Category: Photography

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Waccamaw Coast Line Railroad Tracks & Ties

The the remaining tracks of an abandoned railroad make for interesting scenery.

The Waccamaw Coast Line Railroad use to carry passengers and freight from Conway to Myrtle Beach. The line has been abandoned since the 1990’s but the remaining tracks make for interesting scenery. The old railroad bridge cannot be seen in this particular view but it’s out there. You can visit this scene while walking the Riverwalk along the Waccamaw River as it flows through Conway, South Carolina.

Waccamaw Coast Line Railroad Abandoned Tracks
Waccamaw Coast Line Railroad Abandoned Tracks

The next time I am in Conway, I plan to hike along this old railbed to cross the river and photograph the old swing-bridge. The photograph below is in black and white which helps bring out the texture of the decaying railroad ties and the overgrowth of trees and brush that is reclaiming this thoroughfare – taking it back to nature.

Waccamaw Coast Line Railroad Abandoned Tracks Monochrome
Waccamaw Coast Line Railroad Abandoned Tracks in Black and White

Use the links below to see more of these images and how they look on different wall art substrates. There are prints, framed prints, canvas presentations, acrylic and more.

Link: Waccamaw Coast Line Railroad Abandoned Tracks

Link: Waccamaw Coast Line Railroad Abandoned Tracks Monochrome

Link to: Bill’s full Pictorem Gallery

Link to: Bill’s full Fine Art American Gallery

Little information remains about the Waccamaw CoastLine Railroad. I could find only bits and pieces of information and one mention of abandoned trackage. The Atlantic Coast Line served this line when it was first constructed by the Waccamaw, Conway & Aynor Railway between 1916 and late 1919 to serve lumber and naval stores traffic. It was then acquired by the ACL in December 1919 and became an extension of the Myrtle Beach Branch. The line survived as a freight only branch until the early 1980’s when passenger service was briefly revived with various excursion trains operated by Inland Rail Tours. At some point the name was changed to Waccamaw Coast Line – probably around 1987 but service continued for only a short time and was discontinued in the early 1990’s.

Overall, the WCL RR was an obscure experiment in intrastate railroading that didn’t last all that long. But at least it had a good run while it lasted, even if only a handful of people were aware of its existence and, that, is what may have been what caused its demise.

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Waccamaw River at Conway South Carolina

An idyllic river scene like this can be found along the Riverwalk at Conway.

The Waccamaw River begins its 140 mile trek toward the sea from Lake Waccamaw in North Carolina to Winyah Bay, an estuary that connects with the Atlantic Ocean near Georgetown, South Carolina. About half way along its journey it flows through Horry County and the City of Conway, SC where this photograph was taken. The river is wide and deep enough to be navigable and was once a watery thoroughfare for steamboats.

Waccamaw River in Conley South Carolina
Waccamaw River in Conley South Carolina

Factoid: The first steamboat to ply the waters of the Waccamaw River was a Confederate troop ship, the Francis Marion.

Black and White waterscape scenes are often quite striking as wall art in the right home decor setting. What do you think – do you like this Black and White presentation?) Please leave a comment below.)

Waccamaw River in Conley South Carolina in Black and White
Waccamaw River in Conley South Carolina in Black and White

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Use the links below to see these images as wall art on a variety of substrates, one of which may just attract your interest.

Link: Waccamaw River in Conway South Carolina

Link: Waccamaw River at Conway in Black and White

Link to: Bill’s full Pictorem Gallery

Link to: Bills Fine Art America Gallery

The Waccamaw, along with the Great Pee Dee, Little Pee Dee and Little Rivers, all served as important transportation routes for Horry County, South Carolina. For Native Americans and early settlers alike, the rivers of this geographic area were essentially the Interstate Highways of today. This area was fortunate to have a navigable river system because it provided Horry County, Conway and environs easy access to the world beyond.

The era of steamboats on the Waccamaw faded about 1920 or so. However the river remains a vibrant natural resource part of the environment and maintains its beauty for people today to enjoy visually and recreationally. You can see vistas like this when strolling along the famous Riverwalk along the riverside in Conway.

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Lurking in the Marsh at Murrells Inlet South Carolina

A Great Blue Heron hides among the marsh grasses fishing for a meal.

Fishing is a way of life in Murrells Inlet, and not just for those make their living at it. Fishing, both within the creek and in the ocean is a part of the history, a bond with the place and even among the inhabitants – both the humans and the lesser beasts and critters.

Marsh Grasses and a Great Blue Heron at Murrells Inlet in South Carolina

As the fishing depends on the fish, so the fish depend on the marsh and the entire ecosystem. This symbiotic relationship gives rise to some beautiful and unique scenery – that often looks as good in black and white as it does in full color.

Lurking in the March at Murrells Inlet
Lurking in the March at Murrells Inlet in Black and White

From the time of its formation about 6,000 years ago, the Murrells
Inlet saltmarsh has been a source of food for local inhabitants. Native
Americans depended on the marsh for the seasonal provision of clams,
oysters, and fish, a tradition which persisted through colonial and
plantation times, and continues today. In the 20th century, recreational
and commercial fishing broadened and increased local dependence
upon the marsh.

Click the links below to see the wall art substrates available for these photographs.

Link: Lurking in the Marsh at Murrells Inlet SC

Link: Lurking in the Marsh at Murrells Inlet Monochrome

Link to: Bill’s full Gallery at Pictorem

Link to: Bill’s Gallery hosted by Fine Art America

Saltmarshes like Murrells Inlet provide a rich and sheltered habitat for
fish, from baitfish like Mummichog and striped mullet on up to gamefish of the nearshore ocean, such as grouper. (Just naming two of many examples here.) This is because of the abundance and variety of food available within the marsh, and the relative absence of large predators (that Blue Heron notwithstanding). Scientists have found that more than 75 percent of nearshore ocean fish use the marsh at some stage of their life-cycle, for spawning, for juvenile growth and/or for a seasonal food source.

From an environmental standpoint, maintaining a healthy marsh is essential
to maintaining a healthy ocean fishery. The long view values not only the fish, but the marsh that made the fish and, of course our friend, that long-legged fishing bird, lurking in the marsh.

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Waccamaw River Memorial Bridge

This historic Bridge in Conway, South Carolina carries travelers across the Waccamaw River.

Built in 1937, the Waccamaw Memorial Bridge (also referred to as the Conway Memorial Bridge) is a historic plate-girder bridge in Conway, Horry County, South Carolina. This plate deck girder bridge, with Gothic-style arches is designated a memorial to Horry County soldiers who served in America’s wars from the Revolution to World War I. This bridge was built to relieve the traffic congestion of the original one-lane bridge as popularity grew for the Grand Strand resort of Myrtle Beach. It was listed under National Register of Historic Places on October 12, 1999.

Conway Memorial Bridge over the Waccamaw River in Conway, Horry County, South Carolina.

This photograph was taken while enjoying a walk along part of the Conway Riverwalk. The Riverwalk is a sculpted boardwalk with railings along much of the town’s waterfront on the Waccamaw River. If you, one day, get to visit Conway, be sure not to miss a stroll along the river. 

Conceived a the height of the Great Depression and at a cost of $370,000, Horry County’s fifth bridge across the Waccamaw River was constructed just prior to the years of World War II. The Waccamaw River Bridge carries Business Route U.S. Highway 501  over top of the Waccamaw River connecting North Conway to Aynor/Yauhannah, South Carolina.

Waccamau River Memorial Bridge in Black and White
The Waccamaw River Memorial Bridge in a Black and White Presentation

Click the photo above or the links below to see wall art with this image along with an assortment of home decor items. 

Link: Waccamaw River Memorial Bridge at Conway, SC

Link: Waccamaw River Memorial Bridge at Conway in Black and White

Link to: Bills Full Gallery at Pictorem (Free Shipping)

Link to: Bill’s Gallery with Fine Art America

What’s that, Myrtle Beach? You’ve been under stress from the lack of a second bridge crossing the Waccamaw River for half a century? Well, we’ve got just the thing to lift your spirits: The Waccamaw River Memorial Bridge! This historic bridge is located in Conway, South Carolina, and carries travelers over the Waccamaw River. It was built in 1937 as a replacement for the original bridge (built in 1921), which could not accommodate all of the travelers to and from Grand Strand resorts. The new bridge was designed as a plate deck girder bridge in a Gothic-style arch with reinforced concrete piers, abutments and wing walls. In 1998, the State of South Carolina designated the bridge as a memorial to Horry County soldiers who served in America’s wars from the Revolution to World War I. This made it one of two bridges in South Carolina with such designation (the other is located near Kingstree). The bridge spans 1,024 feet (312 m) across the river, including approach spans. It measures 16 feet (4.9 m) wide and 8 feet (2.4 m) high.