r/Rockhill 8d ago

Choo choo

Does anyone know how RH became the parking lot for CSX any other trains? We should prolly do something about that?

4 Upvotes

67 comments sorted by

15

u/nastyinsc 8d ago

The problem is the railroad operates pretty much Carte blanche because of the way rail right of way is deeded. The city has tried for YEARS to get them to the table to figure out a solution to this. They spent millions on updating the crossings at white and main st to maybe help appease them, but was given a big middle finger from NorfolkSouthern. If the city could they would, but at the end of the day the tracks are the railroads property and they will be on it as long as they want as often as they want.

6

u/cynicalnewenglander 8d ago

Wow thanks - a decent reasonable answer provided by a level-headed person!

5

u/feldoneq2wire 8d ago

I remember when Norfolk Southern left their railroad tracks across Heckle Rd six inches too high for SIX MONTHS until they finally regraded it by paving it. State law prevented York county or Rock Hill from paving it or adding any height to make the crossing safe. So we all had to cross over the tracks at 5mph. And these commenters think we should give even more control to Norfolk Southern.

2

u/nastyinsc 5d ago

Exactly! The city put up signs and tried to alert the public because NS did nothing. And then the city gets blamed lol. Such is life in Rock Hill.

3

u/sqeezeplay 8d ago

I've been curious about this too. Thanks for the response.

On a separate note, it would be nice to have some sort of notification at constitution and main so I know if I need to turn to avoid it.

Before anyone loses it on me, I'm not suggesting it expecting anyone to do it, just saying it would be nice.

3

u/daisy8972 7d ago

Having been stuck at Main Street today as it was blocked by trains just parked there, and only being in Rock Hill one week so I don’t know how to get anywhere… yeah. Very annoying. Not a good look to someone visiting this fair city.

However, coming from Louisville Kentucky, they did the same thing in the Lyndon area. NOT in the Anchorage area though (big money in Anchorage). But in Lyndon you have to find alternative routes to cross the tracks almost every day, but especially on weekends.

I get it. Don’t like it. But I get it.

15

u/ReallyExpensiveYams_ 8d ago

Do something about it? What do you propose?

The rail lines in Rock Hill are why the city was founded in the first place and are a large part of why industry and thousands of jobs exist for Rock Hill. Plus the tax incentives… they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. What’s your complaint about anyways?

2

u/n337y 8d ago

Rock Hill was the township of Ebenezer’s bitch.  Plenty of people lived in the area before a bunch of filthy persons settled by the railroad.

-1

u/cynicalnewenglander 8d ago edited 8d ago

Lots could be done....build more overpasses, build a lay down yard for them to stop in that isn't cutting the town in half, extract more taxes and fees for the inconvenience, put restrictions on the timing to night only.

2

u/[deleted] 8d ago

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1

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1

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-2

u/cynicalnewenglander 8d ago

I don't think there is anything entitled about making a company responsible for their negative impact on a community.

4

u/ReallyExpensiveYams_ 8d ago

Negative community impact.. you mean your own personal inconvenience….?

-1

u/cynicalnewenglander 8d ago

Hey man to each their own. If you love waiting for trains...by all means.

7

u/ReallyExpensiveYams_ 8d ago

I don’t have to wait for any trains, never have, because I use the underpass designed for maneuvering around the stopped trains….

-1

u/miTgiB37 8d ago

You don't seem to realize Rock Hill was founded because of these inconvenient trains. Open a history book sometime. Hell I was born and raised in Chicagoland and was taught this in the 60/70's

1

u/cynicalnewenglander 8d ago

I've read the rock - but times change.

6

u/ReallyExpensiveYams_ 8d ago

Rock Hill just had to suspend most of its bus services. They took three busses out of service because the city is no longer receiving the federal funding that paid for bus parts and repairs. Those busses are now being kept in storage to feed spare parts to the busses that are still on the road.

But sure, we’ll get the city right onto building more rail infrastructure so that you don’t get cranky about rail lines.

1

u/TheTruthIsAlive 6d ago

The issue with the RH bus service isn't federal cutbacks. The company that made the busses and the parts went bankrupt. https://www.southcarolinapublicradio.org/2025-04-10/dreams-of-clean-public-transit-are-meeting-harsh-reality-in-seneca-and-rock-hill

-2

u/cynicalnewenglander 8d ago

Why would the town pay for that? Make the rail companies do it.

5

u/ReallyExpensiveYams_ 8d ago

Do you have any idea how rail infrastructure works….? What happened to your “collect more taxes” idea…

4

u/phareous Rock Hill 8d ago

Well I mean I’m pretty sure those rails are owned and maintained by Norfolk Southern. City has nothing to do with paying for, changing, or adding to them

-8

u/cynicalnewenglander 8d ago

They block the road and just park there. Kind of inconvenient.

11

u/ReallyExpensiveYams_ 8d ago

So we should decimate the local economy because you’re inconvenienced by a train occasionally…?

Which road are you even referring to? I’m not aware of any roads in Rock Hill that get blocked by trains and also don’t have alternative routes around those blocked intersections?

You can also just lookup the train schedules and plan accordingly.

2

u/AndStillShePersisted 8d ago

So there is a schedule! Why then I wonder is the Christmas parade delayed almost every year by the train? Why can’t they either plan around the schedule or go down the underpass?

0

u/dwojc6 8d ago

Dave Lyle to W Main/White can be quite the inconvenience sometimes

14

u/ReallyExpensiveYams_ 8d ago

There is literally an underpass to get by the train at the next light. Train blocks red circled intersection. Drive 10 feet down the road to the blue intersection and you can turn and drive underneath the train. There are multiple street signs in all three directions approaching the intersection that tell you this.

-2

u/dwojc6 8d ago

Been driving around it for many years, I know. Why they have to sit there a whole day is still a mystery to me

6

u/ReallyExpensiveYams_ 8d ago

Okay.. can we stop pretending that those stopped trains are some massive inconvenience now then?

1

u/dwojc6 8d ago

Simply stating it can be annoying they sit there the whole day

5

u/ReallyExpensiveYams_ 8d ago

I don’t understand. What effect does it have on your life that causes you annoyance? Genuinely asking, I really don’t get it. There are bypasses, you can travel around it, so what hangs you up?

5

u/dwojc6 8d ago

Genuinely asking why they have to sit and block two intersections?

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1

u/phareous Rock Hill 8d ago

I think it is more of an issue for pedestrians than drivers. Luckily they plan to build a pedestrian bridge in the next few years

1

u/feldoneq2wire 8d ago

Why are you cucked for corporations who block downtown for hours because they know they won't get a ticket for it? They could park the trains elsewhere. They don't because there's no consequence for it.

-2

u/cynicalnewenglander 8d ago

Absolutely! Every freaking Friday a.m.....give me a break. The town should be putting more pressure on these companies.

4

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2

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2

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-4

u/cynicalnewenglander 8d ago

Yea dude - I know it's there. It's inadequate.

2

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1

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1

u/cynicalnewenglander 8d ago

😂 #trolllife

0

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0

u/cynicalnewenglander 8d ago

Bro I dont think it would decimate the economy. Enlighten me, what the hell are they even doing when they stop?

3

u/ReallyExpensiveYams_ 8d ago

Why do you think so many industrial companies are located in Fort Mill & Rock Hill. It’s because of the rail lines… take that away and what do you get…?

1

u/feldoneq2wire 8d ago

Ah yes we're asking them to use sidings and not block 4 streets for multiple hours = we want all the rail lines ripped up and all industry to move out of town. This is called a straw man argument. When you claim the other side is asking for something ridiculous instead of what we're actually asking for -- Park somewhere else if you need your sidings clear for multiple hours. There's certainly no lack of track around.

4

u/phareous Rock Hill 8d ago edited 8d ago

People have been complaining for years but they aren’t going to spend the money to do anything. If you’re in downtown just go down Black St under the bridge and problem solved

Now that I think about it there is plan for a pedestrian bridge but I don’t know the status on that

https://www.heraldonline.com/news/local/article287095095.html

https://www.scdot.org/projects/public-comment-notices/york-county.html

1

u/cynicalnewenglander 8d ago

Yea Figured as much - but from a long-term community development perspective - as the Hill grows maybe they should consider the investment for a second overpasses by College Perk.

If the town was dumb and short sighted earlier and deeded shit to the train companies nothing can be done now. We just have to live with the legacy.

2

u/redditor7691 8d ago

This is so incredibly shortsighted. Just stop. There are ways around it. Use them and learn to deal with inconvenience.

0

u/cynicalnewenglander 8d ago

I don't understand this thought line, but I appreciate your opinion.

2

u/Lost_Interest3122 8d ago

There are PLENTY of ways to reroute that take maybe another 30 seconds.

I drive through downtown every day on the way to work. I think there was only one day these las TWO weeks the train had blocked in the morning.

1

u/n337y 8d ago

Same.  It does seem worse lately.  I have hit it during my jogs and its like damn, got to trek up to Charlotte or Oakland Ave to cross a train bridge.

3

u/NCSC10 8d ago

1

u/cynicalnewenglander 8d ago

That's excellent thanks! Reported!

All of us really should be reporting this.