A 40-mile stretch of track in southwestern South Carolina is coming back as state-owned Palmetto Railways reactivates the Salkehatchie Subdivision. The line, which runs through Hampton and Colleton counties, has been largely silent since 2012 following the closure of the Canady's Station power plant.
The Salkehatchie Subdivision (which is a short line that interchanges with CSX at Hampton) is formerly known as the Hampton & Branchville Railroad (H&B). The H&B had ceased operations in Hampton and Colleton counties in 2012. Through a partnership between Palmetto Railways, Colleton County and the State of South Carolina, the H&B was purchased in 2017 by Palmetto Railways and Colleton County to support future industrial development in this region of the state.
According to Railway Supply , Palmetto Railways has invested over $3 million in rehabilitation works, with a further $6.5 million planned over the next two years. Some of the work that has been done includes bridge improvements, tie replacement, track servicing, and upgrades to safety systems. The company also said that crew training and maintenance-of-way work are currently underway, alongside a local rail safety awareness campaign in cooperation with emergency services and community authorities.
The rail line is also seeing the establishment of two shipping facilities. Heidelberg Materials is developing a site to handle cement, aggregates, ready-mixed concrete and asphalt products. Boise Cascade plans to begin construction of a wood products facility in the fall of this year.
According to the company, the goal is to recruit additional clients to rail-served locations. Those sites include the 1,481-acre Colleton Mega Site, an industrial park, and the 457-acre Stokes Tract. The tract is adjacent to Interstate 95 and the railroad. Both are in Walterboro.
Palmetto Railways manages four separate rail corridors in South Carolina, with a fifth connection to the Camp Hall Industrial Park and Volvo assembly plant scheduled for completion this summer.
