Best Friend of Charleston

A replica of the 1830 train known as the “Best Friend” can be seen in this c.1928 photograph. The original “Best Friend” was made at the West Point Foundry in New York and was operated by the South Carolina Canal and Rail Road system connecting Charleston with inland markets. The train’s premier trip was December 25, 1830. The train was destroyed by fire in 1831. It was known as the first train to be built entirely in the United States. In 1928, the “Best Friend of Charleston” was replicated to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the South Carolina Canal and Rail Road Company. The replica toured the United States, offering passengers the opportunity to experience early train travel. The location in unidentified.