NCStL #710 I didn't think I'd ever see an NCStL locomotive out in the wild, but I saw this EMD GP7 parked in a train yard outside of Copperhill, TN. I'd like to think I just happened to stumble across a vintage locomotive that just happened to be sitting around. Realistically, that kind of thing doesn't happen too often. As it turns out, this locomotive is used by the Tennessee Valley Railway Museum based out of Chattanooga. One of their excursions called the Hiwassee River Rail starts from Gee Creek near Etowah and occasionally goes all the way to Copperhill. During the years the GP7 was made, NCStL purchased 37 of them. Before acquired by TVRM, it spent several decades with Amtrak.
Jackson, TN NCSTL Depot The brick building in Jackson was built in 1907 and is now open as a museum.
Chickamauga Pine - NCStL Passenger car Seen at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga
Calhoun, GA Caboose Located adjacent to the historic 1854 NCStL train station
Running Water Creek Bridge Anyone who has ever traveled Interstate 24 through Marion County, TN has seen this impressive bridge. A bridge was first built across this valley by Nashville and Chattanooga railroad. You can read more about the Civil war significance on this historic marker: seemidtn.com/gallery3/index.php?album=historical-markers/... The current version of the deck plate girder bridge was built in 1968 and used by CSX. Highway TN134 also passes under the bridge and was the main road through the area before the Interstate. Also before the interstate, the bridge appeared much more impressive, as it looked even higher before the roadway in the valley built it up
Smyrna, TN Passenger Depot at Christmastime Here is the railroad station of the town I call home. The city of Smyrna has its roots to when a station was built here in 1851 and the town sprung up around it. (The line that ran from Nashville to Chattanooga placed a depot every 8 or so miles along the route.) This brick depot was built in 1873. The historic building had lied vacant for many years, but it is starting to see a little bit of activity. Most of the town festivals are held at the depot and along Front St. Within the last 5 years, the town has worked on revitalizing the area with landscaping and a roundabout at the intersection in front of the depot. The green flag in the picture is the city's logo. See the historical marker here: seemidtn.com/gallery3/index.php?album=historical-markers/...
Railroad Bas-Relief Etching on John W. Thomas statue Located at Centennial Park, this is one of three of the bas relief etchings on the 1907 John W. Thomas statue in front of the Parthenon. The man in the relief is holding the famous "The General" steam train from the Civil War's Great Locomotive Chase. John W. Thomas was the President of NCStL as well as President of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition.
1849 Ringgold, GA Train Depot Back in 1849, Ringgold was the largest city in the area, even larger than nearby Chattanooga. The depot is made of stone which was common in the area at the time. In 1862, the Ringgold Depot was one of the places to be a part of the Civil War's famous Great Locomotive Chase. Travelling north along the Western and Atlantic tracks, Andrew's Raiders would abandon The General steam locomotive about two miles north of here. The depot is situated on a bit of an incline from the road below. The main road through town, which used to be the Dixie Highway and is now US41 runs between this vantage point and the station. The road passes under the tracks. The main part of town is to the left. Today, the building has been restored and the town of Ringgold uses it as a community meeting hall. Originally W&A, the tracks later became part of NCStL and are now CSX. The depot is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
1849 Ringgold, GA Train Depot Back in 1849, Ringgold was the largest city in the area, even larger than nearby Chattanooga. The depot is made of stone which was common in the area at the time. In 1862, the Ringgold Depot was one of the places to be a part of the Civil War's famous Great Locomotive Chase. Travelling north along the Western and Atlantic tracks, Andrew's Raiders would abandon The General steam locomotive about two miles north of here. The depot is situated on a bit of an incline from the road below. The main road through town, which used to be the Dixie Highway and is now US41 runs between this vantage point and the station. The road passes under the tracks. The main part of town is to the left. Today, the building has been restored and the town of Ringgold uses it as a community meeting hall. Originally W&A, the tracks later became part of NCStL and are now CSX.
Victoria, TN train depot Victoria is a small town in Marion County along the Valley View highway (old TN28). Queen Victoria donated a bell to the local Bethel Church and the locals showed their gratitude by naming the town after her. This brick building was originally a Combination freight and passenger train depot for the Sequatchie Valley Railroad (and eventually NC&StL) likely dating back to the late 1860s. If you look closely, you can see the Victoria name plate above the door. Although partially obscured by a tree, there is also a hand-painted sign for Ketner's Feed Mill - "Definite Feeds for Definite needs" - Master Mix Feeds - Custom Grinding, Mixing - Molasses. I don't know if this building was once a store, or if it was simple an advertisement for the nearby Ketner's Mill. Today, the building is a private residence.
Rock Island, TN Depot (2008) Train Tracks are still present (I'm practically on them to take this picture) but I'm not sure if trains run these tracks anymore. According to the owner of the antique store in the background, this small depot has been converted into a small apartment. Located on TN287. Here's an old photo of the depot before it was repainted. This photo was posted to flickr by Kenton Dickerson. www.flickr.com/photos/27742813@N03/2631009632/
Guntersville, AL Train Depot This train depot was built by NCStL in 1909 and is well preserved.
Looking inside the Hohenwald Depot The 1896 Hohenwald, TN depot has been preserved as a museum.
Hohenwald, TN Train Depot Hohenwald was settled by German immigrants. The name translates to "High Forest." The original 1896 NC&StL Hohenwald Depot has been restored to its original appearance. As one of the first buildings constructed in the town, the Depot welcomed the new settlers. Later, it witnessed visits from Thomas Edison (coming to the region to find Cobalt) and William Wrigley, as well as served as a work site for German prisoners of war from Rommel’s African Corps during WWII. This Depot was moved several times over the years but returned to its original location and restored in 1985.
Pegram, TN train depot in the tiny heart of Pegram, along highway U.S. 70. Built in 1898, at the time, the city was known as Pegram Station.
NC&StL Diesel engine - Cowan, TN Located at the Cowan Railroad Museum. It is a 1950 Diesel electric locomotive, built by General Electric as a 44 ton. Donated to the museum as a long-term loan in 2007 after years of use in Huntsville, Al. Historically, in 1962, this was the first locomotive ever to be equipped with radio control so that an engineer was nor needed in the cab.
Cowan TN typical brochure view The sign reads: COWAN, TENNESSEE Named in honor of Major John Cowan, early pioneer settler Major William Russel first settled here in 1800, his home serving as the first Court House 1807-1814 1848-1854: N&C Railroad constructed th4e world's longest tunnel and steepest grade railroad 1855: 9 mi. spur line to Sewanee Mountain completed by Sewanee Mining Company. 1863-1864: Confederate and Federal Armies camped in Cowan. Failure of Confederate Forces to destroy the tunnel provided General Sherman with a direct line of supply for his march through Georgia. Erected 1974
Cowan, TN Depot (now a Railroad Museum) 2008 The Cowan Depot is wood frame and built in 1904 for the NC&StL railway. When in use, it was originally on the other side of the still-in-use-by-CSX tracks but moved further away to its current location in 1976. It's built in a railroad gothic style architecture and has been repainted to the original green and yellow colors. The building is in the process of renovation. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. Every year, the town has a Summer Weekend festival called Cowan Depot Days with the goal of raising money to further restore the station. Cowan is located on the historic line that runs from Nashville to Chattanooga and is perhaps best known by railfans as the last stop before ascending Cumberland Mountain and the picturesque but almost inaccessible Cumberland Mountain Tunnel entrance. CSX keeps pusher cars on hand to help trains make the incline to the top. I tried to visit the museum twice in 2008. The first time, I got there minutes after it closed for the day (usually at 4pm). The second time, I got there a week after it closed for the season. cowanrailroadmuseum.org/
Fairmont Motor train Cars - Cowan, TN Gas powered maintenance & crew card for NC&StL, known as Putt-Putts. Located at the Cowan Railroad Museum
Cowan Railroad Museum: Engine & Depot Steam Locomotive #1 has been the highlight of the Cowan Railroad Museum for many years. It's a Columbia Type 2-4-2. It was built by Porter in 1920 as a tenderless Tank style locomotive and converted with a small homemade tender and had the saddle tank removed. The cab used to contain a small coal bunker. The Engine was functional around Charleston, SC until 1964 when it was sold to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. Then, was sold to the Cowan museum in 1979.
Grinder's Switch Depot Grinder's Switch is a real place made famous as the hometown of fictional character Minnie Pearl. Instead of being an actual town, it was just a railroad switch. There was a depot at this switch, part of the NCStL line, and an employee there was the father of Sarah Colley Carter, the real life person behind Minnie Pearl. That original depot is long gone, but some people in Centerville want to take advantage of the Minnie Pearl heritage (just like Loretta Lynn has done in Hurricane Mills). In the 1980's, these people planned a park, and needed another depot, so they purchased this L&N depot from the tiny Dickson County town of Slayden. Additionally, they put some vintage farm equipment here, but that park never fully materialized. However, they built a nearby Ag Expo. The train tracks are right behind me here. Update: The train station here is now gone.
NCStL Train Depot - Lebanon, TN The NCStL Train Station located one block south of the Lebanon town square along highway US231 is stop #2 on the Historic Lebanon Driving tour. Here is the text from that brochure: The Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railroad Depot was built in 1916. Lebanon’s first depot was built in 1869 for the Tennessee & Pacific Railroad one mile south of the present site. The Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railroad acquired the line in 1877. The old depot was abandoned and a new depot built closer to the Square. This depot was used until the last passenger train pulled out of Lebanon in the 1930s. Passenger Rail Service did not return until 2006 with the Music City Star. Today, the old station is used as offices for Shenandoah Mills. On their website, they say: Our home is the original Lebanon Train Depot, constructed in the early 1900′s. We have completely renovated the facility to preserve and restore it’s integrity as well as to keep our equipment fresh and innovative. In 1996, we were awarded the William Baird Beautification Award and the Lebanon-Wilson County Chamber of Commerce Cedar Tree award. shenandoahmills.com/about/
Leeville, TN Train Station This old NCStL train depot is along Division St. in the small Wilson County town of Leeville. The tracks are all gone, and it has been relocated to use as someone's personal storage.
Union Station Most views of Union station tend to look from the front across the street (broadway). This is a fuller view of the building from the side, taken from the Broadway viaduct. The depot was built in 1900 in a castle-like late-Victorian Romanesque Revival style. The clock on the tower was one of the earliest digital clocks, but is now a traditional clock. Atop the tower used to be a 3D statue of the Roman god Mercury, but was knocked off in a windstorm in the 50s. In the mid-90s, a flat Mercury was put in its place. That one was knocked off in the 98 tornado, but was replaced again. The station became vacant in 1979 after train service was discontinued. It opened as a luxury hotel in March of 1990, and is now a Wyndham hotel. An architecturally significant train shed used to be located right next to the station, but it's deteriorating condition, plus lack of any conceivable use led to it being demolished a few years ago, which caused Union Station to lose its status as a National Historic Landmark.
Cumberland Mtn Tunnel Marker A marker in honor of a historically significant tunnel along the railroad from Nashville to Chattanooga. They couldn't go over or around the mountain ridge, so they had to go through it. It's my understanding that this marker used to be at the tunnel, where nobody but train people could see it. Now it is in Cowan, TN, near the depot at the base of the ascent.
NCStL Caboose #41 This wooden cupola caboose NE-3 caboose was built in 1924, and was acquired by NCStL in 1935. Today, it is used by the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga, TN.
NC&StL #36 - Chattanooga, TN The Baldwin VO-1000 was a diesel-electric switcher built between 1939 and 1946. #36 is painted as NC&StL and is located at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum at their East Chattanooga Soule Shop. This locomotive never served "the Dixie Line" and was originally built for the U.S. Navy in August, 1943. A great time to see this is at the TVRM railfest which happens this upcomming weekend.
Sparta, TN NC&StL Depot Built in 1917 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Now is a business.
Union Station scheduling chart Inside the lobby of Nashville's Union Station, behind the front desk, is this chart showing all of the train schedules. It is held over from the days that the station was a thriving train depot, show many departures and arivals, North and South, and both companies which serviced the area, L&N and NC&StL. On the marble counter-top are three apples.
Sewanee, TN Train Depot (?) - University Supply Store Thanks to my new favorite resource for finding old train stations, depotmaps.com, I found a listing for Sewanee, TN. All the other resources I used said the depot in Sewanee was gone. I suppose it you were lokking for architecture in the area, this building would be low on your list of priorities. Since this was the first I had heard of it, I did a little more research. I used the address for this depot from DepotMaps and looked it up on Google Maps street view. this building resembles a depot, with the long, narrow building and roof that overhangs further from the building. Plus, it's made from the same stone that everything else in Sewanee is made of. In a recent trip to Chattanooga, I had about 30 minutes to swing by the University of the South and try to find out if this was indeed an old depot. Today this building is a bookstore or "University Supply Store". Inside, there were two employees on duty. I asked the first on if this had ever been a depot and she said it was been a lot of things, but never a depot. I later asked the other lady. She said that it never had been and then corrected herself that it was. Looking for further proof, in the bookstore section about the school was a historical guide to selected older buildings with this depot on the cover, a picture taken in the 30's showing the building as an NCStL depot, with the tracks running behind the depot.
Bridgeport, AL Depot & lights Built in 1917, this is the NCStL depot in the important railroad town of Bridgeport soon before trains cross the Tennessee River. The Sequatchie Valley Railroad also came through here. Today it is CSX along the tracks with some Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific coming through. The architecture here is an unusual design for this part of the country, a Spanish Mission style that you would more likely see in St. Augustine or San Antonio. Today, the depot is a museum operated by the Bridgepoort Area Historic Association (BAHA). my.att.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=16&groupid=137159&...
Bridgeport, AL Depot & cart Built in 1917, this is the NCStL depot in the important railroad town of Bridgeport soon before trains cross the Tennessee River. The Sequatchie Valley Railroad also came through here. Today it is CSX along the tracks with some Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific coming through. The architecture here is an unusual design for this part of the country, a Spanish Mission style that you would more likely see in St. Augustine or San Antonio. Today, the depot is a museum operated by the Bridgepoort Area Historic Association (BAHA). my.att.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=16&groupid=137159&...
Bridgeport, AL Depot b/w trackside view Built in 1917, this is the NCStL depot in the important railroad town of Bridgeport soon before trains cross the Tennessee River. The Sequatchie Valley Railroad also came through here. Today it is CSX along the tracks with some Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific coming through. The architecture here is an unusual design for this part of the country, a Spanish Mission style that you would more likely see in St. Augustine or San Antonio. Today, the depot is a museum operated by the Bridgepoort Area Historic Association (BAHA). my.att.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=16&groupid=137159&...
Bridgeport, AL Depot full view Built in 1917, this is the NCStL depot in the important railroad town of Bridgeport soon before trains cross the Tennessee River. The Sequatchie Valley Railroad also came through here. Today it is CSX along the tracks with some Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific coming through. The architecture here is an unusual design for this part of the country, a Spanish Mission style that you would more likely see in St. Augustine or San Antonio. Today, the depot is a museum operated by the Bridgepoort Area Historic Association (BAHA). my.att.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=16&groupid=137159&...
To and From Dixieland This is the slogan on the side of trains from the NCStL days
NCStL Caboose Located at the Bridgeport, AL Depot
Kelso, TN Train Depot Kelso is a small town along OLD Fayetteville Road (Now bypassed by the more modern US64) on the Eastern side of Lincoln County
Kelso, TN Train Depot Kelso is a small town along Old Fayetteville Road (Now bypassed by the more modern US64) on the Eastern side of Lincoln County
Shelbyville, TN Depot in a way, it looks to nice and well maintained to be an old train depot. Today, it is used as an adult education center. The tracks are long gone, but if you look closely, you can see the Shelbyville sign on the front of the depot. It is located on Depot St. (TN64)
Dutchman's Curve Dutchman's curve is the location of the deadliest train wreck in U.S. history, and it happened in Nashville. Human error on the NCStL line mistakenly thinking the tracks were clear allowed a train to proceed with another coming in. The two train engineers couldn't see each other as they approached around a curve and crashed into each other at full speed. At the time, it wasn't uncommon for passenger card to be made of wood, and on impact the cars essentially disintegrated. All told, on the day of July 9, 1918, over 100 people died. The exact spot the two trains collided is a little difficult to determine, but the wreckage covered a lengthy area. Today, the area is commemorated in a subtle way. As one of the Nashville Greenways, the Metro Board of Parks and Recreation added a Wayside along the Richland Creek Greenway at a location near where the wreckage had been. The original railroad bed has been replaced with newer tracks that are built higher up. The small memorial is at a spot between bridge masonry abutments along the old line. These predate the Civil War and were built by the nearly forgotten Nashville and Northwestern Railroad. The tracks here used to cross Bosley Road, which also long gone. A train wheel and a connector is embedded into the concrete here. A metal bar and some other miscellaneous unsecured pieces were here the day I was. I suppose someone found them and just laid them there. A few feet from the old Bosley Road Underpass is where the tracks cross Richland Creek. The modern bridge is about 15 feet high. The old pier remains here also. A pedestrian bridge crosses Richland Creek Also, and then it's only a few more feet to the memorial. For additional views, look here. Hello to anyone who found this here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/tn-disaster/ This Is Definitely The Most Horrifying Disaster That Ever Happened In Tennessee
Dutchman's Curve Dutchman's curve is the location of the deadliest train wreck in U.S. history, and it happened in Nashville. Human error on the NCStL line mistakenly thinking the tracks were clear allowed a train to proceed with another coming in. The two train engineers couldn't see each other as they approached around a curve and crashed into each other at full speed. At the time, it wasn't uncommon for passenger card to be made of wood, and on impact the cars essentially disintegrated. All told, on the day of July 9, 1918, over 100 people died. The exact spot the two trains collided is a little difficult to determine, but the wreckage covered a lengthy area. Today, the area is commemorated in a sublte way. As one of the Nashville Greenways, the Metro Board of Parks and Recreation added a Wayside along the Richland Creek Greenway at a location near where the wreckage had been. The original railroad bed has been replaced with newer tracks that are built higher up. The small memorial is at a spot between bridge masonry abutments along the old line. These predate the Civil War and were built by the nearly forgotten Nashville and Northwestern Railroad. The tracks here used to cross Bosley Road, which also long gone. A train wheel and a connector is embedded into the concrete here. A metal bar and some other miscellaneuos unsecured pieces were here the day I was. I suppose someone found them and just laid them there. A few feet from the old Bosley Road Underpass is where the tracks cross Richland Creek. The modern bridge is about 15 feet high. The old pier remains here also. A pedestrian bridge crosses Richland Creek Also, and then it's only a few more feet to the memorial. For additional views, look here.
Dutchman's Curve Dutchman's curve is the location of the deadliest train wreck in U.S. history, and it happened in Nashville. Human error on the NCStL line mistakenly thinking the tracks were clear allowed a train to proceed with another coming in. The two train engineers couldn't see each other as they approached around a curve and crashed into each other at full speed. At the time, it wasn't uncommon for passenger cars to be made of wood, and on impact the cars essentially disintegrated. All told, on the day of July 9, 1918, over 100 people died. The exact spot the two trains collided is a little difficult to determine, but the wreckage covered a lengthy area. Today, the area is commemorated in a sublte way. As one of the Nashville Greenways, the Metro Board of Parks and Recreation added a Wayside along the Richland Creek Greenway at a location near where the wreckage had been. The original railroad bed has been replaced with newer tracks that are built higher up. The small memorial is at a spot between bridge masonry abutments along the old line. These predate the Civil War and were built by the nearly forgotten Nashville and Northwestern Railroad. The tracks here used to cross Bosley Road, which is also long gone. A train wheel and a connector is embedded into the concrete here. A metal bar and some other miscellaneuos unsecured pieces were here the day I was. I suppose someone found them and just laid them there. A few feet from the old Bosley Road Underpass is where the tracks cross Richland Creek. The modern bridge is about 15 feet high. The old pier remains here also. A pedestrian bridge crosses Richland Creek Also, and then it's only a few more feet to the memorial. For additional views, look here.
Kingston Springs, TN Depot This depot was built by NCStL. It may have been moved a couple of times of the years, but today it is not far from where it started. The tracks are in the foreground, so the depot has at least been repositioned 90 degrees. Today the depot is privately owned and used for storage.
NCStL Locomotive Marker
Centennial Park NCStL Locomotive
NCStL Locomotive When I was a kid, this was behind a fence that was always locked when I stopped by. Note: This has been moved and is no longer at Centennial Park.
Figures of the NCStL Locomotive
Winchester, TN Passenger station The tracks are long gone from this NCStL passenger station. Today, the building is used as a local TDOT office.
Eva Station Railroad Trail - Mail Post In 1867, NCStL railroad built a bridge to connect the towns of Eva to Johnsonville across the Tennessee River. After the construction of Kentucky Dam (which caused this section of the Tennessee River to also be Kentucky Lake), the water level was higher and wider. The rail line was then owned by L&N and in 1945 they abandoned this bridge and built a new bridge by New Johnsonville to parallel the US70 bridge. Today, this park is an area known as Eva Beach and is under the oversight of Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park. A short interpretive path has been created along the old railroad bed. The path features an old mail post, signal lights, and ends with a segment or railroad bridge. From this spot, several portions of the old bridge are visible where earthworks were built to raise the track. I also recommend the scenic overlook at NBF park to view the entire area of the river and see multiple segments.
Eva Station Railroad Trail In 1867, NCStL railroad built a bridge to connect the towns of Eva to Johnsonville across the Tennessee River. After the construction of Kentucky Dam (which caused this section of the Tennessee River to also be Kentucky Lake), the water level was higher and wider. The rail line was then owned by L&N and in 1945 they abandoned this bridge and built a new bridge by New Johnsonville to parallel the US70 bridge. Today, this park is an area known as Eva Beach and is under the oversight of Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park. A short interpretive path has been created along the old railroad bed. The path features an old mail post, signal lights, and ends with a segment or railroad bridge. From this spot, several portions of the old bridge are visible where earthworks were built to raise the track. I also recommend the scenic overlook at NBF park to view the entire area of the river and see multiple segments.
Eva Station Railroad Trail - Signal Lights In 1867, NCStL railroad built a bridge to connect the towns of Eva to Johnsonville across the Tennessee River. After the construction of Kentucky Dam (which caused this section of the Tennessee River to also be Kentucky Lake), the water level was higher and wider. The rail line was then owned by L&N and in 1945 they abandoned this bridge and built a new bridge by New Johnsonville to parallel the US70 bridge. Today, this park is an area known as Eva Beach and is under the oversight of Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park. A short interpretive path has been created along the old railroad bed. The path features an old mail post, signal lights, and ends with a segment or railroad bridge. From this spot, several portions of the old bridge are visible where earthworks were built to raise the track. I also recommend the scenic overlook at NBF park to view the entire area of the river and see multiple segments.
Jackson, TN Depot Mural This mural is in Jackson, TN about a block away from the historic NCStL Passenger Depot. It is signed by "Murals by Les." From this spot, if you turned around, perhaps this is what you would see 100 years ago. The depot is central in the mural, with steam locomotive NCStL #535 getting a water tank refill and ready to pull a couple of passenger cars. On the left is a streetcar travelling down Royal St. In the background, we see the Electo-Chalybeate Well and the Lancaster Park Zoo (now gone). Around the corner, this side of the building faces the Neely House and has a mural depicting this former boarding house.
Whiteside Tunnel At first glance, this appears to be the all-time least necessary railroad tunnel. It's located on the west side of Chattanooga where Nashville & Chattanooga placed tracks in 1852. The tracks run through a valley; originally walls were placed on either side but they weren't enough to withstand dirt and rock slides. Thus, 400 feet of tunnel was completed in 1858 to serve as a roof and no longer need to clear the tracks. By 1911, the one track could no longer meet the railroad needs. They cleared out a much larger area and built two sets of tracks through the area. They even had to add buttresses to the side of the existing tunnel to prevent it from making it's own rock slide onto the new tracks. Over time, the railroad here went from NC&StL to L&N and now CSX. This area is fairly easy to find. The tracks parallel highway TN134. It's in Hamilton county very close to the Marion County line. There's a one-car pulloff spot on the side of the road, but sadly most people use the spot for illegal dumping. Whiteside is the nearest post office, so this is called the Whiteside Tunnel, although sometimes has been called the Raccoon Mountain Tunnel. source: books.google.com/books?id=tqVMAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA1018&...
NCStL Section House - DeRossett, TN This 1904 house is on the National Register of Historic Places as the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway Section House. A section house is a residence provided by the company for employees who were building the railroad in this area. Very few of these houses remain today. It is located along US70(TN1) in the small White county town of DeRossett and is today known as the Bon Air Coal Miner Railroad Mountain Museum. It's also stop #79 of the Promised Land Trail of the Tennessee Trails and Byways program.
Hohenwald Depot Hohenwald was settled by German immigrants. The name translates to "High Forest." The original 1896 NC&StL Hohenwald Depot has been restored to its original appearance. As one of the first buildings constructed in the town, the Depot welcomed the new settlers. Later, it witnessed visits from Thomas Edison (coming to the region to find Cobalt) and William Wrigley, as well as served as a work site for German prisoners of war from Rommel’s African Corps during WWII. This Depot was moved several times over the years but returned to its original location and restored in 1985.
Calhoun, GA 1853 Depot This depot was built by the Western & Atlantic Railroad, and later used by NCStL. Today the brick depot is used for municipal offices. I like the painted on flower at the real flower pots. It is one of 4 listing on the National Registry of Historic Places in Gordon County.
Tunnel Hil, GA Depot Built by Western & Atlantic in the 1850's, this Train Station made out of stone was the last stop before trains went through the Historic Tunnel. Later, this station was part of NCStL. Today, the depot is vacant with hopes of being restored soon.
Cowan, TN Depot Days Cowan Depot Days is a yearly town festival to help raise money to preserve and restore the town's historic passenger train depot. All of the acts performed on this stage, With this vintage engine as a backdrop - a neat idea if you ask me. I believe the performer on stage right here is Mark Kelly Hall.
Cowan, TN Flag, Train Depot and Steam Locomotive The Cowan Depot is wood frame and built in 1904 for the NC&StL railway. When in use, it was originally on the other side of the still-in-use-by-CSX tracks but moved further away to its current location in 1976. It's built in a railroad gothic style architecture and has been repainted to the original green and yellow colors. The building is in the process of renovation. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. Every year, the town has a Summer Weekend festival called Cowan Depot Days with the goal of raising money to further restore the station. Cowan is located on the historic line that runs from Nashville to Chattanooga and is perhaps best known by railfans as the last stop before ascending Cumberland Mountain and the picturesque but almost inaccessible Cumberland Mountain Tunnel entrance. CSX keeps pusher cars on hand to help trains make the incline to the top. Steam Locomotive #1 has been the highlight of the Cowan Railroad Museum for many years. It's a Columbia Type 2-4-2. It was built by Porter in 1920 as a tenderless Tank style locomotive and converted with a small homemade tender and had the saddle tank removed. The cab used to contain a small coal bunker. The Engine was functional around Charleston, SC until 1964 when it was sold to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. Then, was sold to the Cowan museum in 1979. To see my other photos from the Depot Museum, look here: www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/tags/cowanrailroadm...
Cowan, TN Passenger Depot (2011) The Cowan Depot is wood frame and built in 1904 for the NC&StL railway. When in use, it was originally on the other side of the still-in-use-by-CSX tracks but moved further away to its current location in 1976. It's built in a railroad gothic style architecture and has been repainted to the original green and yellow colors. The building is in the process of renovation. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. Every year, the town has a Summer Weekend festival called Cowan Depot Days with the goal of raising money to further restore the station. Cowan is located on the historic line that runs from Nashville to Chattanooga and is perhaps best known by railfans as the last stop before ascending Cumberland Mountain and the picturesque but almost inaccessible Cumberland Mountain Tunnel entrance. CSX keeps pusher cars on hand to help trains make the incline to the top. Steam Locomotive #1 has been the highlight of the Cowan Railroad Museum for many years. It's a Columbia Type 2-4-2. It was built by Porter in 1920 as a tenderless Tank style locomotive and converted with a small homemade tender and had the saddle tank removed. The cab used to contain a small coal bunker. The Engine was functional around Charleston, SC until 1964 when it was sold to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. Then, was sold to the Cowan museum in 1979. To see my other photos from the Depot Museum, look here: www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/tags/cowanrailroadm...
Inside the Cowan, TN Depot Museum This was the depot's biggest room, with the old passenger benches. Also seen is the departure / arrival board which now lists the names of former railroad employees on small engraved metal plaques. For my other Cowan Railroad Museum pictures, look here: www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/tags/cowanrailroadm...
Old and New Bridgeport, AL river bridge This is an important spot for railroads in the south as all of the CSX trains that run from Nashville to Chattanooga cross through here. I can't find any details on how old the old bridge is, but the river was first crossed here by NCStL in 1852. The bridges here cross the Tennessee River. One of the reasons this spot was picked is there is an approx 1000 ft. island 2/3 of the way to the other side at this spot. The tracks cross the wider 1000 ft. portion of the river with what you see in the foreground, and then there is a smaller 500 ft. lift bridge in the background. The lift bridge was placed here in 1981 from unused train line elsewhere. It's rather inaccessible unless you're a railroad employee who takes a gravel road on the other side. Unfortunately, the pedestrian bridge clearly marks it's for employees only, which is a shame. I'm not sure how new the new bridge on the left is. It's at least newer than 1995. On GreenFrog.com, (a great website for railfan videos) they have a CSX video from Chattanooga to Nashville, filmed in the mid 90's and featuring the bridges here before the new one was built.
Kennesaw, GA Train Depot (Front) It's been relocated a few feet from its original location and now is across the street from the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History, which houses the famous General. This depot was built by NC&StL in 1908 when the town was known as Big Shanty. Today, the building is also a town museum and civic center.
Baxter the Caboose - Lebanon, TN Baxter was a former caboose of Burlington Northern that was donated in 2007 to Fiddler's Grove at the Wilson County Fairgrounds. To assist with moving the Caboose here was Nashville & Eastern Railroad, which like the fair, is operated in Lebanon. Then, with the help of McCord Crane Service, the caboose was placed atop a truck and given a police escort as it made its way to Fiddler's Grove. The NCStL Logo was added later Today, the Caboose stands as a proud reminder of the golden age of Railroads. J.D. and Ann Floyd donated the caboose in honor of Billy Baxter. (The Floyds and the Baxters co-owned Cumberland Valley Shows, a fair midway company.) Before this, the caboose was given to the Floyds by the Greater Gulf State Fair in Mobile Al.
Tates Crossing, TN Flag Station This train flag station was in use at Tates Crossing near Mt. Juliet from 1870 until 1935. During these 65 years it was used by Tennessee and Pacific Railroad and then by NCStL. This flag station was closed when NCStL built newer tracks that went a farther distance. (The older tracks were removed and the railroad bed became Division Street and Old Railroad Bed Road. Nearly 6 decades after it wasn't used anymore, the owner gave it to the western Wilson County Historical society, where it was restored. A few years later it was donated to be part of Fiddler's Grove, a collection of historical buildings from around the county placed at the Wilson County Fairgrounds.
Marietta, GA Train Depot This 1898 NCStL train station located in the heart of Marietta is now the city's welcome center.
Paris, TN Passenger Train Depot This Brick Passenger Station was originally built by NC&StL. The depot was built in 1896 and service ran until 1951. Today, the depot houses a tax business. The tracks run down Fentress Ave. Those tracks still get some use by Kentucky & West Tennessee Railway, a short line that connects to CSX. Originally, they were laid by Paducah, Tennessee & Alabama. When PT&A went bankrupt, the line was sold to L&N who leased it to NCStL.
Grinder's Switch Depot Grinder's Switch is a real place made famous as the hometown of fictional character Minnie Pearl. Instead of being an actual town, it was just a railroad switch. There was a depot at this switch, part of the NCStL line, and an employee there was the father of Sarah Colley Carter, the real life person behind Minnie Pearl. That original depot is long gone, but some people in Centerville want to take advantage of the Minnie Pearl heritage (just like Loretta Lynn has done in Hurricane Mills). In the 1980's, these people planned a park, and needed another depot, so they purchased this L&N depot from the tiny Dickson County town of Slayden. Additionally, they put some vintage farm equipment here, but that park never fully materialized. However, they built a nearby Ag Expo. The train tracks are right behind me here. Update: This depot is now gone.
Columbia, TN Union Station The old Union Station in Columbia was built in 1902 replacing an older, long demolished, building that had stood nearby. It served the community for both Louisville & Nashville, NCStL and Duck River Valley Narrow Gauge Railroad and was in use until the 1960s when passenger service was discontinued with cancelled freight and parcel service following. This building once served as one of the hubs of the community but is unused and neglected today despite its presence on the National Register of Historic Places.
Columbia, TN Union Station (b&w) The old Union Station in Columbia was built in 1902 replacing an older, long demolished, building that had stood nearby. It served the community for both Louisville & Nashville, NCStL and Duck River Valley Narrow Gauge Railroad and was in use until the 1960s when passenger service was discontinued with cancelled freight and parcel service following. This building once served as one of the hubs of the community but is unused and neglected today despite its presence on the National Register of Historic Places. Hello to anyone who found this here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/tiny-town-columbia-tn/ You’ll Never Run Out Of Things To Do In This Tiny Tennessee Town
NC&StL Logo on Bridge I suppose these are fairly common, but I took a picture of it because I'd never seen one before. Or maybe I'd seen it a bunch of times, but never noticed it before. This is on the south side of Chattanooga along St. Elmo Ave near the intersection of 33rd St. Is logo even the right word for this, or is it sheild, marker, or something else? On the other side, the etched L had fallen off.
Union City, TN Train Depot The train station in Union city was built in 1922 by Gulf, Mobile & Ohio (GM&O) and also serviced NCStL. The design is a mixture of Mission/Spanish Revival and Bungalow/Craftsman. Today, the building is restored and serves as the Obion County Chamber of Commerce. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Union City, TN Depot and GT Locomotive The train station in Union city was built in 1922 by Gulf, Mobile & Ohio (GM&O) and also serviced NCStL. The design is a mixture of Mission/Spanish Revival and Bungalow/Craftsman. Today, the building is restored and serves as the Obion County Chamber of Commerce. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. On the day that I took this photo, I started by parking at the Depot, as I was walking to the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/6800628333/"Capitol Theater, I saw GT 5848 crossing the street. I went over to the town square and an hour after I had started, I was back where I started and the same locomotive was crossing at the depot where I started. GM&O eventually merged with Illinois Central, who along with Grand Trunk & Western are all owned today by CN.
Tuckers Gap Passenger Depot Tennessee & Pacific Railroad was chartered in 1866 with the intent of connecting Knoxville to Memphis so that coal from the East Tennessee mountains could be conveyed out to the western U.S. In 1969, consturction began on the first (and as it turned out, the only) segment of the rail line, a 29 mile stretch from Lebanon to Nashville. It began operation in 1971, so this passenegr station was built sometime during those two years. The depot was built on land owned by John Bell Tarver. His daughter Nancy Tarver Hagan was employed to be the depot's operator. To make money, she would sell poultry, livestock, eggs, flowers, etc. from the depot. According to family stories, when she would hear the train whistle, she'd quickly change into her "good clothes" and run down the hill from her house just in time to meet the approaching train. By 1877, Tennessee & Pacific ran out of money and the line was purchased by NCStL. The short line operated under the T&P name until 1988 when it was renamed the NCStL Lebanon Branch. The last run was made on July 13, 1935 when passenger service stopped. The depot sat vacant at the same spot for nearly seven decades when it was put up for auction. In August, 2005 the depot was reloacated to Fiddler's Grove, the collection of historic local buildings on the Wilson County Fairgrounds. One year later after extensive renovations it was dedicated. Today, fairgoers can walk inside and see train memorabilia as well as a model railroad display.
Maxwell, TN Passenger Train Depot Here is a long since forgotten train station! Tracks first came through the area with the formation of the Winchester & Alabama railroad in the 1850's. They never could get their line finished into Huntsville, AL as they made it to Elora, TN just north of the border and instead made a line to Fayetteville. After W&A went bankrupt, the line was purchased by NCStL who did complete the line to Huntsville. Much of the land through here was ownd by a man named William R. Jones, who sold some of his land to the railroad in the 1860's. The depot that was built here became knwon as Jones Station. Soon afterward a new stationmaster with the last name of Maxwell came in and from there the stop was known as Maxwell. I can't find any age on the date of the depot seen here. By the 1980's, the line was owned by Seaboard Systems who decided to stop running the line in 1985. All the tracks through here are gone, leaving this old depot in a seemingly unexpected place.
Railroad Bridge over Barren Fork - McMinnville, TN I can't find too much information on how old this bridge is, but there was a railroad line that ran from McMinnville to Tullahoma before the Civil War. During the war, the north destroyed every bridge on this line between the two cities, including the one that crossed the Barren Fork River, which I assume is at this same spot. Originally, there were multiple mills up and down the river through here, but in 1902, a hydroelectric dam was built, but is not in use anymore. According to a photo on the historical marker nearby, this bridge was already here when the dam was built. The dam is on the National register of Historic Places. At one time, the bridge was used by NCStL, and then by L&N, and then by CSX. Today, the tracks are used by the short line Caney Fork & Western Railroad, which connects CSX from Tullahoma to Manchester and Sparta. There are a couple of kids sitting on the nearest pier. Can you see them?
Railroad Bridge over Barren Fork - McMinnville, TN I can't find too much information on how old this bridge is, but there was a railroad line that ran from McMinnville to Tullahoma before the Civil War. During the war, the north destroyed every bridge on this line between the two cities, including the one that crossed the Barren Fork River, which I assume is at this same spot. Originally, there were multiple mills up and down the river through here, but in 1902, a hydroelectric dam was built, but is not in use anymore. According to a photo on the historical marker nearby, this bridge was already here when the dam was built. At one time, the bridge was used by NCStL, and then by L&N, and then by CSX. Today, the tracks are used by the short line Caney Fork & Western Railroad, which connects CSX from Tullahoma to Manchester and Sparta.
Railroad Bridge over Barren Fork - McMinnville, TN I can't find too much information on how old this bridge is, but there was a railroad line that ran from McMinnville to Tullahoma before the Civil War. During the war, the north destroyed every bridge on this line between the two cities, including the one that crossed the Barren Fork River, which I assume is at this same spot. Originally, there were multiple mills up and down the river through here, but in 1902, a hydroelectric dam was built, but is not in use anymore. According to a photo on the historical marker nearby, this bridge was already here when the dam was built. At one time, the bridge was used by NCStL, and then by L&N, and then by CSX. Today, the tracks are used by the short line Caney Fork & Western Railroad, which connects CSX from Tullahoma to Manchester and Sparta. There are a couple of kids sitting on the nearest pier. Can you see them?
Jasper, TN City Hall (old depot) To me, this looks like an old train depot, but I don't see any tracks. It is in the town square, across from the Marion County Courthouse. US41 / 64 / 72 runs past this, as the "Cummings Highway" to Chattanooga stops here.
Smyrna, TN Train Depot & CSX #989 Here is the railroad station of the town I call home. The city of Smyrna has its roots to when a station was built here in 1851 and the town sprung up around it. (The line that ran from Nashville to Chattanooga placed a depot every 8 or so miles along the route.) This brick depot was built in 1873. The historic building had lied vacant for many years, but it is starting to see a little bit of activity. Most of the town festivals are held at the depot and along Front St. Within the last 5 years, the town has worked on revitalizing the area with landscaping and a roundabout at the intersection in front of the depot. On the day of this photo in 2012, I caught CSX #989 passing by. See the historical marker here: seemidtn.com/gallery3/index.php?album=historical-markers/...
Smyrna, TN Train Depot Here is the railroad station of the town I call home. The city of Smyrna has its roots to when a station was built here in 1851 and the town sprung up around it. (The line that ran from Nashville to Chattanooga placed a depot every 8 or so miles along the route.) This brick depot was built in 1873. The historic building had lied vacant for many years, but it is starting to see a little bit of activity. Most of the town festivals are held at the depot and along Front St. Within the last 5 years, the town has worked on revitalizing the area with landscaping and a roundabout at the intersection in front of the depot. The green flag in the picture is the city's logo. See the historical marker here: seemidtn.com/gallery3/index.php?album=historical-markers/... This photo has been used without permission, violating the creative commons license here: backgroundchecks.org/25-safest-cities-in-tennessee-2016.html The Safest Cities in Tennessee 2016
Rock Island, TN Train Depot Upon my last visit to the town of Rock Island in 2008, I saw how the old NCStL Train Depot was used as a private residence. Today, the depot has been converted into a small antique store. I suppose all of the new decorations to the depot make it visually more interesting. (Make sure you notice the Caboose mailbox on the left.)
NC&StL Boxcar PS-1 No. 22524 This Boxcar was built in Feb. 1952 and used by CSX up until the 1980's. Today, the boxcar is on loan from the Tennessee Central Railway Museum and is on display at the Cowan Railroad Museum. To see my other photos from the Depot Museum, look here: www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/tags/cowanrailroadm...
Scenes from Thomas Park: Caboose - Huntingdon, TN The following text is taken from a sign at the park: Thomas Park was established in 1906 by the Civic Improvement Club, a women's group whose primary objective was the beautification of their hometown. The Club took on the task of making the area on East Main Street around the train depot more enticing to visitors. The area was named Thomas Park in honor of Major John W. Thomas, Sr., president of the NCStL Railroad, 1884-1906. The concrete arch was erected in 1909 by the NCStL and remains today as a Huntingdon landmark. The train depot, located in the park until 1967, was the point where many young Carroll County soldiers boarded the train for destinations known and unknown in service to our country. Oral tradition holds that John Philip Sousa's band played in Thomas Park sometime just prior to World War I. The train transporting the band stopped at the Thomas Park depot to take on water for the steam engine. The passengers were required to disembark, at which time the band was persuaded to perform for the waiting passengers. A later group, the Huntingdon Women's Garden Club, maintained the park and made major improvements in 1985. Improvements included landscaping and walkways funded by the family of Jimmie Lee and Georgia Taylor. The gazebo was funded by the O.B. and Lela Enochs family. In 1993, the Huntingdon Beautification Committee was formed and assisted in seasonal upkeep of the park. In 1995, CSX railroad donated the caboose, which was subsequently refurbished for display. Under the leadership of Mayor Dale R. Kelley, the Town of Huntingdon finally acquired legal title to the Thomas Park property from CSX in 1998. original bricks from the train depot were incorporated into the paved walkway in front of the caboose. Further renovations to the park by the Town of Huntingdon in the year 2000 were also made possible by local donations. Carroll Bank & Trust, Trustee for The Wright Charitable Trust, contributed funds for the War Memorial monument, fountain and flag poles. The memorial honors all veterans and is inscribed with the names of Carroll County soldiers who died while serving in the wars of our country. Woodmen of the World Lodge #445 donated the first giant American flag to fly at the memorial. Friends and family of Danny and Joyce Carter donated two marble benches and two lampposts. Additional lamppost donations were made in memory of Dorothy Ellis and former Huntingdon Mayor Lee H. Chance. The successful renovation of Thomas Park is due these generous donations, to the vision and leadership of Mayor Dale R. Kelley and to the dedicated efforts of the Town of Huntingdon employees. We commend their talents and hard work in making Thomas Park a beautiful focal point of out community and historic memorial to our past.
The Last Remaining NC&StL Roundhouse This long abandoned roundhouse is located at the end of the Bruceton Yard, which is now used by CSX. NC&StL originally built a wooden roundhouse here but it burned down a few years later. Then, this Roundhouse of brick and concrete with eight stalls was built in 1925. Bruceton is a town in eastern part of Carroll County, TN
