(Originally published July 20, 1955)

It was with mingled emotions that Easley residents saw the old “Pickens Doodle” go through the city this morning as a new modern diesel engine pulled it to its final resting place, the scrap pile.

For some of the old timers, it was like the departure of a friend — familiar, especially in those who were often held up at the railway crossing in front of the post office as the “Doodle” welcomed the change from the old model to the new one as a mark of progress.

Old No. 1 is one of the last steam locomotives in this section. It has been sold for scrap iron and is being sent to a steel mill in Birmingham, Ala.

This “Doodle,” third engine to operate on the Pickens Railroad, was purchased new in 1929 and made the seven-mile trip to Easley an average of 12 times a week until it was replaced in 1946.

Troup Partridge, was conductor and superintendent, all the while the “Doodle” served Pickens from the main Southern Railway line in Easley.

W.T. Jeans was first engineer on the “Doodle” and Grady Welborn, present engineer on the diesel “Doodle,” was the engineer on the old iron horse.

Casey Jones, however, served as engineer on the old steam engine and the longest period, starting in 1929 and retiring only two months before the “Doodle” was retired. Mrs. Ethel Weber is general manager of the Pickens Railroad Co., which is owned and operate by the Poinsett Lumber and Manufacturing Co., a subsidiary of Singer Sewing Machine Co.,

Doyle Adams is superintendent and conductor on the line. He replaced Mr. Partridge, who served with the railroad 55 years, retiring last year.