Pickens in Pickens County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Pickens Railroad

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 7, 2021

1. Pickens Railroad Marker (side A)

Inscription. The Easley-Pickens line was chartered in 1890 by the S.C. General Assembly. Construction of the line, which ran from Pickens to Easley, was completed in 1898. At Easley the Pickens Railroad joined the Southern Railway. Ex-governor John Gary Evans was a prominent booster for the Pickens Railroad and also one of its first passengers. The line was known as the “Pickens Doodle” because there was no turning track and the train would run backward to Easley and forward to Pickens.

Passenger service was discontinued in 1928 and the primary users of the Pickens Railroad became Singer Manufacturing and Poinsett Lumber and Manufacturing Co. Singer built a sewing machine cabinet plant next to the line in the 1920s and in 1939 acquired both the Pickens Railroad and Poinsett Lumber, which they used to supply wood veneer. After more than a century of service, the last run from Pickens to Easley took place in April 2013.

Erected 2017 by City of Pickens (sponsor). (Marker Number 39-22.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1898.

Location. 34° 53.006′ N,

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82° 42.161′ W. Marker is in Pickens, South Carolina, in Pickens County. It is on East Cedar Rock Street east of Hampton Avenue (State Highway 8), on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Pickens SC 29671, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South Carolina’s and pstate,

in the Foothills, in the Golden Corner. It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Railroad Crossing (within shouting distance of this marker); William M. Hagood (approx. 0.2 miles away); Historic Crazy Quilt (approx. 0.2 miles

Pickens Railroad Marker (side B) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 7, 2021

2. Pickens Railroad Marker (side B)

away); Andrew Pickens (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Hagood-Mauldin House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Garren's Café (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Hagood-Mauldin House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Resting Place (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pickens.

Regarding Pickens Railroad. The original 9.9-mile Pickens-Easley section of the railroad was abandoned in 2013. The tracks were later removed and the route converted into a walking path called the Doodle Trail. The railroad continues to operate a 28.5-mile line between Belton and Anderson in neighboring Anderson County, primarily hauling raw materials and industrial products.

Also see . . .
1. Pickens Railway. Wikipedia entry on the short-line railroad. (Submitted on November 10, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. Pickens Railway: Moving GRLW 3751 from Belton to Anderson, SC. Video of the railroad in action. (Submitted on November 10, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

3. Pickens Railway. American Rails page on the shortline

Pickens Railroad Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Marsteller, November 7, 2021

3. Pickens Railroad Marker

The marker is near the refurbished Pickens railroad depot.

railroad. (Submitted on November 10, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Photographed by Tom Bosse, December 30, 2023

4. Pickens Railroad Marker

Photographed by Tom Bosse, December 30, 2023

5. Pickens Railroad Marker

Photographed by Tom Bosse, December 30, 2023

6. Pickens Railroad Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on January 2, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 7, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 971 times since then and 102 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 10, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 3. submitted on November 7, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 4, 5, 6. submitted on January 1, 2024, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.