The line from State Street ran to Camden, SC, and was constructed between 1886 and 1889 by the Charleston, Cincinnati and Chicago Railroad (the Triple C). The Triple C was formed to build a connection from the Ohio River at Cincinnati to the Atlantic Ocean. The intention was for the line to extend from Camden through Sumter to Charleston. In 1890, a major investor in the railroad failed and the
road went into receivership. In 1893, the Triple C was sold and became the Ohio River & Charleston Railroad. A few years later, that company was still waging a financial struggle and sold the Marion to Camden part of their system to the the Southern Railway. Southern Railway later merged with the Norfolk and Western Railway to make Norfolk Southern which operated the line that people call the Peavine up until 1987 when thru freight was stopped. ( information graciously submitted by Kyle Lael)
This old Railroad track laid out by the Three C's Railroad Company (Charleston,Chicago, & Cincinnati) is now a quaint walking path that leads from State St to Ford Way and runs along Glenwood Ave. The trail is part of the This Rails to Trails Project and is a gravel trail, which will eventually extend for 2.4 miles from State Street to Jacktown Road. A total of 1.5 miles of this trail is currently open, due to safety concerns with a trestle located behind Mi Pueblito Restuarant on Rutherford Road. Parking is available at the old Rescue Squad building on State Street and at First Christian Church on Rutherford Road (except between 9:00 a.m. The McDowell County Historical Society has put together a map showing the Peavine and the roads that intersect to tell the history of what once was and to help promote not only the history of the town but also the RR. First publication will be available early Fall. For more information and to submit your photos, please contact the MCHS at 828-527-9098 or email us at [email protected]
(https://www.traillink.com/trail-maps/peavine-trail-(nc)/)
