Hopping a freight

Chocowinity to Plymouth

March 1983

CHOCOWINITY, NC -- Southern Railroad ran the freight line to Weyerhaeuser and other businesses in Plymouth in the 1980s. It was a ride through the country, featuring views of Pinetown and Walla Watta and on along Long Ridge on its path through Plymouth to Mackey’s Landing. Mackeys is its terminal point since the destruction of the Albemarle Sound Trestle some years ago.

Thanks to Phil Whitaker for identifying the names and places on the run. Phil says, “Mr. Sterling and his wife were really sweet people. On my return trip to Choco I used to bring him 5 gallon buckets of corn and grain to feed the ducks and birds. He would come out to meet us with a big bag of homemade cookies. I got to meet a lot of nice people during my 39 years on the railroad.”

I got to do this while I was the photo department for The Washington Daily News in Little Washington. I always had to promise to do an article on Operation Lifesaver. Remember: A contest between you and a train is NEVER a contest.