seaboard & Roanoke (SAL, successor of the Portsmouth & Roanoke), Raleigh & Gaston (SAL), Wilmington & Weldon (ACL), and the Weldon Mill Railroad. The Weldon Mill Railroad was a narrow gauge logging line which ran from South Weldon extensively into the southwestern areas of Halifax County..."

Cheers,
USS ALASKA
 
Being near Smithfield you are close to three of the largest land battles fought in North Carolina, and the site of Joe Johnston's Confederate troop concentration in 1865.
Yes, i've been to Bentonville and Averasboro several times. Johnston's plan at Bentonville was very good, if he had 10k more men it may have completely succeeded. Or if Bragg hadn't called for help diverting McLaw's division it certainly would have added weight to the attack. I have not studied New Bern and Kinston in depth, on the to do list.
 
http://www.abandonedrails.com/Wallace_to_Wilmington

7 sort of current day photos...

"This abandoned railway line was built in 1840 as part of the Wilmington & Raleigh, which actually went from Wilmington to Weldon, NE of Raleigh. The road was renamed the Wilmington & Weldon in 1855. The W & W connected with the Wilmington & Manchester in Wilmington, which went into South Carolina and connected with the Northeastern which went to Charleston. On the northern end, the W & W connected with the Petersburg Railroad at Weldon. After the Civil War, these roads gradually came under the control of William T. Walters of Baltimore, and they became known as the Atlantic Coast Line. At that point it was really just an association of independent railroads. In 1889 Walters formed a holding company to control the roads, renaming it the Atlantic Coast Line Company in 1893. In 1900, the W & W was merged with the ACL. By that time, the Wilson cut-off had been constructed between Wilson, NC and just E of Florence, SC. This bypassed a lot of north-south traffic around Wilmington.

The line became part of the Seaboard Coast Line in 1967 when the ACL and SAL merged. A passenger train still traveled these rails up until the merger. The line became part of CSX in 1982. CSX decided to consolidate the traffic going into Wilmington onto 1 line (the former SAL main to Wilmington), and abandoned this section in 1986. Rails and cross-ties were removed in December 1986. CSX still operates the line from Wallace north to Goldsboro and Wilson, where it hits the old A-line. CSX also operates the line out of Wilmington, across the NE Cape Fear River to a paper mill and other industries in Castle Hayne. At one point NC DOT owned the ROW, though it is not clear if they still do. Towns on the abandoned segment include Willard, Watha, Burgaw, and Rocky Point."


Cheers,
USS ALASKA
 
At one point NC DOT owned the ROW, though it is not clear if they still do.

So far, NCDOT has never gotten rid of a ROW section like this once they've acquired it, since it costs them almost nothing to hang onto them to keep future rail service options open. This one is a rather short segment in an area where vacant land is not in high demand.

Have you noticed the rather strange junction configuration north of downtown at the river? Check it out on Google Maps aerial pics. It looks like something you would see on a rather unrealistic model train layout.

Part of the old bridge is still there, but not all. It can be seen from Amtrak trains that cross the newer, higher bridge to the west.
 
Back
Top