Sandhills_Sentinel

The Town of Robbins has a new caboose. Robbins Town Commissioner Kevin Stewart said the caboose is the final part of their greenspace program and will be placed directly adjacent to the railroad depot. The caboose was located in Rockingham and was donated by a private owner.

To transport the caboose, two cranes were required. It was lifted up at its previous location, and the wheels and axles were removed. It was then loaded on a truck and transported to Robbins, where the process was reversed.

The train tracks in Robbins are considered active, but there are currently no trains running through the town. According to Stewart, the railroad has been an integral part of Robbins’ history.

Robbins was initially named Mechanics Hill by Alexander Kennedy where he established the Kennedy Rifle works. Among the rifles produced were the long rifles used by American Soldiers in the war of 1812. The factory continued in operation until 1838, and the place became known as Mechanics Hill.

The railroad came to town in 1899 and the owner John Lennig drew the street map of the town and named it Elise after his daughter.  The Railroad transported many products, including timber products. It played an instrumental role in the development of industries including a poultry processing plant, a mobile home manufacturing plant, and several textile mills.

The town plans on painting the caboose, and Stewart expressed hope that as Robbins continues its redevelopment that the sound of trains rumbling through the town will be heard again. In the meantime, the depot and caboose are a reminder of the importance of the railroad to Robbins.

~Written by Sandhills Sentinel Local News/Government Reporter Chris Prentice.           Sandhills_Sentinel
Contact him at [email protected] or (910) 639-9303.

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