Trains are running again in certain parts of Hampton County, and drivers need to start looking twice

HAMPTON COUNTY, S.C. (WTOC) - For the first time in 14 years, Palmetto Railways is running trains again on the Salkehatchie Line, a 40-mile route with 82 crossings through Colleton and Hampton counties.

One of the crossings drawing attention is Country Club Road in Hampton, where a crossbuck sign is posted, but there are currently no flashing lights or crossing arms.

Residents say they’re adjusting to the change.

“I come here to see my grandkids and my son a couple of times a day,” Hampton County resident Doug Noll said. “I used to not stop, but now everybody’s got to get used to stopping again.”

After years of not needing to stop at some crossings, people who drive the area daily now have to get used to trains returning.

“When you get used to not stopping, even though the stop sign is there, it’s not a major issue. It is going to be one ow.”

Palmetto Railways bought the former Hampton and Branchville Railroad in 2017 and says new customers — including Boise Cascade and Heidelberg Materials — are driving the restart of operations.

Company leaders say only a few trains have run since the late-March launch, and there isn’t a set schedule yet, but now the economic opportunities are there for communities to take advantage of to increase traffic on the line.

“It’s a source of infrastructure for industrial development and thus future jobs,” Palmetto Railways president and CEO Patrick McCrory said.

Until more safety equipment is installed, Palmetto Railways says crossings will still have at least a stop sign or yield sign and a crossbuck.

The company also says it plans to add more signage soon, and at 17 crossings, crews are using extra precautions.

“We are running a flagman ahead of a train coming on 17 specific crossings,” McCrory said.

More information on the rail line can be found here.