The Carolina, Knoxville and Western Railway was a South Carolina railroad that existed in the latter half of the 19th century.
The Carolina, Knoxville and Western Railway was formed in 1887 to build a line from Augusta Georgia to Knoxville, Tennessee. Financing was accomplished through bond sales.
The company was consolidated in 1887, with the Carolina, Knoxville and Western Railway Company, the Pennsylvania and Haywood Railroad Company and the Atlantic, Greenville and Western Railway Company joining under the Carolina, Knoxville and Western Railway moniker.
The newly formed company was to build a line from Augusta, Georgia, to Knoxville, Tennessee. About 14 miles of rail was laid between Greenville, South Carolina, and Marietta, South Carolina, and considerably more grading completed before work was suspended after the failure of the Georgia Construction and Investment Co., which had the contract to construct the entire road.
The C, K&W railway was intended to bring coal from Tennessee to South Carolina and on to Augusta, as well a to provide a direct line over the mountains. On September 5, 1897, Transylvania County's Board of Commissioners committed $50,000 toward the construction of the railroad, as described in the minutes of the Board, transcribed below:
Page 387 of minutes of the Board of Commissioners, Sept. 5, 1887. Hence there was a contract presented to the Board of County Commissioners by the Carolina, Knoxville and Western Railroad authorities. Whereupon the Board after carefully examining said contract, it was observed that said contract all the facts and particulars examined in the previous proceeding had and made by said Board in reference to said Railroad vis by way of subscription to the Capital Stock petitions to the Board order for an election and result of the election and amount to be subscribed. Whereupon said Board signed said contract or agreement. See Page 390 of these minutes.