Wilmington and Weldon Railroad


Originally chartered in 1835 as the Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad, the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad name began use in 1855. At the time of its 1840 completion, the line was the longest railroad in the world with of track. It was constructed in gauge. At its terminus in Weldon, North Carolina, it connected with the Seaboard and Roanoke Railroad and the Petersburg Railroad.
The railroad also gave rise to the city of Goldsboro, North Carolina, the midpoint of the W&W RR and the railroad intersection with the North Carolina Railroad. The railroad played a key role in the Siege of Petersburg during the American Civil War.
Among the early employees of the W&W RR was assistant engineer William G. Lewis. The future Civil War general began his railroad career in 1858. From 1854 to 1871 S.L. Fremont was Chief Engineer and Superintendent. Fremont, North Carolina, is named in his honor.
In 1872, the railroad was leased by the Wilmington, Columbia and Augusta Railroad, but this lease ended in 1878 when the WC&A went bankrupt. Eventually the W&R was merged into the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad on April 21, 1900.

Stations

Below is a list of stations along the Wilmington and Weldon railroad in 1859.
StationNumberMile
Wilmington10
North East29
Marlboro311
Rocky Point414
Asheton4 1/2
Burgaw522
So. Washington629
Wallace733
Teachey838
Rose Hill8 1/243
Magnolia948
Warsaw1055
Bowden10 1/259
Faison1163
Goshen Grove11 1/2
Mount Olive1270
Milton12 1/2
Dudley1375
Everettsville1478
Goldsboro1584
Pikeville1692
Nahunta 1795
Black Creek18102
Wilson19108
Joyner20116
Rocky Mount21125
Schrader21 1/2
Battleboro22133
Whitaker22 1/2137
Enfield23143
Ruggles23 1/2150
Halifax24154
Weldon25162