In his book "Through The Heart of The South", Robert Wayne Johnson states that Seaboard passenger trains used their own facilities in Wilmington rather than bunk in with rival ACL at Union Station. Does anyone know if any SAL passenger or freight structures survive today in the former ACL headquarters city; if so, where are they located. Any info is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

-- Bob Venditti (bobvend@bellsouth.net), January 30, 1999

Answers

Bob,I can't help you with remaining structures in Wilmington, but for historical purposes there is a good overhead photograph of Wilmington from the 1930's on page 28 of the book Rails to Weeds showing the SAL facilities and depot there. Likewise, the Wilmington RR Museum is selling circa 1929 city maps of Wilmington for $1.00 a piece (22"x17") that have great track detail of the ACL and SAL in the city and across the river. They are the best source of SAL/ACL presence and locations in Wilmington I have seen to date.

-- Mark Huband (mhuband@guarantec.com), August 20, 1999.

The only structure left in Wilmington related to the SAL is a waterfront warehouse inside what is now Altamont Shipping. From the highway 421 bridge over the Cape Fear River you can just read SEABOARD on the end of the building facing the river. The site of the former freight and passenger station is now covered by a large A- frame bulk storage facility. I have a 1929 copy of a Chamber of Commerce map showing all rail and trolly lines in Wilm which I would be glad to copy and send to you. E-mail me if interested.

-- Tom Carver (trains46@aol.com), February 15, 1999.

I do not think any SAL facility is left in Wilmington. There is a fenced off field where the SAL warehouses were on the waterfront. The miserable "City Fathers" tore down the ACL buildings A,B, and the Depot. Where the deopt was has been a concrete slab every since. They did not even tear it down to build something new. Appalling. I believe that only the two ACL freight warehouse with freight office, and building D are left. Building D has long been the Wilmington police HQs, but it is nothing special architecturally. A sad end for a thriving railroad area. Marc

-- Marc L. Hamel (gigsup@aol.com), February 02, 1999.