South Carolina Railroad Complex
The South Carolina Railroad was founded as the South Carolina Railroad and Canal Company. They operated out of Charleston, and until Southern purchased the railroad was a force to be reckoned with. While no major parts of the shop complex still survives much of its passenger and freight complex still exists.

The Castle Depot The building that currently houses the Charleston Music Hall was once called Tower station and was the passenger station for the South Carolina Railroad. This structure had been built around 1850, and was sold by the railroad around 1878. The tracks to the station once ran between two warehouses, that were built to replicate the look of the tower station and the old Citadel campus located nearby.

Warehouses 1 & 2

These warehouses now owned by the City of Charleston were once part of the tower complex. Also built around 1850, the tracks to these and all the other SCRR stations were removed 1986. The City of Charleston is about to begin restoration of these two structures. Please notice the old Tower Depot in the background.

The above photo shows the warehouses from the view of Tower Depot.


1856 Freight Depot



1857 Freight Depot



William Aiken House

The William Aiken house was built between 1807 and 1811, and was the residence of the first President of the South Carolina Canal and Railway Company. It was sold to the SC Railroad in 1853, as they were constructing its complex next door. It would house offices of the SCRR, Southern Railway, and later Norfolk Southern. The Southern donated the property to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, but retained offices there until the National Trust sold the property in the 1990's. The property is now available for rent for parties, weddings, and such and has been fully renovated.

The above facility is attached to the Aiken house and is used to store the Southern Railroad's replica of the Best Friend of Charleston.