#TBT: Atlantic Coast Line Railroad

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — For nearly 70 years, the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad was a big part of industry here in Wilmington, North Carolina. From 1900 to 1967 the ACL was a US Class I railroad, meaning it made $250 million or more annually.

The railroad served six states, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. It was over 5,000 miles long. The Atlantic Coast Line was formed as a merger of several other rail lines in the late 1800’s, but by 1900 mostly reached the final configuration, with a main line going from Richmond, Virginia to Jacksonville, Florida.

During the Great Depression the railroad’s traffic declined by about 60 percent. Somehow they were able to make it through without declaring bankruptcy.

Then during WWII, the railroad saw it’s freight traffic increase by about 150 percent and passenger traffic by about 200 percent. It was an alternative to coastal shipping methods which were threatened by German submarines off the East Coast.

From 1900 through 1960, the railroad was headquartered here in Wilmington. The headquarters moved in 1960 to Jacksonville, Florida.

In the late 1950’s talks of merging with the competitor, the Seaboard Air Line railroad, were already in the works. A merger would save millions annually, and in 1960 it was approved by shareholders from both railroads.