When most people think of railroads, they picture long freight trains traveling across the country. What many don’t realize is that those trains often rely on smaller railroads to begin or complete their journey.
Those railroads are called short line railroads, and they play an essential role in connecting local businesses, manufacturers, and communities to the national freight rail network. While they may operate fewer miles of track than the nation’s largest rail carriers, their impact reaches far beyond the communities they serve.
What Is a Short Line Railroad?
A short line railroad is a freight railroad that operates over a shorter distance than the nation’s largest railroads, known as Class I railroads. Rather than moving freight across multiple states, short lines provide the critical first and last miles of a shipment’s journey, connecting local customers to the larger rail network.
Despite the name, there isn’t a standard length that defines a short line railroad. Some operate just a few miles of track, while others serve hundreds or even thousands of miles. What makes them a short line isn’t simply their size. It’s the important role they play in serving local industries and connecting them to the national freight system.
Why Are Short Line Railroads Important?
Short line railroads may be smaller in size, but they play a major role in keeping America’s supply chain moving.
Today, short line railroads:
- Operate nearly 50,000 route miles across the United States.
- Serve more than 10,000 customers.
- Account for approximately 29% of the nation’s freight rail network.
- Provide first- and last-mile service for roughly one out of every five railcars moving throughout the country.
Without short line railroads, manufacturers, warehouses, agricultural businesses, and industrial facilities would face fewer transportation options and increased shipping costs.
What Do Short Line Railroads Transport?
Short line railroads move the raw materials and products that support countless industries.
Depending on the region, freight may include:
- Plastics
- Paper products
- Limestone
- Silica
- Wood pulp
- Farm supplies
- Electrical equipment
- Rubber-related materials
These materials often become the products people use every day, making short line railroads an important part of the manufacturing process long before finished goods reach store shelves.
How Do Short Line Railroads Connect with Larger Railroads?
Most short line railroads interchange freight with larger rail carriers that move shipments across the country.
This partnership allows businesses to enjoy the personalized service of a local railroad while still accessing the extensive reach of the national freight rail network.
For example, Pickens Railway interchanges with Norfolk Southern in Anderson and receives CSX freight in Belton, helping connect Upstate South Carolina industries to destinations throughout North America.
The Benefits of Short Line Railroads
Short line railroads provide benefits that extend well beyond freight transportation.
They help:
- Support local manufacturers and businesses.
- Reduce highway congestion by moving freight efficiently by rail.
- Strengthen regional economies.
- Improve supply chain reliability.
- Provide flexible, customer-focused service.
By keeping freight on the rails, short line railroads also help reduce wear and tear on public highways while supporting more sustainable freight transportation.
Pickens Railway’s Role in the Upstate
Since 1996, Pickens Railway has proudly served manufacturers and industrial customers throughout Upstate South Carolina.
As a family-owned short line railroad, we’re committed to providing dependable freight service, supporting local industry, promoting railroad safety, and helping connect our customers to the national rail network.
While many people may never notice the work happening behind the scenes, short line railroads help keep businesses operating, products moving, and communities growing every day.
Why Short Line Railroads Matter
Short line railroads may not be the largest railroads in the country, but they are among the most important.
By connecting local businesses to the national freight network, supporting manufacturers, and keeping freight moving efficiently, short line railroads play an essential role in America’s transportation system.
At Pickens Railway, we’re proud to be part of that story.