CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) — America’s first passenger steam locomotive took its first trip in Charleston on Christmas Day, 1830, marking a milestone in American transportation history.
The train was commissioned by the South Carolina Canal & Rail Road Company and dubbed “The Best Friend of Charleston.” A replica is on display near the Charleston Visitor’s Center.
The rail company constructed a track that ran from Charleston to Branchville in Orangeburg County. The Best Friend’s first trip only covered about six miles of that track.
The train was considered a marvel of its time, achieving speeds of up to 25 miles per hour…