Family-owned and operated since 1996, Pickens Railway Company is a short line freight railroad serving industries and communities across Upstate South Carolina. Located between Atlanta and Charlotte with access to Interstate 85, Pickens Railway provides dependable freight service while helping connect local industry to the national rail network.
What began as a regional short line railroad has grown into an important transportation partner for manufacturers and industrial customers throughout the region. Today, Pickens Railway moves more than 7,000 railcars annually, helping replace over 28,000 trucks on Upstate roads each year.
At Pickens Railway, customer service has always been a priority. As a family-owned company, we believe strong relationships, responsive communication, and dependable service still matter. Our team works closely with customers to coordinate freight movement, rail access, and connections with both Norfolk Southern and CSX.
Pickens Railway operates a 28.5-mile line in Anderson County, interchanging with Norfolk Southern in Anderson and receiving CSX freight in Belton. Our dual-served access helps provide flexibility and connectivity for the industries we serve.
Pickens Railway serves manufacturers and industrial customers across a variety of industries. Commodities shipped and received include plastics, paper products, limestone, silica, rubber-related materials, farm supplies, electrical equipment, wood pulp, and other essential raw materials that help keep production and manufacturing moving throughout the region.
Our customers represent a combined employment base of more than 3,100 jobs across the Upstate.
In addition to freight rail service, Pickens Railway offers warehousing and transloading capabilities to support
manufacturers, distributors, and industrial customers throughout the Upstate.
In addition to freight rail service, Pickens Railway offers warehousing and transloading capabilities to support manufacturers, distributors, and industrial customers throughout the Upstate.
Our primary warehouse facility offers approximately 20,000 square feet of insulated storage space with 23-foot ceiling heights. The facility is capable of unloading both center beam railcars and boxcars and offers both indoor and outdoor storage options.
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Our second warehouse facility provides approximately 7,500 square feet of storage space and is designed to accommodate boxcar unloading operations.
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Short line railroads play an essential role in America’s freight network. Across the country, more than 600 short line railroads operate nearly 50,000 route miles and serve more than 10,000 customersnationwide. Together, short lines account for nearly 29% of the nation’s freight rail network and provide the critical first- and last-mile connections that keep industry moving.
Pickens Railway is proud to be part of that network, helping support local industry, strengthen supply chains, and provide efficient freight transportation throughout the Upstate.
Safety remains at the center of everything we do. Pickens Railway has consistently earned the ASLRRA “Jake With Distinction” Award, recognizing short line railroads that achieve the highest standards in workplace safety. Pickens Railway is also an active member of Operation Lifesaver and remains committed to promoting railroad safety throughout the communities we serve. Railroad tracks are private property and can be extremely dangerous. Through education and awareness, we hope to encourage safer decisions around tracks and crossings.
Some of the strongest railroads are built on more than steel and track. They’re built by people whose passion, hard work, and integrity leave a lasting mark. For Pickens Railway, Chip Johnson was one of those people.
As owner of Pickens Railway, Chip helped lead the company with a deep love for the railroad industry and an unwavering commitment to doing things the right way. He believed in quality workmanship, treating people with respect, and building relationships that lasted. Those values became part of the culture of Pickens Railway and continue to guide us today.
Chip earned a degree in Electrical Engineering from Southern Polytechnic University and held two U.S. patents related to locomotive technology, reflecting both his remarkable technical knowledge and his passion for innovation. While his accomplishments were many, those who knew him best remember his dedication, his willingness to solve even the toughest challenges, and his genuine care for the people he worked alongside.
His legacy lives on in every mile of track we maintain, every customer we serve, and every commitment we make to doing the job right. We are proud to honor Chip’s memory and carry forward the values he helped instill at Pickens Railway.
For nearly 30 years, Pickens Railway has proudly served the Upstate with dependable freight service, strong customer relationships, and a long-standing commitment to safety and community. As a family-owned short line railroad, we remain focused on supporting the industries, businesses, and communities that help keep our region moving forward.
