As its name suggests, it ran from Richmond, Virginia south through Petersburg into northern North Carolina.

[1] The line's planned southern terminus in North Carolina was at Ridgeway Junction (known today as Norlina).

[2] In 1901, the SAL built Richmond Main Street Station along with the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) at the north end of the line.

[3] In 1980, the Seaboard Coast Line's parent company merged with the Chessie System (successor of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway), creating the CSX Corporation.

The states are considering rebuilding the line for high-speed passenger service as part of the Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor.