Transportation issues in and around Seneca

Driving in parts of Seneca and east of the city were problematic late yesterday afternoon.  At 4 o’clock, tow trucks were removing car wreckage from the Food Lion intersection that made for a long backup for Seneca bound motorists.  The line of traffic that came to a halt stretched on 123 from the Old Seneca-Clemson Highway to Hartwell Village shopping center.  At that same time, a Norfolk Southern freight train came to a complete stop alongside EN 1st Street all the way to the depot downtown.  Police Chief Bowling says the railroad now uses Seneca as a stop to change engineers, and yesterday they were awaiting the arrival from Atlanta of the replacement train driver.  Bowling says the engineer switch usually takes place at night, and he had no explanation why the one yesterday took place when many motorists were on their way home.  The inability to pass thru the E. Main and Walnut Street crossings forced drivers, including tractor-trailer trucks, to find alternate ways through Perry Hill and other Seneca neighborhoods.