The subject of the Halifax & Scotland Neck came up a few weeks ago. At the time, I wrote to the Mayor of Scotland Neck to ask of he knew any of the history of the line. He apparently subbed the job out to a local historian, who responded by email today. I am posting his response:

In 1881, the Wilmington and Weldon (W&W), the predecessor of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, began construction of what was known at that time "the Scotland Neck Branch." The line was completed to Scotland Neck in 1882 and by 1890 had reached Kinston, NC. The line passed through Tillery, Scotland Neck, Hobgood, Oak City, Hassel, Parmelee and Greenville on the way to Kinston. The line began at Mile 91 (one mile south of Halifax). Mile 91 is 91 miles from Richmond, Virginia on the ACL mainline; now CSXT. Passenger service was started almost immediately upon completion of the line. Passenger service was discontinued from Weldon to Parmelee in August of 1938. Freight service lasted until 1984 when the line was abandoned from Pender (the function point north the main line) to Parmelee in 1984, the line has remained intact from Parmelee to Emler (just north of Kinston). The last train left Scotland Neck on April 24, 1984 and that section between Pender and Parmelee was taken up during the latter part of 1984 and early 1985. I could not find that the line was ever called "the Halifax and Scotland Neck Rail Road." George B. Andrews 1612 Clarksville Drive Scotland Neck, NC 27874

-- Pete Wenk (petewenk@nccoast.com), August 29, 2003