Aberdeen and Rockfish Railroad

The Aberdeen and Rockfish Railroad is a short-line railroad operating in North Carolina, United States. At one time, the AR was a Class 2 railroad. The railroad has of track between Aberdeen and Fayetteville, North Carolina.

History The AR was incorporated in 1892 by businessman John Blue. He built the railroad to get his timber and turpentine products to market. On June 30, 1895, the first line was opened between Aberdeen and Endon. In 1898, the company added a line from Ashley Heights to Raeford which soon became the main line with the Endon line as a branch. Shortly thereafter, the Endon branch was extended to Juniper. The main line was extended to Dundarrach in 1900, Rockfish in 1902, Fenix in 1904, and a branch from Rockfish to Hope Mills was added in 1905. Aberdeen–Hope Mills became the main line for a while, with branches to Juniper and Fenix..

On November 14, 1909, another branch opened from Raeford to Wagram. In 1912, the company abandoned the Endon branch. It used the rails to construct an extension from Fenix to Fayetteville, which opened on December 23 that year. At the same time the line to Hope Mills was abandoned, as it became unnecessary with the new link to the main line of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in Fayetteville. Over the years, the railroad's traffic has shifted from lumber to agriculture products. The Blue family still owns the AR and operates freight trains from Aberdeen to Fayetteville. The Wagram branch was sold to the Laurinburg and Southern Railroad in 1921. Passenger service ended in 1949.

Traffic Chemicals Animal Feed Grain Animal By-Products Building Supplies Fertilizer Solution

Route

M.P. 00 Aberdeen, North Carolina - interchange with CSX (former SAL) and Aberdeen, Carolina and Western Railway (ACWR) and NS (former Southern Rwy, previously Norfolk & Southern RR). Spivey Hill Siding M.P. 05 Ashley Heights, North Carolina (abandoned AR branch (8 miles) used to run east to Endon and Juniper) McCain M.P. 10 Montrose M.P. 13 Timberland M.P. 19 Raeford, North Carolina - interchange with Laurinburg and Southern Railroad (LRS) that runs over former AR track to Edinburgh, Purcell and Wagram, North Carolina (12 miles). Upchurch Siding M.P. 24 Dundarrach, North Carolina M.P. 26 Arabia, North Carolina M.P. 30 Rockfish, North Carolina M.P. 31 Hope Mills Junction (abandoned AR branch that used to run east to Hope Mills, NC) M.P. 34 Fenix M.P. 36 Cliffdale - former junction with branch to Clifbragg (former Cape Fear Railways route) M.P. 40 Skibo - former junction with abandoned track of Cape Fear Railways (CF)(Route to Fort Bragg) M.P. 42 Owens M.P. 45 South Fayetteville, North Carolina CSX (former ACL) AND NS (former Norfolk & Southern RR) River Terminal (on Cape Fear River)

Fleet The Aberdeen and Rockfish fleet consists of 6 locomotives, all originally built by EMD: 3 of the current 6 were bought new by the railroad.

The railroad also utilized a number of steam locomotives. One of the locomotives, Number 40, is now used on the Valley Railroad in Connecticut. NumberTypeBuiltNotesStatus200EMD F304/1947Bought new, traded to EMD as credit towards GP18 300.Off Roster201EMD F311/1948Bought new, sold to RF&P(10/1952) as 1111 to pay for GP7 205Off Roster205EMD GP709/1951Bought new, last GP7 operated by original ownerOff Roster - Donated to the NC Transportation Museum on March 27, 2026.300EMD GP1808/1963Bought newActive400EMD GP3806/1968Bought newActive405EMD GP3801/1967Originally Erie Mining 700, bought from NIWX.Active2486Santa Fe CF708/1951Originally EMD F7, almost completely rebuilt by AT&SF in 1975.Active4002, 4004, 4006EMD GP401966/1970Former Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad locomotives, purchased in 2025Active5830EMD GP38-21980Built as Southern 7033, GP50. Rebuilt by Juniata Shop to GP38-3Active8757, 8763EMD SD60M12/1992Former CSX Transportation/Conrail locomotives, purchased in 2026Active

Aberdeen and Rockfish Railroad

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