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Plum Branch, SC
1946 Statistics: C&WC Station #37, Train Order Office, Water Station, 34 car siding, 62 car passing track, 37.5 miles from Augusta and 95.8 miles from Spartanburg.
Plum Branch was named after the plum bushes that grew along a nearby stream. However, it wasn't always where it is today. Originally just a stop on the stagecoach line, the town was moved following construction of the railroad in about 1882.
As noted above, Plum Branch was major depot stop on the C&WC to Augusta. It had large passing siding capacity, water, and served as a telegraph train order office!
The following map pinpoints Plum Branch in South Carolina.
The town layout in 1932 shows the depot located on Main Street. It is noted to be a one story frame structure with cotton platform on the north side. The depot measured about 25 feet wide by 45 feet long. The cotton platform was about 35 feet wide and 55 feet long.
The arrow in the following 1932 layout points to a brick cotton warehouse on the tracks. It still stands today and is pictured in the photo following the layout. The camera is facing South in the photo. The side loading door on the warehouse is visible.
The following topological map pinpoints the depot's location.
The following photo of the current (2006) town of Plum Branch illustrates the location of the former depot.
Finally, referring to the 1932 layout above, a large (20x45 feet) cotton platform also existed on the tracks across from Bracknell's store. The "X" in the following photo notes the location of the platform. The ties in the foreground lay where the former depot was located.
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