Railfanning is a real thing – just ask any train enthusiast. We’ve put together another one of our signature OnlyInSouthCarolina road trips in South Carolina that are guaranteed to turn you and your family into railfans for a day. From a scenic train ride to a historic train restaurant and even a charming model train museum, this road trip promises to deliver a railfanning adventure appealing to everyone from the most novice of train buffs to expert rail enthusiasts. Check out the route in the details below and then start planning your railfanning road trip in SC.
Get everyone loaded up and let's goooo! The trip is just under four hours of driving time. Add in the stops along the way, and this should be a full and FUN day. Here's a link to the interactive Google Map to get you started.
1. The Rockton, Rion & Western
Take a scenic ride on the only running historic train in the Palmetto State. Located in Winnsboro at the South Carolina Railroad Museum, the Rockton, Rion & Western rolls through the countryside and dishes up just under an hour of breathtaking views. It runs seasonally, and during special events. Occasionally, the museum hosts steam locomotives (shown immediately above).
Take a look at the South Carolina Railroad Museum and a train tour through Winnsboro in this video from Traveling the Southeast:
2. Peak Trestle Bridge
In the early days, the Peak trestle bridge, measuring 1,100 feet long, was the only crossing of the Broad River in a 40-mile stretch. Locals would often cross the railroad trestle on foot to get to the other side of the river. It sounds risky. But today, the bridge is part of the Palmetto Trail's Peak to Prosperity Passage. And lucky for you, it's at the start of that passage. You can access it from either side, but in this case, we're sending you to the Alston side of the trestle. You can read more about the Peak to Prosperity Passage (for an epic hiking adventure) in this article. The coordinates for the parking lot are programmed into the Google Map for this road trip.
3. The Whistle Stop at the American Cafe
Make a stop to refuel at this train-themed upstate eatery located in a historical whistle stop for the old Swamp Rabbit Railroad. From the outside, the location may look like a newer building, but the owners have taken extra steps to preserve the past. You'll love the original barstools, the beamed ceiling, the train that circles the room high above your head - and of course, the food!
Stop by Travelers Rest, SC at the Whistle Stop Cafe for some of its iconic Fried Green Tomatoes:
4. Stumphouse Tunnel Park
Although a train never passed through Stumphouse Mountain, this unfinished gigantic tunnel was begun to create a rail passage from the coast to the Ohio River Valley. However, due to timing and a lack of funding, the tunnels (there were three) were never finished. You can explore this portion of the 1,600+ feet that was excavated BY HAND. A part of the tunnel has been sealed off, but you'll still get pretty far inside and you'll need a flashlight. Find this tunnel at Tunnel Park just north of Walhalla. Find out more about the tunnel's haunted side in this article.
Let's Go Liz takes us on a tour of the unfinished Stumphouse Tunnel in this video of a tunnel that leads to nowhere:
5. Central Railway Museum
Just when you thought this South Carolina road trip couldn't get any better... your last stop is at a railway museum that has dedicated a considerable amount of effort to recreating a model scale of railroading in the Western Carolinas and Georgia in the 1950s. You'll be mesmerized by the details—and if you arrive when the trains are running, you may never want to leave! The museum is located at 108 Werner St., Central, SC 29630. Plan ahead and call to make sure they'll be open. (864) 508-7126
Of all the road trips in South Carolina, this one certainly toots its own horn. That's because South Carolina’s railroad history is alive and well in many places throughout the state. Where’s your favorite spot for railfanning? Let us know in the comments.
For another adventurous road trip in South Carolina, check out this waterfall trail in the national forest.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get the latest updates and news
Thank you for subscribing!
