Train Spotter's Journal 1965 (USA)

Silent 8mm film showing passenger trains in central South Carolina, (USA) in the mid-1960's. The train spotters are dressed up in some scenes because watching the train was part of the after church ritual on Sundays. Another part of the train watching ritual was putting pennies on the track. These can be seen being picked up again after the train passes in one of the scenes.

In the order they appear in this video, detailed information on the individual trains:

1) The Augusta Special, # 32, comes by Hampton St in Columbia, SC, w/ E-8 2923 engine pulling an RPO, baggage cars, and coaches and a sleeper for Washington/New York. Usually it had stainless steel passenger cars, to match w/ the Crescent's stainless steel look, as the 2 trains ran combined from Charlotte northward to New York (the combined trains also picked up the Asheville Specials sleepers at Greensboro).

2) The Carolina Special, # 27 w/ an F7 or FP7, baggage car, 2 coaches, one sleeper and a few Big John Hoppers on the rear, rolled by the old Gervais St crossing in Columbia, adjacent to the Columbia, Newberry and Laurens (ACL owned) yard. It traveled to Cincinnati, w/ connections to Chicago. It also picked up the other Carolina Special from Greensboro's equipment at Asheville and headed west combined from there.

3) # 27 again, with what looks like and N&W sleeper (deadhead) coupled after the hopper car.

4) # 27 one more time, this trip w/ no hopper cars!

5) # 32 again, this time w/ an unidentified E-8 engine coming into Winnsboro, SC. Usually this train had and RPO, 2 baggage cars, 1 sleeper, and 4 coaches, but is a little short today.

6) The same # 32, as we must have jumped in the car quick and got to the next crossing before 32 could roll through about 1 mile north of Winnsboro. The train was probably up to 55 mph by this time (60 was the top speed on the Charlotte/Columbia line).

7) A different # 32 at White Oak, SC, picking up the mail on the fly, and on this day it had a C&O sleeper.

8) ACL 51 at Rimini, SC, headed by an E 8, w/ sleeping car and coach service, and probably a cafe lounge, from New York to Augusta, and then connections w/ the Georgia RR to Atlanta and beyond (51 was part of the Palmetto from NY to Florence, SC).

(photography Robert Desportes, train information Bobby Desportes, Jr.)

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• passenger
• train
• 1960's
• southern
• seaboard
• atlantic
• coastline
• railroad
• columbia
• sc
• south
• carolina
• diesel
• engine
• coach

[jch9596]

I love this video, esp. the brief shot of the Lincoln Viaduct about halfway through. If you have anymore old railroad stuff, please share!

[hunterdp]

and thanks for the comments :)

For now my only other similar train video is: "Train Spotter's Journal 1966 (USA)".

I do have other 8 mm and super 8 mm train films (in various condition), just not sure how long it might take to get any of it ready for uploading.

[robertgift]

Wonderful!

Thank you for posting these films.

Funny watching that gate bounce so much.

[coastal1010]

Brings back great memories!

I was 7-8 years old and standing on the platform of the Raleigh NC railroad station. I remember being so excited when that big shiny train came rolling in, its bell clanging amidst all other other associated sounds.

And I actually got to get on that long passenger train and ride it all the way down to Florida to see my grandma!

I'll never forget the unique metallic smell when I stood in the vestibules between cars, or the porters in their crisp white coats.

[HOBORON]

YOU HAVE MORE?, I WOULD LIKE TO PROFESSIONALY TRANSFER ALL YOUR TRAIN FILMS FOR YOU, FREE IF I CAN USE THE RESULTING TRANSFERS.

RON @ MAIN LINE MOTION PICTURES

[WBDE]

The E-8 shown at the beginning of this video, 2923, was subsequently renumbered to 6900 and was preserved. It still runs at the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, North Carolina.

[fmwelliott]

Also I noticed a glimpse of the Railman riding the "hand driven" rail car in your video.... I recall seeing one of those out on the Rimini tressel about half way and wondering what he would do if a train came. 5 stars on the videos my friend, you have allowed many of us a look back into a window of good and simple times.

[fmwelliott]

Has anyone seen other videos of trains crossing Lake Marion on the Rimini Tressel. For ones unfamiliar....there is nearly a mile of wooden tressel beyond the steel tressel in your video. I've met trains there in the dark before....while making the run from Packs to the river to duck hunt. That's a very erie site.

[RadioTrainman]

Wow! That takes me back..... thank you so much for posting this. I saw these in NC also but was too young to have a camera.

[NS6641]

Wow, I didn't know Gervais Street used to have a railroad crossing.

[fmwelliott]

Great Video! This really hits home with me. I'm from Rimini SC and the weekly excitement was to wait for the train between Rimini and Pinewood, then race it through Pinewood in Mama's 62 Pontiac. Great Memories...Thanks