3 days Ago
It took years for Steven Hawkins's company, Aiken Railway Company , to save up the money it needed to make improvements at two places where the railway crosses roadways. "In the state of South Carolina, the DOT does not contribute a penny towards the reconstruction of roads and highways where they cross railroad tracks, meaning all such work is privately funded," Hawkins posted on the company's Facebook page. Aiken Railway took over operation of the line 13 years ago and there's enough business — AGY is a big customer — to pay the bills but that's about it, Hawkins said while sitting in his Chevy pickup March 31.
Hawkins said he was proud to announce on Facebook the company had completed upgrading a crossing on Wagener Road and would be beginning another upgrade on East Pine Log Road (to be reopened April 2 after a weather delay) near its intersection with Charleston Highway/Richland Avenue. That is until he read the comments that followed his post. Some posters disagreed with how the work was done while others suggested Aiken Railway should have been upgrading other crossings, Hawkins said.
He said he eventually couldn't handle the posts anymore and blocked further comments. An anonymous commenter suggested U.S.
Sens. Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott and U.S.
Reps. Joe Wilson and Nancy Mace should take an interest in how Aiken Railway was doing its job in the city. The complaints are nothing new, Hawkins said.
The company was upgrading the Hampton Avenue crossing last year when a woman approached, held up the detour line and outlined her complaints for 12 minutes, Hawkins added. "If you want a person's opinion, put on a yellow vest and stand at a railroad crossing and someone will pull up in a matter of seconds and tell you what they think of you," Hawkins continued. "It's unbelievable.
I have another railroad in the Upstate and I never get that. Ever. And it happens every time I'm here.
" Hawkins also owns the Greenville and Western Railroad in Anderson County. A city official was at the site and the woman had some problems with the city, too, Hawkins continued. After it was over, the official walked over and said "My God, do you put up with that every time you're here," Hawkins said.
"I went, 'yes, sir.'" An anonymous person reported Aiken Railways to the Federal Railroad Administration last year for its maintenance of the line and road crossings, Hawkins added. The company passed with flying colors and has never been cited for a regulation violation, he added.
It's hard not to take these things personally, Hawkins said. "I personally own the business," Hawkins said. "We put everything that we own on the line to keep our business going and that's keeping Aiken Railway and Greenville and Western Railway running and serving the communities that we operate in.
" In 2012, Aiken Railway began leasing operation of the railway from Norfolk Southern and it has helped keep around 700 jobs in the community, Hawkins said. Aiken Railway probably handles around 1,000 railcars a year, Hawkins continued. Depending on what's being transported, that's the equivalent of 4,000-5,000 trucks taken off the road, he added.
Plus, there's the possibility of using the railway to attract future industrial development, Hawkins added. To get BMW and Michelin in the Upstate, the state had to lay railroad tracks which wouldn't be needed in Aiken, Hawkins continued. "It's my heart," Hawkins added.
"When I step in to try to do something good in the community and get bashed for it, I don't want to go as far as say it hurts my feelings, but it is upsetting.".
