Article #99: Carolina & Northwestern Railway Boxcar #401 Southeastern Narrow Gauge & Shortline Museum (May 2, 2025)

 

In this new article we will be taking a look at Carolina & Northwestern Railway boxcar #401 which is now preserved at the Southeastern Narrow Gauge & Shortline Museum in Newton, NC.

This boxcar was built in 1875 for service on the Chester & Lenoir Narrow Gauge Railroad which operated between Chester, South Carolina and Lenoir, North Carolina. It is believed to be the oldest narrow gauge boxcar on the east coast, as well as the oldest piece of Southern Railway equipment. 

In 1896, the railroad went into receivership leading to the railroad being reorganized as the Carolina & Northwestern Railway. They operated autonomously even though they were controlled by the Southern Railway.

When this boxcar was in service, it ran by its current home at the Newton Depot. After it ran on the Carolina & Northwestern for a run of years, it moved over to the Lawndale Railway. It ran on the Lawndale from 1910 to 1940. #401 is the number it had on the Lawndale.

It was saved in 2006 and was restored for a good run of years after that. In November of 2014, the restoration was complete and arrived at the museum.