Before automobiles were a common sight and airplanes became the easiest means of transportation for long distances, trains were the choice of travel for many North Carolinians.
“Railroads have been here in North Carolina since the 1800s, before the Civil War,” N.C. Railroad Company Public Affairs Director Teri Saylor said. “This state and the cities were built around railroads.”
Although other modes of transportation overshadowed the importance of the railroad through the years, the N.C. Railroad Company has used its 317-mile corridor from Morehead City to Charlotte to help provide revenue to businesses across the state.
Lenoir County has received plenty of attention from the company. Since 2000, the N.C. Railroad has invested nearly $40 million in the safety, efficiency, speed, drainage, reliability and overall maintenance of the train tracks in the county.
Those tracks do more than just bring trains through the county; the company pays thousands of dollars in taxes each year and help spur the local economy.
“They’ve done a lot to improve tracks in Lenoir County to assist in our economic development,” Lenoir County Manager Mike Jarman said.
Saylor said railroads remain essential because of companies needing their assistance.
“We’re an engine for economic development because a lot of businesses use railroads for products,” she said. “The trains are more efficient, energy conscious and can haul more. It also connects Kinston to most of the United States through the rail system.”
The N.C. Railroad has received plenty of assistance from Norfolk Southern, a company that has leased tracks to it across the state, including Lenoir County.
“(Norfolk Southern) is, in essence, a landlord,” N.C. Railroad Assistant Corridor Manager Justin Madigan said. “They maintain the tracks, fix broken rails and ride through on hot days to see if any rails popped, which can occur when the temperatures hit 90 and over.”
Norfolk Southern has invested a good portion of the nearly $6.67 million of partner investments.
“We work with N.C. Railroad and service customers in the best way we can,” Norfolk Southern Public Relations Director Robin Chapman added. “We operate the trains and they operate the tracks.”
Recently, the N.C. Railroad Company and Norfolk Southern have been working on a new “passing siding” close to the county line between Lenoir County and Wayne County. The $4 million project, funded by the N.C. Railroad Company, will add another lane, allowing two trains to travel in the same area.
“We’re going to put in another track to the existing line, which should be finished (in September),” Norfolk Southern Bridge Supervisor Odell Collins said. “In the long term, we hope to increase the volume of freights going through Eastern N.C.”
The siding is the only one being built in a 114-mile stretch, which Madigan pointed out.
“Considering the distance, you need something you could pass trains through,” Madigan said.
For Mark Pope, Executive Director of Lenoir County Economic Development, the siding is another positive thing N.C. Railroads has done for the local area.
“They’ve upgraded Queen Street, partnered with the arts council and have provided safety around Kinston and Lenoir County,” Pope said. “They’ve been a good partner with Sanderson Farms and helped us with the rail spur at Pacvid Industrial Park. They’ve done plenty in Lenoir County and Eastern N.C. in general, by moving product to port, which has been very vital to economic development issues.”
As more trains hit the tracks after the siding is complete, N.C. Railroad Company looks to continue helping Lenoir County grow.
“With additional traffic, we want to be able to accommodate existing buildings more efficiently while taking on new business,” Chapman said.
Junious Smith III can be reached at 252-559-1077 and Junious.Smith@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JuniousSmithIII.