In 2024, The U.S. Golf Association partnered with Amtrak, NCDOT, and Shortline Railroad Aberdeen Carolina & Western to provide a special passenger train from Raleigh, NC to Pinehurst, NC for the U.S. Open Golf Tournament.
This train comprised a mix of NCDOT, Amtrak, and ACWR equipment and would operate on the CSX S-Line from Raleigh to Aberdeen. From Aberdeen to the golf course Pinehurst, the train would use ACWR rails at 10mph. This is extremely rare mileage for this equipment.
The trains were completely sold out for all four days it ran. This proved the special service to be a success.
I went out for three runs from June 13th to the 15th to document the special train on rare mileage. The consist was changed each day of my chase, so there will be inconsistencies between shots.
0:00 Intro/Arriving Aberdeen Southbound
2:47 Departing Aberdeen Westbound
5:12 Chasing West on ACWR
10:15 Amtrak/ACWR in Pinehurst
11:43 Departing Pinehurst Eastbound
14:10 Chasing East on ACWR
23:56 Arriving Aberdeen Eastbound
26:03 Departing Aberdeen Northbound
28:07 Merry Oaks at Speed