ACWR 6907 in October 2022.
(NCDOTcommunications, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
ABERDEEN, CAROLINA AND WESTERN RAILWAY
This article is about the North Carolina railroad from Aberdeen to Star. For the North Carolina Railroad from Aberdeen to Fayetteville, see Aberdeen and Rockfish Railroad.
The Aberdeen, Carolina and Western Railway (reporting mark ACWR) is a short-line railroad running from Aberdeen to Star, North Carolina. It was incorporated in 1987 and operates on a former Norfolk Southern Railway (1942-1982) branch line. It also leases track from Norfolk Southern between Charlotte and Gulf, North Carolina. It serves approximately 20 industries, mainly dealing in forest and agricultural products.
Aberdeen, Carolina and Western Railway's EMD F9A diesel locomotive 271 with F9B 276 behind at Midland Logistics Park in Midland, North Carolina on October 11, 2022.
(NCDOTcommunications, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
Fleet
The ACWR fleet (as of May 2018; not all actively in service in July 2023) consists of the following locomotives:
| Number | Type | Built | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100, 101, 103 | EMD E9 | 1955 (#103) | All are A units (Number 103, originally UPRR No. 955, is recently restored with new magenta and gold paint scheme). |
| 703, 704, 9529, 9582, 9624 | EMD GP40-2 | 1973-1975 | All are the variant GP40-2LW (Widecab). All ex-CN, 703 is ex-GO Transit. |
| 1386, 1417, 1457 | EMD MP15 | 1975-1982 | 1386 is the variant MP15DC; Ex-MP. 1417 and 1457 are the variant MP15AC; Ex-UP, nee-SP. |
| 4500, 4501 | EMD F7 | 1950-1951 | Both are A units. |
| 5520, 5521, 5526, 5527, 5534, 5536, 5539, 5545, 5548, 5549, 5558-5560 | EMD SD60 | 1989 | All are the variant SD60-F with cowl, built by GMD for CN. |
| 6909, 6910, 6918, 6919, 6922, 6925, 6926, 6939 | EMD SD40 | 1969-1971 | All are the variant SD40-3, ex-WC, Ex-GCFX, nee-CN |
| 400600 | EMD F3 | 1949 | Cabless B unit |
| 271, 276 | EMD F9 | Former Norfolk Southern business train AB set, rebuilt by NS to GP38-2 components, acquired by ACWR in 2019 and re-painted in magenta and yellow/gold scheme. Ex-B&O (271) and Chicago Great Western (276). | |
| 87 | GE AC6000CW | 1995–2001 | Ex-CSX 666, later PRLX 656; converted to a bar under the name "Engine Room ‘87" |
Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway (ACWR) near Candor NC
Overview
Headquarters: Candor, North Carolina
Reporting mark: ACWR
Locale: Central North Carolina
Dates of operation: 1987–present
Technical
Track gauge: 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length: 140 miles (230 km)
Other
Website: Aberdeen, Carolina & Western Railway
