Lyons, GA Passenger Depot This brick train station was built by Seaboard Air Line Railroad in 1930
Illinois Central Caboose - Cairo, IL When Cairo was a thriving city, much of the economic activity was due to the railroad traffic in town. Now, this caboose rests in a part of town where most of the businesses have been torn down. Caboose 5785 has a backdrop of the Ohio River levee.
Illinois Central Caboose #9765 -Jonesboro, IL This caboose is located at the old Jonesboro GM&O train station which is a couple of blocks south of the town square. Today, the train station is used as a library, so the sign on the bottom left says "Books are just word tacos." On the far right is a round railroad sign for Jonesboro, but faces the other direction.
Wabash baggage car #345 This baggage car was built for Wabash Railroad in 1928 by American Car and Foundry. At one point, it became part of Union Pacific's "City of St. Louis" passenger service. It was repainted back to the original Wabash livery and now resides at the Georgia State Railroad Museum in Savannah.
Santa Fe neon sign - Ft. Worth, TX This neon sign is atop the Santa Fe Freight Building near downtown Fort Worth, TX. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Fe_Freight_Building
Steam Train mural - Wichita Falls, TX Steam locomotive #100 comes out of a tunnel in this 2012 mural signed by Ralph Stearns.
Burlington Northern Caboose - Henrietta, TX This caboose is the Clay County Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center on Omega St. (US82). On the other side of the Cupola, there are the letters FW&D for the Fort Worth & Denver railway. FW&D ran through Henrietta until it became part of BN in 1982.
BNSF in Childress County, TX From this spot along highway US287, I can see a long way and on this day I encountered this train in multiple places.
Florida East Coast Railway passenger Car - Marathon, FL This former Passenger train car of the Florida East Coast Railway is located in the Florida Keys at Marathon along the Overseas Highway (US1). Today it is also part of the Crane Point Hammock Museum and Nature Trails. There is a train-themed historic marker in this photo and here is the text: Marathon: Heart of the Keys Overseas Railway Construction Headquarters Marathon began in 1908 as construction headquarters and chief shipping terminal for Henry M. Flagler's "Overseas Railway" to Key West. Through it passed thousands of workmen and immense quantities of material and supplies. At near by Knight's Key dock trains from New York met steamers from Havana daily until the railroad reached Key West January 22, 1912. The Seven Mile Bridge west of town resting on 546 concrete piers was at the time the longest railroad bridge of concrete and steel in the world. A storm on September 2, 1935 ended railroad operations. Ten years later the Overseas Highway built on the same track bed and bridges began to be used.
Amtrak #57 - Dallas, TX This photo was taken at the Dealey Plaza Triple Underpass (aka Triple Overpass) in downtown Dallas. Like most tourists, I was walking in the area to see JFK sites. However, I found the spot to be an excellent railfanning location. In an hour, I saw five different railroad companies: DGNO, Union Pacific, DART, Amtrak & Trinity Railway Express. Amtrak #57 is a GE Genesis Series I P42DC built in 1997. Their route which passes through Dallas is the Texas Eagle which connects San Antonio to Chicago.
Central of Georgia 1 This is the first diesel locomotive for the Central of Georgia Railway. Today it is inside the roundhouse at the Georgia State Railroad Museum. This EMD SW-1 was built for Central of Georgia in 1939. It was in use by several different railroads until 1996. It was placed here in 2004.
FEC - Strauss Trunnion Bascule Bridge - Jacksonville, FL This train bridge was built for the Florida East Coast Railroad in 1925, but CSX (see their building in the background?) and Norfolk Southern use it as well. It crosses the St. Johns River in downtown Jacksonville and replaced a a swing bridge which was built in 1890. The prominent feature is a segment of track which can lift out of the way for passing ships so that a tall clearance above the water is not needed. This feature is makes it a Bascule bridge as it has a counterweight allowing it to rotate upward. Trunnions are the mechanical pivot mechanism. The manufacturer of this segment was the Strauss Bascule Bridge co. while Phoenix Bridge Co. from Pennsylvania built some of the other through truss segments. I took this photo while my wife was driving us along Interstate 95. The interstate makes a big curve through here and passengers can get a good view from many angles along the drive.
The Railroad Tower behind the Grassy Knoll - Dallas This is Interlocking Tower 106, built in 1916 and used oversee the trains at the switching yard for the Union Railroad Terminal. More notably, it provided a different vantage point to the Kennedy Assassination on Nov. 22, 1963. Employee Lee Bowers could see the other side of the fence from the Grassy Knoll. He detailed his account to the Warren Commission and they inspire several of the Assassination theories. See the specifics here: www.jfktourdallas.com/the-railroad-tower.html
Caboose - Grand Saline, TX This CA-10 Cupola Caboose was originally built in 1975 for Union Pacific as UP 25739. It was retired in 1989 and now resides across the street from the old train station it town.
Katy Railway Building - Dallas en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katy_Building The Katy Building is an eight-floor historic building located in downtown Dallas' West End Historic District at 701 Commerce St. The Katy Building was constructed from 1912–1914 for Dallas businessman Col. John M. Simpson. For over 50 years, the 57,500-square-foot building served as the headquarters for the Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad (MKT), which gave the building its name (Katy, short for KT). The seven-story, terra cotta and masonry building was designed by H. A. Overbeck in the Beaux-Arts/Historism style. It featured fire proof construction, office spaces, and a power plant in the basement. Although the MKT occupied most of the building as their headquarters, rental space was available for other businesses as well. While the interior of the building has been extensively renovated over the years, the historic character of the building has been preserved.
Islamorada Caboose This caboose was once part of the Overseas Railway which connected the mainland of Florida to Key West. In the 1980s, this caboose was found and placed at the site of the house of the Railway's section foreman. This is a small park along US1, the overseas Highway. While the plans to add more here have never materialized, there are a few markers on local history. For more: keysweekly.com/42/matecumbe-historical-trust-inherits-lan...
Train Station - Grand Saline, TX The passenger depot built by Texas & Pacific is now used as a Library. The greenish color is new as the primary color was yellow decade ago.
Naples, FL Railroad Depot, Rolling Stock at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naples_station The Naples Seaboard Air Line Railway Station (also known as the Naples Railroad Depot or Seaboard Coast Line Railroad Depot) is a historic Seaboard Air Line Railway depot in Naples, Florida. It is located at 1051 5th Avenue, South. The depot was constructed in 1927, when the Seaboard Air Line Railroad (via its Seaboard-All Florida Railway subsidiary) constructed its line to Naples. It was designed in the same Mediterranean Revival style the Seaboard Air Line used with its stations in Delray Beach, Deerfield Beach, Hialeah, and Homestead on the southeast coast of Florida (which were built around the same time), and is virtually identical to the Hialeah depot. The station only briefly saw Seaboard Air Line passenger service in the late 1920s before the railroad reduced its line to Naples to freight service only in 1933. Seaboard ended freight service in the 1940s. During World War II, the depot was also home to USO shows for troops stationed at the nearby Naples airfield. By 1944, the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad bought both the depot and the Seaboard tracks to Naples after Seaboard discontinued service. The Atlantic Coast Line connected the former Seaboard track to their Fort Myers Southern Branch near Vanderbilt Beach, and resumed passenger service to the depot after an eleven-year absence. This makes it only one of the few railroad depots to have been operated by both the Atlantic Coast Line and the Seaboard Air Line independently prior to their merger. The Atlantic Coast Line's previous depot in Naples was located at the northeast corner of Radio Road and Airport-Pulling Road near Naples Airport, which was then closed and eventually demolished in the 1970s. Ironically, the Seaboard brand returned to the depot in 1967 when the Atlantic Coast Line merged with the Seaboard Air Line which became the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad. Passenger service ended in 1971 when national passenger rail was taken over by Amtrak. On September 10, 1974, the depot was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Freight service was halted for good in the late 1970s, and the adjacent tracks were removed in 1980 (the remaining line from this point north is still in place and is now owned by Seminole Gulf Railway). The station has since been fully restored by the Collier County Museums, and is now operated as the Naples Depot Museum. Exhibits focus on the history of transportation and trade in Southwest Florida. Displays include railroads, Seminole dugout canoes, a mule wagon and an antique swamp buggy. Vintage railcars are also on display outside of the building. In another part of the building is a Lionel Train Museum which is dedicated to model trains. A miniature railway also runs around the perimeter of the property.
Naples, FL Railroad Depot with Rolling Stock en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naples_station The Naples Seaboard Air Line Railway Station (also known as the Naples Railroad Depot or Seaboard Coast Line Railroad Depot) is a historic Seaboard Air Line Railway depot in Naples, Florida. It is located at 1051 5th Avenue, South. The depot was constructed in 1927, when the Seaboard Air Line Railroad (via its Seaboard-All Florida Railway subsidiary) constructed its line to Naples. It was designed in the same Mediterranean Revival style the Seaboard Air Line used with its stations in Delray Beach, Deerfield Beach, Hialeah, and Homestead on the southeast coast of Florida (which were built around the same time), and is virtually identical to the Hialeah depot. The station only briefly saw Seaboard Air Line passenger service in the late 1920s before the railroad reduced its line to Naples to freight service only in 1933. Seaboard ended freight service in the 1940s. During World War II, the depot was also home to USO shows for troops stationed at the nearby Naples airfield. By 1944, the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad bought both the depot and the Seaboard tracks to Naples after Seaboard discontinued service. The Atlantic Coast Line connected the former Seaboard track to their Fort Myers Southern Branch near Vanderbilt Beach, and resumed passenger service to the depot after an eleven-year absence. This makes it only one of the few railroad depots to have been operated by both the Atlantic Coast Line and the Seaboard Air Line independently prior to their merger. The Atlantic Coast Line's previous depot in Naples was located at the northeast corner of Radio Road and Airport-Pulling Road near Naples Airport, which was then closed and eventually demolished in the 1970s. Ironically, the Seaboard brand returned to the depot in 1967 when the Atlantic Coast Line merged with the Seaboard Air Line which became the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad. Passenger service ended in 1971 when national passenger rail was taken over by Amtrak. On September 10, 1974, the depot was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Freight service was halted for good in the late 1970s, and the adjacent tracks were removed in 1980 (the remaining line from this point north is still in place and is now owned by Seminole Gulf Railway). The station has since been fully restored by the Collier County Museums, and is now operated as the Naples Depot Museum. Exhibits focus on the history of transportation and trade in Southwest Florida. Displays include railroads, Seminole dugout canoes, a mule wagon and an antique swamp buggy. Vintage railcars are also on display outside of the building. In another part of the building is a Lionel Train Museum which is dedicated to model trains. A miniature railway also runs around the perimeter of the property.
Naples, FL Railroad Depot en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naples_station The Naples Seaboard Air Line Railway Station (also known as the Naples Railroad Depot or Seaboard Coast Line Railroad Depot) is a historic Seaboard Air Line Railway depot in Naples, Florida. It is located at 1051 5th Avenue, South. The depot was constructed in 1927, when the Seaboard Air Line Railroad (via its Seaboard-All Florida Railway subsidiary) constructed its line to Naples. It was designed in the same Mediterranean Revival style the Seaboard Air Line used with its stations in Delray Beach, Deerfield Beach, Hialeah, and Homestead on the southeast coast of Florida (which were built around the same time), and is virtually identical to the Hialeah depot. The station only briefly saw Seaboard Air Line passenger service in the late 1920s before the railroad reduced its line to Naples to freight service only in 1933. Seaboard ended freight service in the 1940s. During World War II, the depot was also home to USO shows for troops stationed at the nearby Naples airfield. By 1944, the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad bought both the depot and the Seaboard tracks to Naples after Seaboard discontinued service. The Atlantic Coast Line connected the former Seaboard track to their Fort Myers Southern Branch near Vanderbilt Beach, and resumed passenger service to the depot after an eleven-year absence. This makes it only one of the few railroad depots to have been operated by both the Atlantic Coast Line and the Seaboard Air Line independently prior to their merger. The Atlantic Coast Line's previous depot in Naples was located at the northeast corner of Radio Road and Airport-Pulling Road near Naples Airport, which was then closed and eventually demolished in the 1970s. Ironically, the Seaboard brand returned to the depot in 1967 when the Atlantic Coast Line merged with the Seaboard Air Line which became the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad. Passenger service ended in 1971 when national passenger rail was taken over by Amtrak. On September 10, 1974, the depot was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Freight service was halted for good in the late 1970s, and the adjacent tracks were removed in 1980 (the remaining line from this point north is still in place and is now owned by Seminole Gulf Railway). The station has since been fully restored by the Collier County Museums, and is now operated as the Naples Depot Museum. Exhibits focus on the history of transportation and trade in Southwest Florida. Displays include railroads, Seminole dugout canoes, a mule wagon and an antique swamp buggy. Vintage railcars are also on display outside of the building. In another part of the building is a Lionel Train Museum which is dedicated to model trains. A miniature railway also runs around the perimeter of the property.
Crawford, GA Train Depot From Wikipedia: Crawford Depot is a historic train station in Crawford, Oglethorpe County, Georgia. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 27, 1977. The depot is located on U.S. 78; it dates from ca. 1848 and is used to house the Oglethorpe County Chamber of Commerce. According to local history, the building was constructed from Lithonia granite crossties which had been used by the Georgia Railroad. It's a rare example of a stone depot built by the Georgia Railroad. It is a one-story granite building approximately 41 feet (12 m) by 91 feet (28 m) in dimension. It is the only surviving stone depot building of the Georgia Railroad
Union Pacific 25660 Caboose - Fort Worth, TX This is located just outside Loop I820 on the east side of Fort Worth along Old Highway US80 (TX180). It's listed on a map as the Handley Railroad Museum, although it's really only this caboose.
Bahia Honda Bridge Showing Disrepair From Wikipedia: The Bahia Honda Rail Bridge is a derelict railroad bridge in the lower Florida Keys connecting Bahia Honda Key with Spanish Harbor Key. It was originally part of the Overseas Railway, but the state of Florida purchased it from the Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) after the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane and converted it for automobile use as part of the Overseas Highway in 1938. After a replacement Bahia Honda Bridge was opened in 1972, two spans of the old bridge were removed for the safety of boat traffic and to prevent pedestrian access to unsafe parts of the bridge. Read more: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahia_Honda_Rail_Bridge Other notes: Originally constructed: 1912 Railroad tracks were on the bottom level. This area was too narrow for two lanes of cars, so the upper level was built for cars. Photo taken from the newer 1972 Bridge Visitors to Bahia Honda State Park can walk along a short segment of the upper auto part which is maintained. Most of the Overseas bridges are arches, but the Bahia Honda channel is deeper, so it is a Parker or Pratt Through Truss bridge. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of "Overseas Highway and Railway Bridges"
Bahia Honda Bridge - Florida Keys From Wikipedia: The Bahia Honda Rail Bridge is a derelict railroad bridge in the lower Florida Keys connecting Bahia Honda Key with Spanish Harbor Key. It was originally part of the Overseas Railway, but the state of Florida purchased it from the Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) after the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane and converted it for automobile use as part of the Overseas Highway in 1938. After a replacement Bahia Honda Bridge was opened in 1972, two spans of the old bridge were removed for the safety of boat traffic and to prevent pedestrian access to unsafe parts of the bridge. Read more: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahia_Honda_Rail_Bridge Other notes: Originally constructed: 1912 Railroad tracks were on the bottom level. This area was too narrow for two lanes of cars, so the upper level was built for cars. Photo taken from the newer 1972 Bridge Visitors to Bahia Honda State Park can walk along a short segment of the upper auto part which is maintained. Most of the Overseas bridges are arches, but the Bahia Honda channel is deeper, so it is a Parker or Pratt Through Truss bridge. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of "Overseas Highway and Railway Bridges"
La Grange, KY L&N Train Station This is the former L&N ca. 1910 passenger Train Depot of La Grange, KY. Today it is a museum with rolling stock out front. La Grange is a great city for train watching. This is one of the few towns where trains still go down the middle of Main St. a few times every day. This depot is also along Main St., but the tracks curve to the left by the time it gets here. Not far is an observation platform great for viewing the trains.
Trinity Railway Express #122 This photo was taken at the Dealey Plaza Triple Underpass (aka Triple Overpass) in downtown Dallas. Like most tourists, I was walking in the area to see JFK sites. However, I found the spot to be an excellent railfanning location. In an hour, I saw five different railroad companies: DGNO, Union Pacific, DART, Amtrak & Trinity Railway Express. The locomotive #122 is a GM EMD F59PH built in 1988. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_Railway_Express The Trinity Railway Express (TRE) is a commuter rail line in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, TX. It was established by an interlocal agreement between Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and Trinity Metro. Each transit authority owns a 50% stake in the joint rail project and contractor Herzog Transit Services operates the line. The TRE began operating in December 1996.
Huntsville Depot Museum Caboose #912 Track signal lights on the left. There is what I assume is a party deck attached to this caboose on the other side. The wide vision extended porch caboose originally belonged to Illinois Central.
Thomson, GA train station Built in 1860, the train station is the featured structure in the Thomson Commercial Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places.
Southern boxcar #43958 This boxcar is on display behind the Three Notch Museum in Andalusia, AL. The mural on the left can be seen here: flic.kr/p/2mwusPc
Catoosa, OK Train Station This replica train depot, with a Frisco caboose and a replica post office make the Catoosa Historical Museum. The actual tracks are less that 1000ft. away and I heard trains going by while I was here. This museum is also located along the Cherokee St. alignment of Route 66.
Sapulpa Interurban 375 Check here for the history: www.sapulpahistory.org/sapulpa-interurban-trolley.html or here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulsa-Sapulpa_Union_Railway This is located on the grounds of the Tulsa-Sapulpa Railway Co. They didn't have posted hours and this was taken from behind a fence. There are several mannequins on the trolley. It's also located along Route 66.
Frisco 4500 Steam Locomotive This steam train has its own wikipedia page: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Louis%E2%80%93San_Francisco_4500 It is now seen at the Route 66 Historical Village in Tulsa.
Andalusia, AL Depot This depot was originally built by L&N. Today, it is used by the short-line Alabama & Florida Railway. There is a second L&N depot in town which is today used as the Three Notch Museum.
Frisco 1157 - Route 66 Historical Village Route 66 Historical Village is a rather new tourist attraction along the old highway on the west side of Tulsa. Along with a steam locomotive and oil transport car is this caboose. This thread contains more info on this specific caboose. It was originally a boxcar in the late 1920s and was converted to a cupola caboose in the 1950s. www.frisco.org/shipit/index.php?threads/caboose-157.4666/
Wooden Boxcar - Huntsville Depot Museum
CCC&StL Depot - Greencastle, IN The passenger station of Greencastle, IN is located on the north side of town. The tracks are now CSX and they appear to use the building for storage.
Oil Tank Train Car - Tulsa - Route 66 Historical Village Route 66 Historical Village is a nice quick Route 66 stop on the west side of Tulsa. The grounds include a steam train plus other vintage train cars, a gas station and an oil derrick. This liquid container car features the logos of several oil/gas companies: Texaco, Sinclair, HollyFrontier, Cosden and Tulsa's Skelly. The replica train depot on the left was just built in the last couple of years and it mostly an event venue right now.
Old Depot Museum - Selma, AL selmamuseum.org/our-history Highlights from their website: A tour of the Old Museum runs the gamut from the Civil War to Civil Rights. The building is a contributing property to Selma’s “Water Avenue Historic District” that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and documented in select photographs in the Historic American Buildings’ Survey. The red brick, stone trimmed building in the Romanesque Revival style was built ca. 1890. Thanks to its design, it is one of twelve railroad depots in the Southeast designated by Southern Living to be of architectural and historical importance.
Caboose in Sapulpa, OK This unmarked Caboose is on the grounds of the Tulsa-Sapulpa Railway Co. building along Route 66 in Sapulpa, OK. Also on the grounds is an old Sapulpa Interurban Trolley Car. They didn't have posted hours, so this is the view from behind a locked fence. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulsa-Sapulpa_Union_Railway
Norfolk & Western Caboose - Huntsville, AL This caboose is part of the rolling stock on the grounds of the historic Huntsville Depot museum. The grounds are free to walk without buying a ticket to the museum.
L&N 0563 - LaGrange, KY This caboose is located at the LaGrange Railroad Museum which is just a couple of blocks east of the downtown where trains go along Main St.
Rock Island Caboose #17145 - El Reno, OK This caboose is located at a small Route 66 park in El Reno, OK.
Texas and Pacific Caboose - Wills Point, TX This red caboose with a Texas and Pacific (T&P) logo is in Wills Point, TX. The tracks run behind this caboose and the center of town behind that. The old train station is a block to the left. Highway US80 is behind me and there is a pull-off here with a few parking spaces. I'm not sure if this has always been T&P but the paint is starting to fade uncovering some of the former letters and numbers.
Paducah & Louisville #9653 - Kevil, KY Paducah & Louisville Railway (PAL) is a class II Railroad entirely operating within Kentucky since 1986. A small branch line runs from Paducah about 10 miles west to Kevil, where this green caboose is in a city park. It is completely behind a fence, although at one time the stairs encouraged walk-ups.
Dierks Forest #207 - Tulsa Dierks Forest was a local lumber hauling company. This 2-6-2 Prairie class steam locomotive was built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1917. In 1963, it was relocated to the corner of the Tulsa Expo Center Fairgrounds.
Frisco Caboose 1882 - Catoosa, OK Frisco Caboose #1882 is located at the Catoosa Historical Museum along with a replica train station on the left and a replica vintage post office to the right. This stretch of Cherokee St. might be along an old stretch of Route 66. info about the caboose here: www.frisco.org/shipit/index.php?threads/frisco-caboose-18... This Caboose never was used by Frisco. However, since it's located in Catoosa which was prominently served by Frisco, it appears painted that way at this museum. The number 1882 was used since it was never used by Frisco and that's the year Frisco came to Catoosa. The caboose was actually built in 1978 by Pacific Car and Foundry as BN 12252.
Union Carbide #11 - Chase, AL This locomotive is a rare surviving ALCO (AGEIR) Boxcab as only 33 were ever produced from 1925 to 1928. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ALCO_boxcab This one was produced for Union Carbide in 1926. It is part of the rolling stock on display at the North Alabama Railroad Museum in Chase, AL.
MK&T Depot - Galena, KS This train Combo passenger and freight depot serving the Katy Railroad was relocated along Route 66 on the west side of town and is now a museum.
Erie Lackawanna 315 I'm told this Alco S1 used to appear in front of an area business along Route 66 over 25 years ago. Today while it sits and rusts, it's visible from Route 66 just west of the Kansas/Missouri border near Galena.
Huntsville Depot & Museum caboose This historic Huntsville train station is open as a museum. However, it is free to walk the grounds and see the rolling stock. In the background of this caboose is the old roundabout which is today used as an event venue.
Abandoned L&N Cars - Lyons, GA The box car was originally L&N but updated to Family Lines System. This photo was taken in 2020 but on google street view, was also there in 2008.
DGNO #3417 - Dallas, TX Dallas, Garland and Northeastern Railroad (DGNO) is a short-line in Northeast Texas. 3417 is rebuilt as an EMD SD40-2 but was originally SD45 for ATSF in 1966. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dallas,_Garland_and_Northeastern_Ra... This photo was taken at the Dealey Plaza Triple Underpass (aka Triple Overpass) in downtown Dallas. Like most tourists, I was walking in the area to see JFK sites. However, I found the spot to be an excellent railfanning location. In an hour, I saw five different railroad companies: this DGNO, Union Pacific, DART, Amtrak & Trinity Railway Express.
Union Pacific Caboose - Atlanta, TX
The Original Gatorland Express According to their sign: The Ol' Iron Horse Express debuted at Gatorland in 1961 and became the very first amusement park ride in central Florida. This model is one of only a handful of trains built by MTC Herschell. For the next 39 years, this replica of an 1800's style steam engine faithfully carried over 7.5 million smiling faces along a journey around our gator ponds. After logging almost half a million miles (in one-quarter mile increments), our faithful train was officially retired on Sept. 24, 2000.
Three Notch Museum Railroad Caboose NW Caboose 562826 is located at the Three Notch Museum in Andalusia, AL. The Cupola Caboose was built in 1949 and donated by Norfolk Southern to the museum in 1989. The museum itself is an old Central of Georgia depot built in 1899.
Hattiesburg, MS Train Station The passenger and freight depot in Hattiesburg, MS was built by Southern Railroad in 1910. Today, it is still a stop for Amtrak. There is also a Steam Train on permanent display which you can see here: flic.kr/p/2jnyr5T
Greenville, AL Train Depot The train station in Greenville, AL was built by L&N. Today, these are CSX tracks and the building is for municipal use.
Meridian, MS Union Station The Passenger station in Meridian was completed in 1906 and served Amtrak passengers until recently. Not long ago, a new station opened next door. On my visit here in 2019, it looked like they were turning this building into a museum. There is already some rolling stock behind it.
Don't be a Grinch Seen as graffiti on a train in the Nashville Gulch.
Gainesville Midland #116 - Jefferson, GA This 2-8-0 was built for the Central of Georgia. It is located in Jefferson, GA along Business US129 next door to the high school where there is a small parking area. According to the marker: This steam locomotive was presented to the city of Jefferson in 1959 by the Seaboard Air Line Railroad Company as a permanent exhibit in memory of the important service engines of this type gave to the nation. It was one of the last steam-powered locomotives to operate in this section of the country. It was built in 1907 and was last operated on the Gainesville Midland Railroad.
Indianapolis Union Station en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indianapolis_Union_Station The Indianapolis Union Station is an intercity train station in the Wholesale District of Indianapolis, Indiana. The terminal is served by Amtrak's Cardinal line, passing through Indianapolis three times weekly. Indianapolis was the first city in the world to devise a union station, in 1848. The station building opened on September 20, 1853, at 39 Jackson Place, operated by the Indianapolis Union Railway. A much larger Richardsonian Romanesque station was designed by Pittsburgh architect Thomas Rodd and constructed at the same location beginning in November 1886 and opening in September 1888. The head house (main waiting area and office) and clock tower of this second station still stand today. The three-story Union Station is built of granite and brick trimmed with Hummelstown brownstone, with a battered water table and massive brick arches characteristic of the Romanesque. It features an enormous rose window, slate roof, bartizans at section corners, and a soaring 185-foot clock tower.
Laurel, MS train station Currently served by Amtrak's Crescent passenger train, the station was originally built in 1913 by the New Orleans and Northeastern Railroad, which was acquired in 1916 by the Southern Railway. The station has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since October 31, 1995.
Central of Georgia Smoke Stack & Water Tank This combination structure built in 1855 is on the grounds of the former Central of Georgia railroad offices in Savannah. Today, this is the Georgia State Railroad Museum. Here is the description from the rail yard's listing on the National Register of historic places. The focus of the Central's shop complex was a 123 foot tall combination smokestack, water tank and privies. This unique structure exhausted the smoke through underground flues from all blacksmith, coppersmith, and boiler shop fires, as well as from the boiler of the stationary steam engine. Around the base are sixteen projecting buttresses forming cells between them with deep vaults which served as privies for the workmen. On top of the buttresses, a sixteen sided, 40,000 gallon water tank, made of decorative cast-iron panels cast by D&W Rose of Savannah, encircled the chimney shaft. Water pumped into the tank supplied the locomotive tenders and stationary steam engine boiler. The chimney also is polygonal, giving the appearance of a fluted circular column with a decorative brick capital and a massive cast-iron cap which has been removed. One other note: On the day before I took this picture in 2018, there were movie crews filming the 2021 release Cruella, so this might be seen in that film. Scenes of the 1989 film Glory have also been filmed here.
Chase, AL passenger station Today, this historic train station in the Huntsville suburbs is home to the North Alabama Railroad Museum. The 1937 depot served multiple railroads, and when in service, it was believed to be the smallest union station in America. Today, the museum hosts excursion trains, such as this day in April 2018. The area was run by the Chase family who thought the convergence of two railroads would make a good place for shipping. They located their tree nursery business here and ultimately built a passenger station as well. This is the second station at the location. northalabamarailroadmuseum.com/
The Purple People Bridge This photo was taken in March 2019 from the patio at Barnes & Noble at Newport on the Levee, which closed a few months later. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport_Southbank_Bridge The Newport Southbank Bridge, popularly known as the Purple People Bridge, stretches 2,670 feet over the Ohio River, connecting Newport, KY to downtown Cincinnati, OH. The original bridge first opened on April 1, 1872, under the name Newport and Cincinnati Bridge, and was Cincinnati's first railroad bridge spanning the Ohio River. The bridge piers were built with stone from Adams County, OH The present bridge, which was built on the original piers (which were widened during that work), opened in 1897 to streetcar, pedestrian and automobile traffic. In 1904, the bridge was renamed the L&N Railroad Bridge, and this name remained until the bridge was rehabilitated and re-opened as a pedestrian-only bridge in May 2003. The bridge was closed to railroad traffic in 1987, and later closed to automobile traffic in October 2001 after years of neglect and deterioration. On April 17, 2001, the L&N Railroad Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In late 2001, the city of Newport, Kentucky, and Southbank Partners, an economic development group, used $4 million in state funds to restore the bridge. When it was time to decide on what color to paint it, a variety of options were explored. Computer-generated images of the bridge were shown to participants in more than a dozen focus groups, all of whom picked the color purple as a top choice. It was soon coined the "Purple People Bridge" by area residents. The bridge provides convenient access to the "Newport on the Levee" development in Newport, Kentucky, as well as Downtown Cincinnati. In 2006, it became possible for the public to cross the bridge via its superstructure wearing appropriate safety gear. There are similar bridge climb experiences in Australia and New Zealand. Citing lack of funds and low attendance, the Purple People Bridge Climb closed on May 23, 2007. The bridge remains open to pedestrian and bicycle traffic.
Train Station - Austin, IN The passenger station in Austin, IN was built by Pennsylvania Railroad in 1934. Today, the building is owned by the local Lion's Club and they have a PRR caboose on the property.
The Spike that Binds This sculpture is a life-sized man made entirely out of railroad spikes. It's located at the Hattiesburg, MS train station and was unveiled by artist Jason Kimes in 2010 as part of the stations centennial celebration.
Steam Locomotive 7745 - LaGrange, KY This well-painted 1953 steam locomotive is located at the La Grange Railroad Museum in La Grange, KY. The 0-6-0T design was among the last produced in Great Britain by Robert Stephenson & Co. The Museum also features a blue 1929 L&N dining car and a 1963 caboose. Just a couple of blocks away, the city of La Grange also features one of the few remaining city centers with live tracks running through town.
Union Station (modern) - Meridian, MS This Union Station is a stop for Amtrak along the rails and Greyhound for the roads. It was built in 1997 and is next door to an older depot which is now users as a museum.
Houston Astros Home Run Train With fans returning to games this week for MLB Opening Day, this photo was taken at the last MLB game I attended in 2019. Quick notes about this train: It's a 15 foot high and 56 foot long replica of a 1862 steam locomotive built by SMI & Hydraulics of Porter, MN. Every time an Astro hits a home run, it travels down the tracks at 2.5 MPH and then backs up to where it started. When Minute Maid bought the stadium naming rights, it began to haul replica oranges. It has been driven by Bobby "Dynamite" Vasquez who has done this since the ballpark's 2nd season in 2001. It's 90 feet above the playing surface in left field. Before the stadium could be constructed, as buildings were torn down in downtown Houston, the old train station was preserved to be part of the stadium as a gift shop.
Meridian Carousel Tour - Iron Horse Meridian, MS has a series of painted carousel horses around town in honor of the Dentzel Antique Carousel at Highland Park. This one is a steam locomotive themed horse named Iron Horse designed by artist Jim Brashier. It was originally sponsored by Around Town Carousels Abound, but is currently located in front of the Passenger Train Station in downtown Meridian at 1901 Front Street. www.visitmeridian.com/explore/play/around-town-carousels-...
Damaged Memphis & Charleston Railroad Depot - Huntsville The historic Memphis and Charleston Freight Depot in Memphis was damaged by a fire in March 2004. It was built in 1856, which would make it the oldest train station at least partially standing in Alabama. When paired with the 1860 passenger station (now a museum) on the other side of the tracks., it would be the only antebellum depot complex left in the U.S. Read more about it here: www.alabamaheritage.com/places-in-peril/memphis-and-charl...
City of Wadley, GA mural This mural is on the north side of the central business district of this small town in Jefferson County along the old US1 highway.
Hawesville, KY train depot From the marker: Rails of Louisville, St. Louis, and Texas Railroad laid here June 9, 1888. First passenger train ran between Owensboro and Stephensport Oct. 7, 1888. Service between Evansville and Louisville began in April 1889. Rail line later became Louisville, Henderson, St. Louis R.R. and then part of L&N system in 1929. Present station constructed 1902; additions made ca. 1919. During heyday, six L&N trains stopped here daily. Embarkation point for Army troops during World War I. Pres. Harry S. Truman spoke here during an election campaign whistlestop, Sept. 30, 1948. Local passenger service ended in the late 1950s.
Mercury & Chase #484 You can ride this excursion train at the North Alabama Railroad Museum in Chase, AL, a small suburb on the north side of Huntsville. The diesel locomotive seen here is an ALCO S-2 built in 1949 for Lackawanna Railroad. It has been repainted in the design of the original Mercury & Chase which operated here. In the background is the old Chase Nursery Company office building. At one time, Chase Nursery was the largest plant nursery in the southeast. The building was just recently purchased by the museum.
Three Notch Museum and Depot - Andalusia, AL en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Notch_Museum In the late 1890s, business leaders in Andalusia posted a $5000 prize for the first rail line to pass through the town. The Central of Georgia Railway claimed the prize, completing the track in September 1899, and built a depot on land donated by residents. The town flourished with the new rail connection; population rose from 551 in 1900 to 2,480 in 1910. The last Norfolk Southern train, successor to the Central of Georgia, departed Andalusia on March 31, 1983. The wooden depot is similar in design to other small-town stations along the Central of Georgia line. The one-story, gable-roofed structure is clad with board and batten siding. Two front rooms with separate entrances were used as passenger waiting rooms. At the opposite end of the station is a large freight room. The agent's office spans the width of the building between the two, and features a gabled bay window. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. The building was re-opened as a history museum in 1987;named after the Three Notch Trail of which two streets (East Three Notch Street and South Three Notch Street) in Andalusia are also named. Operated by the Covington Historical Society, the museum focuses on County history and area railroad history. Displays include many photographs, a bottle collection, historic cameras and accessories, tools and military artifacts. Other buildings in the museum include a restored post office with a period schoolroom in back, a pioneer log cabin and a country store. There are also two cabooses and a CSX motor car with a model railway layout outside the depot building.
100 Years of Illinois Central - Laurel, MS 1851-1951 Mainline of Mid-America. In 1951, IC placed one of these in every county they served. Often, but not always, the marker is placed at a prominent government building. This one is at the Laurel, MS City Hall facing Yates Ave. in the back. Jones County is along the historic IC which today is an Amtrak route.
Steam Train - Meridian, MS This locomotive is located at Highland Park in Meridian, MS adjacent to the Jimmie Rodgers museum. It is a 1917 Baldwin steam locomotive from the Susquehanna and New York Railroad line. It was later used by the Meridian and Bigbee railroad, who donated it to the city in 1953 as a memorial to all deceased railroaders. The locomotive was moved to the park in 1970.
Abandoned L&N Depot - Clanton, AL
100 Years of Illinois Central - Hattiesburg, MS 1851-1951 Mainline of Mid-America. In 1951, IC placed one of these in every county they served. Often, but not always, the marker is placed at a prominent government building. This one is at the Hattiesburg, MS City Hall facing Front St. (US11). Forrest County is along the historic IC which today is an Amtrak route.
Southern Pacific Depot - Orange, TX From the Texas Historical Commission Marker: From 1908 to 1974, the Orange train depot served Southern Pacific Rail company cars passing through Orange. prior to this time, transportation by road and on water was unreliable and unsafe, which inhibited the growth of Orange. However, the late 1850s timber boom in southeast Texas contributed to the need for a train depot to export Orange's raw materials to other parts of the country. The Orange station was just one of the many stops on the through line between San Francisco and New Orleans. As racial segregation was still in effect at the time of the depot's construction, arrangements were made for two ticket windows, two waiting rooms and two restrooms for white and black passengers. In the early 1960s, a large wall dividing the black waiting room and the baggage/freight area was removed. After the train depot's closure in the 1970s, various entities intermittently used the building until a fire in 1990 damaged the roof and interior, but the brick walls and interior walls were undamaged. the train depot remained abandoned until 2013, when a local non—profit group raised the funds to restore the building to its original condition. Work crews built a new roof on the structure, exposed the cross—hatched windows on the second story and returned the building to its original brick color and green trim. The restoration efforts allow the historic train depot to be enjoyed by Orange-area citizens and visitors alike. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 2018
Southern X349 Caboose - Pembroke, GA This Southern bay window caboose is located in the middle of Pembroke, GA. There's a logo for Seabord Air Line Railroad with the motto "Through the Heart of the South." If you look at the full size picture, under the middle window of the bay is a logo for Pembroke with a steam locomotive.
Cumberland Gap Railroad Tunnel, Looking inside This railroad tunnel goes under the historic Cumberland Gap. It's construction finished in 1889 by Powell's Valley Railroad. In the first decade, it suffered two cave-ins and had to be re-bored. The second time was in 1896, however 1897 is etched into the top of the arch. Early on, it was used by Knoxville, Cumberland Gap and Louisville Railroad. In 1896, it was sold to Louisville & Nashville. Today it is owned by CSX. It is still in use, but infrequently, perhaps once a week. Because of the narrow clearance and track condition, trains have to creep along slower than 10 MPH. This entrance is in Lee County, VA. The Tennessee State line and the city limits of Cumberland Gap are about 100 feet away from the entrance. The other end of the tunnel is 3,741 feet away in Middlesboro, KY.
Cumberland Gap Railroad Tunnel Entrance This railroad tunnel goes under the historic Cumberland Gap. It's construction finished in 1889 by Powell's Valley Railroad. In the first decade, it suffered two cave-ins and had to be re-bored. The second time was in 1896, however 1897 is etched into the top of the arch. Early on, it was used by Knoxville, Cumberland Gap and Louisville Railroad. In 1896, it was sold to Louisville & Nashville. Today it is owned by CSX. It is still in use, but infrequently, perhaps once a week. Because of the narrow clearance and track condition, trains have to creep along slower than 10 MPH. This entrance is in Lee County, VA. The Tennessee State line and the city limits of Cumberland Gap are about 100 feet away from the entrance. The other end of the tunnel is 3,741 feet away in Middlesboro, KY.
Cumberland Gap Railroad Tunnel, Tracks Leading into This railroad tunnel goes under the historic Cumberland Gap. It's construction finished in 1889 by Powell's Valley Railroad. In the first decade, it suffered two cave-ins and had to be re-bored. The second time was in 1896, however 1897 is etched into the top of the arch. Early on, it was used by Knoxville, Cumberland Gap and Louisville Railroad. In 1896, it was sold to Louisville & Nashville. Today it is owned by CSX. It is still in use, but infrequently, perhaps once a week. Because of the narrow clearance and track condition, trains have to creep along slower than 10 MPH. This entrance is in Lee County, VA. The Tennessee State line and the city limits of Cumberland Gap are about 100 feet away from the entrance. The other end of the tunnel is 3,741 feet away in Middlesboro, KY.
Big Four Bridge - Louisville, KY This photo was taken near the Lincoln Memorial at Louisville's Waterfront Park. This bridge now lights up at night for a colorful Photo opportunity. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Four_Bridge The Big Four Bridge is a six-span former railroad truss bridge that crosses the Ohio River, connecting Louisville, Kentucky, and Jeffersonville, Indiana. It was completed in 1895, updated in 1929, taken out of rail service in 1968, and converted to bicycle and pedestrian use in 2014. The largest single span is 547 feet, with the entire bridge spanning 2,525 feet. It took its name from the defunct Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway, which was nicknamed the "Big Four Railroad". Access to the Big Four Bridge is limited to pedestrian and bicycle use. A pedestrian ramp on the Kentucky side was opened on February 7, 2013. The original approaches that carried rail traffic onto the main spans were first removed in 1969, earning the Big Four Bridge the nickname "Bridge That Goes Nowhere". The George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge downstream, which carries U.S. 31 across the river, was previously the only bridge allowing bicyclists and pedestrians to travel between Louisville and the neighboring Indiana cities of New Albany, Clarksville, and Jeffersonville. In February 2011, Kentucky and Indiana announced that the two states, along with the City of Jeffersonville, would allocate $22 million in funding to complete the Big Four Bridge project, creating a pedestrian and bicycle path to link Louisville and Jeffersonville. Indiana would spend up to $8 million and the City of Jeffersonville would provide $2 million in matching dollars to pay for construction of a ramp to the Big Four Bridge. Kentucky pledged $12 million to replace the deck on the bridge and connect it to the spiral ramp that was completed in Waterfront Park.
Bonhomie & Hattiesburg Southern #300 This steam locomotive is on display at the train station in Hattiesburg. According to the sign: Bonhomie & Hattiesburg Southern #300 was purchased new from Baldwin Locomotive Works by W.S.F. Tatum for his newly incorporated railroad in 1925. The locomotive hauled freight trains between Hattiesburg and Beaumont until retired in 1960. It was one of the last steam locomotives in regular common carrier service in the United States. It's a 2-8-2 "Mikado" type locomotive. Specifications Construction number:58241 Year built: 1925 Cylinders: 19" diameter x 26" stroke Driving wheel diameter: 52" Engine weight in working order: 156,000 lbs Tractive effort (pulling power): 30,700 lbs Tender water capy: 7,000 gallons Tender fuel capy: soft coal - 12 tons
Huntsville Depot Express #12 I found this on the grounds of the Huntsville Depot Museum. If anyone has info on this, I'd like to know more about it. This is just speculation: I'm guessing the depot museum once operated a trolley which made a loop along the tracks on the property. I suppose it hasn't been in use much lately. This photo was taken in 2017, but on a 2015 visit the trolley was on the property's turntable.
Tybee Depot At one time, the Savannah & Tybee Railroad connected the island to the mainland. This was their train station on Tybee Island built in 1877. A few decades later, service stopped and the tracks were removed in 1933. Today, the depot has been relocated to Old Fort Jackson National Historic Landmark in Savannah. The depot is in use as a ticket booth and gift shop.
L&N Miss Alva from "This Property is Condemned" This Pullman tourist car #6157 was once painted with a design of Louisville & Nashville and nicknamed "Miss Alva." This was painted for the 1966 movie "This Property is Condemned." When this passenger car was actually used, it was Louisiana & Arkansas #4127 nicknamed Monteith. It is part of the rolling stock behind the Meridian, MS railroad museum which is the old passenger station. The paint job is at least 50 years old, and has been in the same spot for at least 13 years based on what I could find.
H.K. Porter 0-4-0 #3077 - Huntsville, AL This narrow gauge H.K. Porter 0-4-0 Steam locomotive was built for Sharon Steel in 1904. Today, it is located at the Depot Museum in Huntsville, AL with a modern label of Huntsville Railway Co. #4. Instead of a coal car, there is an open air car behind the locomotive, and I think it can be rented for children's parties. The train is not functional and the tracks below do not go anywhere.
CSX Coal Train crosses the C&O Railroad bridge Chesapeake & Ohio built the bridge carrying two tracks in 1929. This bridge crosses the Ohio River to connect Cincinnati, OH with Covington, KY for CSX. This photo was taken at the scenic overlook at Devou Park.
Clay Wade Bailey and C&O Railroad Bridges Both of these bridges connect Cincinnati, OH to Covington, KY while crossing the Ohio River. On the left, the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge carries Highways US25, US42 and US127. It is a cantilever bridge built in 1974 and named for a local political reporter. On the right, Chesapeake & Ohio built the bridge carrying two tracks in 1929. Today, it is still in use by CSX. The first train bridge in Cincinnati opened here on the left in 1889. 40 years later, it was obsolete and was replaced with the bridge on the right. The bridge on the left was then retrofitted into an automobile bridge. In 1970, that bridge was destroyed when two tug boats hit it. The broken pier was replaced and the others were reused for this newer bridge. For more info: www.cincinnati-transit.net/co-bridge.html
City of Selma, AL Caboose This caboose is behind the Old Depot Museum in Selma
L&N Caboose - Peach Park - Clanton, AL I really enjoyed my time at Peach Park, an old school tourist attraction right off the interstate in Clanton, AL. I also like finding old cabooses in the wild. However, this caboose really didn't seem to have a purpose here. It was inside a very tiny trailer park. Maybe you can rent it for overnight?
Pennsylvania Railroad Caboose - Austin, IN The old Passenger train station in Austin, IN is now owned by the local Lion's Club chapter. It is located along highway US31 across from the Dairy Queen.
Central of Georgia U.S. Mail Post Office Car This is located inside the Roundhouse at the Georgia State Railroad Museum in Savannah.
Punkyville Caboose Charles "Punky" Beckett uses his construction skills to build a replica village next to his house. He has filled these buildings with many vintage items has has acquired over the years. Thankfully, his Punkyville is open to the public. It is located along highway US27 about a mile or two south of Falmouth, KY Part of the display is railroad-themed, as he owns this G&O Caboose, along with some train signal lights and a water tower.
Savannah Central #30 This steam locomotive is located at the Georgia State Railroad Museum in Savannah. It was built by the American Locomotive Company in June 1913. Today, it is used for brief excursions and to demonstrate the turntable it is on in this picture.
Heisler Fireless 0-4-0 Locomotive This steam train is on display at the train station in Laurel, MS. From the description: This locomotive was built by Heisler Locomotive Works as Hercules Powder Company #35 and served the Hattiesburg plant from 1946 until 1958, when replaced by a diesel unit. The Heisler is a "fireless" steam locomotive and was charged with steam from the plant boilers thus allowing extra safety when operating in a flammable environment. After retirement, it was donated to the City of Hattiesburg on Feb. 6, 1963, and was displayed for several years in Kamper Park.
Alvin, TX Santa Fe depot
Visit Laurel, MS Mural "The City Beautiful" Laurel, MS on the Amtrak Crescent Line Yellow Pine Capital of the World -Lucky Luxe This fading mural is on the side of the Marcus Furniture store near downtown Laurel. I took this picture when standing in front of the large train station, where, as noted, is still in use by Amtrak.
L&N Baggage Car + Caboose Here is a Louisville & Nashville Rea Express Baggage Car #1456 plus Burlington Northern caboose #10583. I found these rolling stock in the middle of an empty field in Andalusia, AL. They also had a steam train, but it was tougher to see. It was next to a vacant train station on Cotton St. A block away on Tisdale St. is another old train station on Tisdale St. which today is the Three Notch Museum. I asked the lady there about these mystery trains. All she could say is they were privately owned and nobody really knows what the plans are. Based on other pictures I've found, they've been there at least 15 years, but at least the overgrowth has been recently removed. Update: as of 2022, these trains in the field appear to be gone.
Scottsburg, IN Train Station en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottsburg_station Scottsburg is a historic railroad depot located at Scottsburg, Scott County, Indiana. It was built in 1872 by the Jeffersonville, Madison and Indianapolis Railroad, costing almost $1,492. It is a one-story, Stick Style frame building with board and batten siding and a projecting agent's window. Its presence influenced the location of Scottsburg in 1874, as the town was named for the railroad's General Superintendent, Horace Scott. It was built specifically for both passenger and freight cargo. Inside there was separate waiting rooms for men and women. It is one of the last structures of its kind still standing in Indiana. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991 as the Scottsburg Depot, but was moved one block north to its present location to help preserve it. With federal transportation funds, it was restored. In 1996 it became the Scottsburg Heritage Station
Jimmie Rodgers Museum - Meridian, MS I was inspired to upload this photo after watching some of the Ken Burns Country Music documentary. Since Jimmie Rodgers had an early railroad career, someone thought it fitting to put his museum inside a vintage train station which I assume was moved here. This museum is located inside Meridian's Highland Park. Text of the historic marker: Birthplace of Jimmie Rodgers Born Sept. 8, 1897, at Meridian, Miss. Known as the “Singing Brakeman,” Rodger's recordings of Southern blues and ballads greatly contributed to the world-wide popularity of a distinctly American musical form.
L&N Caboose #156 L&N Caboose #156 appears to be on private property but easy to view in Ardmore, AL. The spot labelled as Steve's Junction is along 7th St. fairly close to the live tracks.
Cincinnati Union Terminal From Wikipedia: Cincinnati Union Terminal is an intercity train station and museum center in the Queensgate neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio. The terminal is served by Amtrak's Cardinal line, passing through Cincinnati three times weekly. The building's largest tenants are the Cincinnati Museum Center, a group of three museums, a library, and a theater, as well as the Holocaust & Humanity Center. Union Terminal's distinctive architecture, interior design, and history have earned it several landmark designations, including as a National Historic Landmark. Its Art Deco design incorporates several contemporaneous works of art, including two of the Winold Reiss industrial murals, a set of sixteen mosaic murals depicting Cincinnati industry commissioned for the terminal in 1931. Cincinnati's union terminal was developed throughout the 1920s as a solution for Cincinnati's five train stations serving seven railroads. Construction took place from 1928 to 1933, including creation of viaducts, mail and express buildings, and utility structures: a power plant, water treatment facility, and roundhouse. The station was underutilized at its opening, though it saw peak traffic during World War II. In the next four decades, passenger traffic decreased significantly, spurring the terminal to hold several attractions to provide income, offsetting declined transit use. Train service fully stopped in 1972, and Amtrak moved service to a smaller station nearby. The terminal was largely dormant from 1972 to 1980; during this time, its platforms and train concourse were demolished. In 1980, the Land of Oz shopping mall was constructed within the interior. Its last tenant left in 1985, and two Cincinnati museums decided to merge and utilize the terminal, creating the Cincinnati Museum Center. The museum center renovated the terminal in the late 1980s, opening in 1990. Amtrak returned to the terminal in 1991, resuming its role as an intercity train station. A two-year, $228 million renovation restored the building, completed in 2018. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cincinnati_Union_Terminal
Maplesville, AL train depot The train station in Maplesville was built by Southern Railway. Today it is used as a museum and Senior center.
Central of Georgia #8 Steam Locomotive Central of Georgia #8 is a Baldwin 0-6-0 built in 1886 and is the oldest CG Steam locomotive remaining. It is located in the roundhouse at the Georgia State Railroad Museum in Savannah. Note the metal mule on the front, as this locomotive spent many years pulling rail cars at the CG yard.
Richmond, TX Train Station The Passenger station in Richmond, TX was built by Southern Pacific but is now vacant.
Home of Hank Williams Caboose The Boyhood home of Hank Williams is in Georgiana, AL and this caboose is on the property.
Paris, KY Passenger train depot The old passenger train station is on the National Register of historic places. About five years ago, the place was in serious need of repair, which it received. Today it is a restaurant.
Southern 910007 Flat Car - Chase, AL This vintage flat car which has been equipped with a platform is part of the rolling stock for the North Alabama Railroad Museum in Chase, AL.
Southern X690 Caboose - Millen, GA
M&C 8652 - Chase, AL Mercury & Chase (M&C) is the excursion railroad for the North Alabama Railroad Museum in the small town of Chase. 8652 is an ALCo RSD-1 built for the U.S. Army in 1945.
Abandoned Railroad flat car with tree growing through it Seen in Huntsville, AL
B&O Caboose 1971 - Greencastle, IN I don't really know the story why this caboose is parked here, but it's been here for a little while. It's located where highway US231 crosses the tracks on the north side of Greencastle, IN. Update: here's the story: "Vic’s father, J. J. (John Joseph) Hunter was a conductor on the B&O Railroad living in Garret, Indiana and his conductor's uniform is preserved and on display, complete with hat and satchel. ... The show stealing piece in Vic's railroad collection is actually kept off site. If you have ever traveled into Greencastle from the north end of town you will see an iconic blue caboose with "J.J. Hunter" emblazoned in gold letters on the side. This caboose belonged to Vic's father and now enjoys it's retirement years alongside the tracks on the Monon railway corridor." ...on a siding just opposite what used to be the "Monon Grill". www.cedarridgehome.com/home/airy-knob-farm-of-greencastle...
Central of Georgia #223 Steam Locomotive Central of Georgia #223 is a steam train Baldwin 2-8-0 built in 1907. It is on display inside the roundhouse at the Georgia State Railroad Museum which occupies the old Central of Georgia Railway Savannah Shops and Terminal Facilities.
Nebraska Kansas Colorado Railway #5101 - Guntersville, AL The Heartland's Commodity Mover I was surprised to see a locomotive called Nebraska Kansas Colorado Railway in Guntersville, AL. Apparently, NKCR is owned by OmniTrax which also owns Alabama and Tennessee River Railway in Guntersville. The locomotive is an EMD GP50 built in 1980 for Chicago & Northwestern.
Norfolk Southern Caboose #368 This caboose is located at the Georgia State Railroad Museum. This museum is at the old Central of Georgia Shops in Savannah, GA
Steam Train Mural - Crestview, FL This mural is painted on the side of a building where Main St. crosses the train tracks.
BNSF 5534 BNSF 5534 passed by while I was visiting the Huntsville Depot Museum. This diesel locomotive is a General Electric ES44C4.
L&N 16266 - "Miss Andalusia" L&N Caboose 16266, nicknamed "Miss Andalusia" is located at the Three Notch Museum in Andalusia, AL. The museum is housed in a former Central of Georgia train station
Guntersville, AL Train Depot This train depot was built by NCStL in 1909 and is well preserved.
Mercury & Chase #6082 - Chase, AL Mercury & Chase passenger coach train #6082 was originally built in 1939 by Budd for Pennsylvania Railroad. You can ride this excursion train at the North Alabama Railroad Museum in Chase, AL, a small suburb on the north side of Huntsville. In the background is the old Chase Nursery Company office building. At one time, Chase Nursery was the largest plant nursery in the southeast. The building was just recently purchased by the museum.
Alabama & Tennessee River #9401 Alabama & Tennessee River Railway (ATN) is a shortline which connects to CSX between Birmingham & Guntersville, AL. This photo was taken in Guntersville. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama_and_Tennessee_River_Railway ATN 9401 is an EMD GP40-2LW diesel locomotive built in March 1974 for CN
B&O Passenger Station - Winchester, VA The B&O Passenger Train Station in Winchester, VA was built of stone in 1893. Apparently, today it is owned by the shortline Winchester & Western.
L&N #39 - Evergreen, AL This L&N bay window caboose is located in Evergreen, AL next to the restored train station and faces Mill Sr.
L&N Boxcar at Huntsville's Turntable L&N Boxcar 104739 was originally built in 1965 by Pullman and has been cosmetically restored with the Cushioned Cargo design. It's displayed on the turntable at the Huntsville Depot Museum where you can now roam the grounds for free. The roundhouse with this turntable is off to the right and is now an event venue. The flags next door are part of the Huntsville Madison County Veterans Memorial.
T.R. Miller #12 - Pensacola, FL This 2-4-2 steam locomotive was built by Baldwin in June 1904. It is on display at the Historic Pensacola Village Museum.
L&N Caboose - Hawesville, KY This L&N Caboose is located next to the historic Hawesville Railroad Station which is now the Hancock County Museum.
Railroad Lift Bridge over C&O Canal - Williamsport, MD In 1923, this Girder and truss lift bridge was built by Western Maryland Railway to connect to Potomac Edison Company. It crosses the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and the National Historic Park in Williamsport, MD. Trains no longer cross here, but the bridge is still functional for demonstrations. www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/hh/item/md0741/ At this link, the Historic American Engineering Record gives the significance: The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Lift Bridge is significant as a rare surviving example of a short-span railroad vertical lift bridge, for its unusual design elements to allow unimpeded passage of canal boats pulled by animals treading the canal’s towpath, and for the economy of its design. It is the only such structure built across the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal.
Hagerstown, MD Passenger Station The former passenger station in Hagerstown, MD was built by Western Maryland Railway. Today, it is used as a police station, so you can't park next to it. From Wikipedia: Western Maryland Railway Station is a historic railway station in Hagerstown, Washington County, Maryland. It was built in 1913 as a stop for the Western Maryland Railway. It is a 2 1⁄2-story hip roof brick building, reflecting the influence of the Commercial Style of the early 20th century. The building features overscaled Classical detailing, a stone foundation, and a massive, modillioned cornice with stone disks defining each bay. The building is also encircled by a one-story porch that has a cantilevered roof on three sides. The Western Maryland Railway ended passenger train service to the Hagerstown station in June 1957. The station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. The building is now used as the headquarters of the Hagerstown Police Department.
Western Maryland #132 Western Maryland #132 is a diesel-electric Baldwin VO-1000 built in Feb. 1944. WMRY #132 is preserved at the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum in Hagerstown, MD.
C&O #714 Lounge Car - Hagerstown, MD The Chesapeake and Ohio passenger car #714 known as "The Derby Club" is on display as part of the rolling stock at the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum.
Hagerstown & Frederick Trolley 168 Located at the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum.
Hoosier Southern Railroad #468 Gerald O. Thomas Hoosier Southern Railroad is a short line railroad owned and Operated by the Perry County (Indiana) Port Authority. Their purpose is to connect local manufacturers with Ohio River travel at Tell City, IN or connect to Norfolk Southern in Lincoln City, IN.
Hoosier Southern Railroad Caboose Hoosier Southern Railroad is a short line railroad owned and Operated by the Perry County (Indiana) Port Authority. Their purpose is to connect local manufacturers with Ohio River travel at Tell City, IN or connect to Norfolk Southern in Lincoln City, IN.
Smithsburg, MD Train Station This train depot was built of stone in Smithsburg, MD by the Western Maryland Railway. Today, the building is used as a business office.
Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum Caboose
B&O 1881 Freight Depot - Martinsburg, WV This is a block or two south of the main historic B&O property with roundhouses and freight shops.
Western Maryland Railway Bridge - Hagerstown, MD This ornate bridge in Hagerstown, MD allows Burhans Blvd (US11) to pass under the Western Maryland Railway (now CSX) yard tracks. It's tough to photograph, but there's a steam train mural painted on the wall inside. I like the intricate design on the side of the bridge as well as the painted flowers.
Thurmont, MD Trolley History Starting in 1908, the Hagerstown & Frederick Railway ran a trolley service that carried passengers from here to Frederick. These trolleys operated until 1954 when the tracks were removed. Today, the initial portion of the tracks has become the Thurmont Trolley Trail. The preserved trolley car seen here is at the start of the trail. The building here stored all of their electrical equipment.
B&O Shops West Roundhouse - Martinsburg, WV From Wikipedia: Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Martinsburg Shops is a historic industrial district in Martinsburg, West Virginia. It is significant both for its railroading architecture by Albert Fink and John Rudolph Niernsee and for its role in the Great Railroad Strike of 1877. It consists of three contributing buildings. The presence of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company in Martinsburg dates back to the late 1840s, when the first engine and machine shops were erected for the expanding company. The shops were designated a National Historic Landmark and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) was founded on February 28, 1827. On May 21, 1842, the first steam locomotive arrived in Martinsburg and, later that same year, November 10, the first passenger train. The first roundhouse complex was constructed from 1848-1850. When Virginia seceded from the Union in 1861, the region's social and government institutions were thrown in turmoil. The Civil War decimated both the region and Martinsburg, specifically because of the railroad yards. On May 22, 1861, Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson’s troops stopped all trains going East at Martinsburg and Point of Rocks during the Great Train Raid of 1861. Once he determined that all of the trains that could be caught were in his trap, he blew up the bridges to the West and blew down the rocks on the tracks to the East, and pirating of the B&O equipment began. In total, 42 locomotives and 386 cars were stolen and destroyed. 36-½ miles of track, 17 bridges, 102 miles of telegraph wire, the “Colonnade” Bridge and the B&O roundhouse and machine shops were destroyed. On October 19, 1862, the roundhouse complex was burned by Confederate troops under Colonel Jackson. In 1866, the B&O began reconstruction of the site. From 1866 to 1872, the present roundhouse complex was re-built. Other major buildings that were built at this time were the West Roundhouse, East Roundhouse, Bridge & Machine Shop, and the Frog & Switch Shop. On July 16, 1877, the first nationwide strike, the Great Railroad Strike of 1877, began when rail workers at Martinsburg started an action to protest pay cuts. Their work and traffic stoppage soon spread across the country. The Martinsburg facilities were used until March 14, 1988, when all local operations were transferred to other locations. On May 14, 1990, vandals set fire to wooden pallets in the East Roundhouse, nearly destroying the building. The Berkeley County Commission purchased the roundhouse complex in 1999–2000, and transferred the property to the newly-created Berkeley County Roundhouse Authority. Restoration and renovation of the complex began at this time. On July 31, 2003, the B&O Roundhouse was designated a National Historic Landmark and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
B&O Shops - Martinsburg, WV From Wikipedia: Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Martinsburg Shops is a historic industrial district in Martinsburg, West Virginia. It is significant both for its railroading architecture by Albert Fink and John Rudolph Niernsee and for its role in the Great Railroad Strike of 1877. It consists of three contributing buildings. The presence of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company in Martinsburg dates back to the late 1840s, when the first engine and machine shops were erected for the expanding company. The shops were designated a National Historic Landmark and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) was founded on February 28, 1827. On May 21, 1842, the first steam locomotive arrived in Martinsburg and, later that same year, November 10, the first passenger train. The first roundhouse complex was constructed from 1848-1850. When Virginia seceded from the Union in 1861, the region's social and government institutions were thrown in turmoil. The Civil War decimated both the region and Martinsburg, specifically because of the railroad yards. On May 22, 1861, Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson’s troops stopped all trains going East at Martinsburg and Point of Rocks during the Great Train Raid of 1861. Once he determined that all of the trains that could be caught were in his trap, he blew up the bridges to the West and blew down the rocks on the tracks to the East, and pirating of the B&O equipment began. In total, 42 locomotives and 386 cars were stolen and destroyed. 36-½ miles of track, 17 bridges, 102 miles of telegraph wire, the “Colonnade” Bridge and the B&O roundhouse and machine shops were destroyed. On October 19, 1862, the roundhouse complex was burned by Confederate troops under Colonel Jackson. In 1866, the B&O began reconstruction of the site. From 1866 to 1872, the present roundhouse complex was re-built. Other major buildings that were built at this time were the West Roundhouse, East Roundhouse, Bridge & Machine Shop, and the Frog & Switch Shop. On July 16, 1877, the first nationwide strike, the Great Railroad Strike of 1877, began when rail workers at Martinsburg started an action to protest pay cuts. Their work and traffic stoppage soon spread across the country. The Martinsburg facilities were used until March 14, 1988, when all local operations were transferred to other locations. On May 14, 1990, vandals set fire to wooden pallets in the East Roundhouse, nearly destroying the building. The Berkeley County Commission purchased the roundhouse complex in 1999–2000, and transferred the property to the newly-created Berkeley County Roundhouse Authority. Restoration and renovation of the complex began at this time. On July 31, 2003, the B&O Roundhouse was designated a National Historic Landmark and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
B&O Shops East Roundhouse ruins - Martinsburg, WV From Wikipedia: Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Martinsburg Shops is a historic industrial district in Martinsburg, West Virginia. It is significant both for its railroading architecture by Albert Fink and John Rudolph Niernsee and for its role in the Great Railroad Strike of 1877. It consists of three contributing buildings. The presence of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company in Martinsburg dates back to the late 1840s, when the first engine and machine shops were erected for the expanding company. The shops were designated a National Historic Landmark and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) was founded on February 28, 1827. On May 21, 1842, the first steam locomotive arrived in Martinsburg and, later that same year, November 10, the first passenger train. The first roundhouse complex was constructed from 1848-1850. When Virginia seceded from the Union in 1861, the region's social and government institutions were thrown in turmoil. The Civil War decimated both the region and Martinsburg, specifically because of the railroad yards. On May 22, 1861, Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson’s troops stopped all trains going East at Martinsburg and Point of Rocks during the Great Train Raid of 1861. Once he determined that all of the trains that could be caught were in his trap, he blew up the bridges to the West and blew down the rocks on the tracks to the East, and pirating of the B&O equipment began. In total, 42 locomotives and 386 cars were stolen and destroyed. 36-½ miles of track, 17 bridges, 102 miles of telegraph wire, the “Colonnade” Bridge and the B&O roundhouse and machine shops were destroyed. On October 19, 1862, the roundhouse complex was burned by Confederate troops under Colonel Jackson. In 1866, the B&O began reconstruction of the site. From 1866 to 1872, the present roundhouse complex was re-built. Other major buildings that were built at this time were the West Roundhouse, East Roundhouse, Bridge & Machine Shop, and the Frog & Switch Shop. On July 16, 1877, the first nationwide strike, the Great Railroad Strike of 1877, began when rail workers at Martinsburg started an action to protest pay cuts. Their work and traffic stoppage soon spread across the country. The Martinsburg facilities were used until March 14, 1988, when all local operations were transferred to other locations. On May 14, 1990, vandals set fire to wooden pallets in the East Roundhouse, nearly destroying the building. The Berkeley County Commission purchased the roundhouse complex in 1999–2000, and transferred the property to the newly-created Berkeley County Roundhouse Authority. Restoration and renovation of the complex began at this time. On July 31, 2003, the B&O Roundhouse was designated a National Historic Landmark and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Western Maryland Caboose 1859 Western Maryland Railway Caboose #1859 is now part of the rolling stock on display at the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum.
Cumberland Valley Railroad depot - Martinsburg, WV The Cumberland Valley Railroad build this passenger depot in Martinsburg, WV along King St. in 1889. At the time, CVRR was mostly controlled by Pennsylvania Railroad. Today, the building has been restored and is used as offices. My favorite feature is the semi-circle windows.
Western Maryland Caboose 1863 Western Maryland Railway Caboose #1863 is now part of the rolling stock on display at the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum.
B&O Bay Window Caboose C2490 Baltimore & Ohio Caboose # C2490 is now part of the rolling stock on display at the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum. I'm not used to this design of bay window caboose made of the riveted metal.
L&N 796 - Bowling Green, KY While Bowling Green is a great place to see a Corvette, there's also a great locomotive to see. Louisville & Nashville #796 is at Bowling Green's Historic Railpark & Train Museum. Built in May 1951, this is one of about 450 General Motors EMD E8A models ever built. historicrailpark.com/the-story-of-the-e-8-engine/
Huntsville's Roundhouse The historic train depot in Huntsville, AL was originally the headquarters for the Memphis & Charleston Railroad. The depot is now open as a museum. The original roundhouse and turntable have been preserved. The roundhouse has been preserved as an event venue.
L&N Caboose 6947 - Bowling Green, KY This Louisville & Nashville caboose is part of the rolling stock at Bowling Greens Historic Railpark and Train Museum.
Summerville, GA Passenger Depot The Passenger train station in Summerville, GA was built by Central of Georgia Railroad in 1918. Today, the depot is a museum for the Chattoga County Historical Society.
Decatur, AL Passenger Depot From Wikipedia: The Southern Railway Depot is a historic building in Decatur, Alabama. The depot was built in 1904–05 along the Southern Railway line. Decatur had become a transportation hub of North Alabama by the 1870s, with its connections to the Tennessee River, the east-west Tuscumbia, Courtland and Decatur Railroad (later operated by the Memphis and Charleston Railroad and the Southern Railway), and the north-south Louisville and Nashville Railroad. It functioned as a passenger station until 1979, when Amtrak cancelled its Floridian service. The station is built of brick painted white, with quoins on the corners. The building has a rectangular central section with narrower wings stretching along the tracks. The central section has a hipped roof, while the wings have gable roofs; both have deep eaves with decorative brackets. The main entrance is covered by a porte-cochère with arched openings. The depot was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
Decatur, AL Passenger Depot (Pedestrian bridge view) From Wikipedia: The Southern Railway Depot is a historic building in Decatur, Alabama. The depot was built in 1904–05 along the Southern Railway line. Decatur had become a transportation hub of North Alabama by the 1870s, with its connections to the Tennessee River, the east-west Tuscumbia, Courtland and Decatur Railroad (later operated by the Memphis and Charleston Railroad and the Southern Railway), and the north-south Louisville and Nashville Railroad. It functioned as a passenger station until 1979, when Amtrak cancelled its Floridian service. The station is built of brick painted white, with quoins on the corners. The building has a rectangular central section with narrower wings stretching along the tracks. The central section has a hipped roof, while the wings have gable roofs; both have deep eaves with decorative brackets. The main entrance is covered by a porte-cochère with arched openings. The depot was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
Vertical Lift Railroad Bridge - Decatur, AL This is the railroad bridge crossing the Tennessee River at Decatur, AL. CSX owns the bridge but NS uses it as well. (If you look at the Google map view, you can see where the two railroads split seemingly in the middle of Wheeler Lake.) The main segment of the bridge is a vertical-lift drawbridge. While I never saw it while I was at Rhodes Ferry Park, I suspect it lifts often as there isn't much clearance there. A control house is in the middle of the Pennsylvania Pratt Truss main segment. Originally, it was built as a swing bridge. On either side of the lifting segment are Warren Truss spans
Vertical Lift Railroad Bridge - Decatur, AL This is the railroad bridge crossing the Tennessee River at Decatur, AL. CSX owns the bridge but NS uses it as well. (If you look at the Google map view, you can see where the two railroads split seemingly in the middle of Wheeler Lake.) The main segmant of the bridge is a vertical-lift drawbridge. While I never saw it while I was at Rhodes Ferry Park, I suspect it lifts often as there isn't much clearance there. A control house is in the middle of the Pennsylvania Pratt Truss main segment. Originally, it was built as a swing bridge. On either side of the lifting segment are Warren Truss spans
Huntsville Turntable & Blue Boxcar Located at the Huntsville Depot Museum is this vintage railroad turntable. Just to the right is the depot's roundhouse which has been converted to an event venue. Also shown here is a blue boxcar.
Norfolk & Western Caboose - Huntsville, AL This red caboose is on the grounds of the Huntsville, AL Depot Museum.
Wooden Blue Boxcar - Huntsville, AL This wooden blue boxcar is on the grounds of the Huntsville, AL Depot Museum
GM&O 2878 - Huntsville, AL This GM&O caboose is located at a business complex in Huntsville called Depot Professional Village. The name comes from the fact that the historic Huntsville Depot is across the street. At one time, this area must have been called Twickenham Station, since that name has been painted on it for over 15 years. The caboose is wooden with a cupola. Update: Thanks to James below, I now know this was parked next to a restaurant in the area. Check his links.
Southern 1397 with Christmas Snowflakes Southern Railway passenger car 1397 is now located on the grounds of the Huntsville AL Depot Museum. For the Christmas season, they have put snowflakes in the windows. As of 2015, the museum grounds are open free of charge daily from 9am to 5pm.
U.S. Army B-2086 - Bluegrass Railroad Museum This locomotive is on display at the Bluegrass Railroad Museum in Versailles, KY. Here is the description of this engine from their website: U.S. ARMY B-2086 Builder: American Locomotive Co. (Subcontract of EMD) Class: MRS-1 (Military Road Switcher Model 1) Status: OPERATIONAL Built in 1953 for the military, MRS-1 class diesel locomotives were built for the specific purpose of being a motive power source to be used on the rail networks of foreign countries. To do this these locomotives are equipped with special telescoping axles which allow the engine to operate on any track between 3 feet and 5 feet between the rails. www.bluegrassrailroad.com/#/locomotives/4514554518
RJ Corman Steam Train Mural - Frankfort, KY RJ Corman trains pass through downtown Frankfort several times a day. On the west side of Downtown, the tracks cross over Wilkinson Street and then over the Kentucky River on This bridge. Until 2010, this area was a drab 350 foot wall of concrete. In 2010, local art teacher Jennifer Zingg and some of her students created this Children's Mural. It depicts a streamlined steam train passing through the Kentucky bluegrass countryside. The train shown here is part of the Corman rolling stock known as "Old Smokey", a Chinese QJ 2-10-2. See pics of it here: www.rjcorman.com/gallery_smokey/ learn more about the mural in this video here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6Vp3TC6BNU
L&N Passenger Station - Corbin, KY The 1921 L&N Passenger Station in Corbin, KY has been restored and is now used by the city for conference & community rooms. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
East Florence, AL L&N Freight Depot This photo was taken in 2012, so I don't know if the property is still for sale or if the windows are still boarded up. I can't get a year for when this depot was built.
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.
100 Years of Illinois Central - Hopkinsville, KY 1851-1951 Mainline of Mid-America. In 1951, IC placed one of these in every county they served. Often, but not always, the marker is placed at the county courthouse. This one is at the Christian County courthouse since the county is along the historic IC which today is an Amtrak route.
Ocean Springs, MS Passenger Station Originally built by L&N in 1887, the tracks are now CSX.
L&N Passenger Station and Express Building - Pensacola, FL From Wikipedia: The Louisville and Nashville Passenger Station and Express Building is a historic Louisville and Nashville Railroad depot in Pensacola, Florida. The building was constructed between 1912 and 1913 with elements of Prairie School, Spanish Mission, and Italianate architectural styles. On June 11, 1979, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. In 1984, the depot was refurbished and incorporated into the Pensacola Grand Hotel (now the Crowne Plaza Pensacola Grand Hotel) that was built just behind it. The renovation of the depot was a painstaking process that used as much of the original material as possible. The building houses the lobby, shops, restaurant and meeting rooms of the hotel.
L&N Caboose #369 - Guthrie, KY Guthrie, KY is a city that became important because of the railroad. Over the years, L&N main lines intersected here, such as the one from St. Louis to Nashville or the one from Louisville to Memphis. Honoring the town's railroad history, they display this caboose in a small city park. L&N is no more, but there are plenty of trains in town. CSX runs along the old St. Louis to Nashville line. The smaller RJ Corman Railroad also has a major presence in town.
Lake Winnie mini-train Located near the entrance of the Lake Winnepausaukah is this replica steam train named "Iron Horse"
Illinois Central Gulf Caboose 199331 This vintage Illinois Central Gulf caboose is seen at the Railroad Museum in Princeton, KY. Illinois Central merged with Gulf, Mobile & Ohio in 1972. So, this caboose was painted with that logo sometime between then, and when they dropped the Gulf in 1988.
Dalton, GA 1854 W&A Depot (From nearby parking garage) One of the oldest surviving train stations in Georgia, the Western & Atlantic train depot was completed in 1854. It was one of the sites along the Civil War's Great Locomotive Chase. The tracks are still in use, but the historic building is no longer used by the railroads. The city of Dalton took possession of the building in 1976. Since then, it has been restored to original architectural design and is now a restaurant known as The Dalton Depot. Their website gives a more detailed history: www.thedaltondepot.net/history.html
Dalton, GA 1854 W&A Depot (From ground level) One of the oldest surviving train stations in Georgia, the Western & Atlantic train depot was completed in 1854. It was one of the sites along the Civil War's Great Locomotive Chase. The tracks are still in use, but the historic building is no longer used by the railroads. The city of Dalton took possession of the building in 1976. Since then, it has been restored to original architectural design and is now a restaurant known as The Dalton Depot. Their website gives a more detailed history: www.thedaltondepot.net/history.html
Calhoun, GA train depot. The Calhoun, GA train depot dates back to 1854 and was built by Western & Atlantic railroad and was one of the sites of the Civil War's Great Locomotive Chase. Over the years, the interior has been completely rebuilt and it now serves as a community center.
Tuscumbia Railway Depot This brick railroad depot in Tuscumbia, Al was built in 1888 by the Memphis & Charleston Railroad which became a part of Southern Railway. Memphis is 145.4 miles away and Chattanooga is 164.6 miles away. Known as the Fifth Street Station, Southern eventually abandoned this passenger station a few miles away to accommodate the entire Shoals area. The depot is now being restored to its original condition and has become a museum.
Welcome to Fulton, KY Steam Train sign Fulton is a city on the Tennessee / Kentucky state line. Fulton is in KY while South Fulton is in Tennessee. This welcome sign is located along the state line. The railroad is important in the history of Fulton and CN still has a rail yard here. In fact, Fulton used to be known as the "Banana Capitol of the World" as most imported bananas passed through Fulton on trains.
Calhoun, GA Caboose Located adjacent to the historic 1854 NCStL train station
A typical NS-CSX train Seen in Dalton, GA which is a good place for railfanning. Here, we have NS9228 paired with CSX7589 and CSX7606
IC Machine Shop - Fulton, KY located at the IC yard in Fulton KY, where there also used to be a turntable and roundhouse. Today, the yard is owned by CN.
Southern X561 caboose - Collinsville, AL located at Veteran's Park in the center of town.
Caldwell Co. Mural #4 Railroad Days - Princeton, KY All murals painted by local artist Richie McKinney in 2002.
Tuscumbia Railway at Spring Park In addition to several other park features and attractions, Spring Park in Tuscumbia features a Kiddie Train. The train is a C.P. Huntington train made by Chance Rides of Wichita, KS.
Illinois Central Caboose - Fulton, KY This caboose is located in the downtown Fulton area. I'm pretty sure it's the first caboose I've seen with an electric meter on the side. Fulton has really embraced their railroad heritage. IC's route "The City of New Orleans" stopped in Fulton, as does Amtrak today on the journey from Chicago to New Orleans. Fun fact: Fulton also used to be known as the Banana Capital of the World as Chiquita would import all of their bananas through town on the railroad.
Frankfort Railroad Tunnel The 518 foot Franklin Tunnel was built by the Lexington & Frankfort Railroad in 1849. Most everything on the east side of the old part of town is up an old hill, including Main Street which is above the tunnel. However, the tracks follow the river out of town. (The old Kentucky State Arsenal is up there, too and can barely be seen through the trees.) The tunnel today is part of the RJ Corman line as two trains a day pass through here. Many older tunnels get bigger over time and this one is no exception. RJ Corman acquired the line in 2004 and raised the tunnel in 2007 from a height of 16' to 20.5'.
Bluegrass Railway #2043 Locomotive Information about this locomotive comes from their website at BGRM.org: Builder: American Locomotive Co. (Subcontract of EMD) Class: MRS-1 (Military Road Switcher Model 1) Built in 1953 for the military, MRS-1 class diesel locomotives were built for the specific purpose of being a motive power source to be used on the rail networks of foreign countries. To do this these locomotives are equipped with special telescoping axles which allow the engine to operate on any track between 3 feet and 5 feet between the rails. This locomotive stands today as a static display at the museum site in the Woodford Co. Park.
Norfolk and Western Railway Passenger Station - Roanoke, VA This prominent Passenger Station along the Norfolk and Western line still stands in downtown Roanoke. It was built in 1904-05 and remodeled in 1947-49. The building is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Norfolk and Western Railway Company Historic District. Today there are a couple of interesting things inside the depot. First, is the Roanoke visitor's center. Also, there is the O. Winston Link museum, which is great for anyone who likes photos of steam trains. (be prepared to spend a lot of money in the gift shop.) Also preserved is the train schedule from June 19, 1955.
Pulaski, VA Train Depot The train station in Pulaski, VA was built of stone ca. 1888 and used by Norfolk & Western. In 2008, a huge fire gutted the building. After a couple years of extensive restoration, it's as good as new, and is now home to a Bicycle Shop.
Frankfort, KY Union Station This station was built by the Louisville & Nashville Railroad in 1908 to replace an earlier depot also located here which was built in the 1850's by the Lexington & Frankfort Railroad. This station was used by L&N, Chesapeake & Ohio, Frankfort & Cincinnati and Kentucky Highlands. The last scheduled passenger train was the C&O George Washington on April 30, 1971.
The Pride of Pensacola - Frisco 1355 Steam Locomotive This historic steam locomotive is on display between the lanes in the median along US98 on the west side of Pensacola.
Louisville & Nashville 2716 "Duncan Tavern" This is located at the Bluegrass Railroad Museum in Versailles, KY. Here is what there website says about this car: A kitchen car built for the Louisville and Nashville Railroad to serve food to passengers aboard higher class passenger trains. The car served as the museums offices while fire damage to the museum building was repaired. #2716 will house additional displays once additional display tracks are added at the museum to hold her. www.bgrm.org/#/passenger/4514554520
Engineer Street Bridge - Corbin, KY This bridge was originally built by the L&N Railroad at a different location. In 1902, the railroad offered the bridge to the city of Corbin, where it was used for automobile traffic over Lynn Camp Creek for Engineer Street. It was one of only two bridges in Kentucky that was a Pratt through truss with Phoenix columns as it was built by the Phoenix Iron Co. In the early 1990's when the bridge was quite structurally deficient, it was closed to traffic. Since it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, the town wanted to save the bridge. Today, it has been rehabilitated as a pedestrian bridge as part of a city park.
Green River Power Station Locomotive This is seen at the Bluegrass Railway Museum in Versailles, KY as part of their rolling stock. This is what their website has to say about it: Kentucky Utilities #001 Builder: General Electric Class: 45 Ton Center Cab Status: OPERATIONAL Once the switcher at the Tyrone Power Station, #001 was donated to the museum by Green River Power Station of Kentucky Utilities. The museum hopes to paint her back to her original red scheme used at the Tyrone plant.
Railroad Mural - Corbin, KY This mural featuring an L&N Steam Train arriving at the station is seen at the passenger depot in Corbin, painted on a long brick wall next to the depot. It was painted by Queen of Arts LLC out of Lexington
Louisville and Nashville Railroad Office Building Neon Sign The Louisville and Nashville Railroad Office Building is an historic building located in downtown Louisville, KY where it was once the headquarters of the important area railroad. The structure is eleven stories tall. The first three stories are made of stonework of rusticated ashlar, with capital-topped pilasters in a series. Floors four to ten have ashlar pilasters framing a finish of red brick. Windows of the building are done in series of three. The attic is 1.5 stories tall, and features the distinctive initials of L&N. It was designed by W. H. Courtenay, the chief architect of the Railroad, in a Beaux Arts style; one of the largest commercial buildings in that architectural style still standing. The original Louisville and Nashville Railroad offices in Louisville were at Second and Main in Louisville, by the entrance of present-day George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge. By 1890, it had become obvious that the building was too overcrowded. It was decided that the office building should be located next to Louisville's Union Station. Construction began in 1902, but its completion was delayed until January 1907, due to difficulties with organized labor in a 1905 steel workers strike. Its total cost was $650,000. It was large enough that after decades of separation, all of the main administrative staff could be in the same building. In the 1970s, about 2,000 L&N employees worked in the building. After L&N was purchased by CSX nearly all of the jobs were moved from Louisville to Jacksonville, Florida, in 1980. In 1984, the state of Kentucky spent $15 million to purchase and renovate the property, retaining the L&N name and neon lights on its upper stories.
Louisville and Nashville Railroad Office Building The Louisville and Nashville Railroad Office Building is an historic building located in downtown Louisville, KY where it was once the headquarters of the imortant area railroad. The structure is eleven stories tall. The first three stories are made of stonework of rusticated ashlar, with capital-topped pilasters in a series. Floors four to ten have ashlar pilasters framing a finish of red brick. Windows of the building are done in series of three. The attic is 1.5 stories tall, and features the distinctive initials of L&N. It was designed by W. H. Courtenay, the chief architect of the Railroad, in a Beaux Arts style; one of the largest commercial buildings in that architectural style still standing. The original Louisville and Nashville Railroad offices in Louisville were at Second and Main in Louisville, by the entrance of present-day George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge. By 1890, it had become obvious that the building was too overcrowded. It was decided that the office building should be located next to Louisville's Union Station. Construction began in 1902, but its completion was delayed until January 1907, due to difficulties with organized labor in a 1905 steel workers strike. Its total cost was $650,000. It was large enough that after decades of separation, all of the main administrative staff could be in the same building. In the 1970s, about 2,000 L&N employees worked in the building. After L&N was purchased by CSX nearly all of the jobs were moved from Louisville to Jacksonville, Florida, in 1980. In 1984, the state of Kentucky spent $15 million to purchase and renovate the property, retaining the L&N name and neon lights on its upper stories.
Caboose at Bluegrass Railway Museum Most of their rolling stock at this museum hs been identified. However, this is the note on their website about this caboose: We are currently researching this caboose, but we believe it was originally a Monon caboose acquired by the L&N. Any information on this caboose would be appreciated. It is currently serving as storage for track equipment till appropriate facilities can be built. The caboose is very solid inside and out and a excellent canidate for a quick cosmetic restoration once it's heritage is fully researched. www.bgrm.org/#/cabooses/4514605564
Murphy, NC Train Station This wooden depot was built by L&N around 1890. The depot is located near the small river that runs through town but the bridge that used to carry the tracks is long gone with only the piers to remain. Today the building is used as a visitors center and the parking area hosts a farmer's market. To get here, the entrance is along Bus US19 near the heart of town.
Cincinnati From Above #1: Union Terminal For those of us that have a greater love of photography than a fear of heights, there is a popular observation deck in downtown Cincinnati. Carew Tower is a 49 story, 574-foot skyscraper that was the tallest in town until 2010. For a couple of dollars, visitors can take an elevator up to about the 47th floor, then walk to anotehr elevator which goes the last part of the way where you can walk around the roof. From here, on a clear day you can see for miles. This series of 20 photos was taken in 2007 back when my camera had a 10X optical zoom. The Union Terminal is architecturally one of my favorite Art Deco buildings I've seen. In opened in 1933 to serve seven railroads en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cincinnati_Museum_Center_at_Union_T...
Cincinnati From Above #15 Cincinnati Southern Railroad Bridge For those of us that have a greater love of photography than a fear of heights, there is a popular observation deck in downtown Cincinnati. Carew Tower is a 49 story, 574-foot skyscraper that was the tallest in town until 2010. For a couple of dollars, visitors can take an elevator up to about the 47th floor, then walk to anotehr elevator which goes the last part of the way where you can walk around the roof. From here, on a clear day you can see for miles. This series of 20 photos was taken in 2007 back when my camera had a 10X optical zoom. www.cincinnati-transit.net/southern.html
Norfolk & Western #675 - Bluegrass Railway Seen at the Bluegrass Railway Museum in Versailles, KY is the N&W Diesel Locomotive #675 which is now used for most of their excursion trains. The Class GP-9 Engine was built by E.M.D. of General Motors. It was donated by Consolidated Coal Corporation of Pittsburgh PA. She was restored at the Mid-America Locomotive Works in Evansville, Indiana, painted in N&W freight black and placed back in operational service in 2007. 675 is equipped with dual control stands, both of which are still operational. This allows the engineer to run the locomotive from either side of the cab. When I was in the process of lining up this photo, a museum employee asked me to hold my pose so he could photograph me photographing the train. I guess I ought to ask them if I can get that picture from them. :)
Norfolk & Western #675 - Bluegrass Railway Seen at the Bluegrass Railway Museum in Versailles, KY is the N&W Diesel Locomotive #675 which is now used for most of their excursion trains. The Class GP-9 Engine was built by E.M.D. of General Motors. It was donated by Consolidated Coal Corporation of Pittsburg PA. She was restored at the Mid-America Locomotive Works in Evansville, Indiana, painted in N&W freight black and placed back in operational service in 2007. 675 is equipped with dual control stands, both of which are still operational. This allows the engineer to run the locomotive from either side of the cab.
Rural Retreat, VA I drove to see this old train station on the same day I visited the O. Winston Link museum in downtown Roanoke. There, I saw a picture he had taken of this same place, except his photo was taken at night, had a steam train ready to load passengers and was overall a more interesting picture. The wood building was built somewhere around 1870 and was used by Norfolk & Western.
Illinois Central Gulf #7738 This locomotive was seen at the Bluegrass Railroad Museum at Versailles, KY. Here are their notes on this train engine: Builder: E.M.D of General Motors Class: GP-8 (Paducah Rebuilt GP-7) Status: OPERATIONAL Donated by R. J. Corman. The museum wishes to raise funds to paint her back in ICG colors. The Paducah, KY shops rebuilt 7738 from a GP-7 to a GP-8 in August of 1975
Southern Caboose X741 This Bay Window Caboose is seen at the Bluegrass Railroad museum near Versailles, KY
Wooden L&N Cupola Caboose - Pensacola This caboose which dates back to ca. 1910 is located at Historic Pensacola village outside the Museum of Industry. While any markings on the caboose on this photo are not seen, I've seen other photos of this with an L&N logo and #226.
Williamsburg, KY Train Depot This used to be an L&N passenger depot and the tracks that run in front of it are today used by CSX.
Memphis & Charleston Caboose - Tuscumbia, AL The old passenger station in Tuscumbia is undergoing renovations, but has a small number of rolling stock on display, including this wintage wooden caboose from the long defunct Memphis & Charleston. The first railroad west of the Alleghenies ran from here to Decatur in 1834. This line was then part of M&C in 1851 and became the first railroad to connect the Atlantic with the Mississippi River. Then, in 1898, the line became part of Southern.
Southern Caboose - Murphy, NC Located on the grounds of the restored L&N Depot in Murphy.
Salem, VA Passenger Depot For many years, thise depot served passengers of Norfolk & Western. Today, the building is used as a local Head Start office. The well maintained building was made in 1891 with a stone exterior.
Hartselle, Al train station The Railroad was prominent in the beginning days of the town of Hartselle as the small town became a stop on the North and South Alabama Railroad. This depot was built several decades later in 1914 by L&N. Passenger service continued here until the 1960's when the depot stayed vacant until 1976. Today, the depot is home to the Chamber of Commerce. Every year, the city has a depot days festival in September, and this year it is on Sat. Sept. 15. On the day I took this photo, it was at the crack of dawn.
Southern Caboose Caboose X399 was seen at the historic Tuscumbia train station.
Pascagoula, MS Train Depot This station was originally built by L&N in 1904. More recently, it has seen service as an Amtrak station on their Sunset Limited, but that was suspended after Hurricane Katrina.. Today, the depot is on the National Register of Historic Places.
L&N Marine Terminal Building - Pensacola, FL The building was constructed in 1902 at the Commendencia Street Whar. It served as a major terminus for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad's lumber and coal export trade between the time of its construction and World War II and became the Port Authority office in 1959. In 1972, the building was disassembled by Theophalis May and moved to its current location on Main Street. On August 14 of the same year, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places for its significance to the transportation industry and to maritime history. The building was damaged by Hurrican Ivan in 2004 and then after extensive renovations in 2006, it reopened as the coordinating center of the Florida Public Archaeology Network. Also seen in this picture is a three ton mooring anchor dating back to the 19th century and discovered by the Navy in 1965.
L&N Marine Terminal Building - Pensacola, FL The building was constructed in 1902 at the Commendencia Street Whar. It served as a major terminus for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad's lumber and coal export trade between the time of its construction and World War II and became the Port Authority office in 1959. In 1972, the building was disassembled by Theophalis May and moved to its current location on Main Street. On August 14 of the same year, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places for its significance to the transportation industry and to maritime history. The building was damaged by Hurrican Ivan in 2004 and then after extensive renovations in 2006, it reopened as the coordinating center of the Florida Public Archaeology Network.
Jackson, MS Passenger Station This is the Passenger Depot at 300 W. Capitol St. in downtown Jackson, MS built by Illinois Central in 1927. Today, it serves as an Amtrak stop.
Evergreen, AL L&N Depot Built in 1907. The downtown area of Evergreen seems like it has seen better days, but the old station looks in great shape. Evergreen is the county seat of Conecuh County and is along US31. Today the depot is on the National Register of Historic Places. Note: I revisited this depot in Sept. 2017 and the growing trees in front almost make it impossible to see any details of the front.
Falls of the Ohio Bridge Northern Abutment The Falls of the Ohio bridge crosses the Ohio River from Louisville, KY on the south side to Indiana on the north side. The railroad bridge which is still in use dates back to 1919 with piers dating to 1870, so I suspect this area also dates to 1868. Made of stone with severals arhed doorways and windows, it looks like a castle. The entrances are all covered by a chain link fence, but when looking inside, the whole interior is hollow, with more vines growing along the walls. None of the resources I have checked know the original purpose of the structure.
Southern Caboose X246 - Ft. Payne, AL seen outside of the historic Ft. Payne depot which is now a museum.
Fort Payne, AL Depot The Passenger train station in Fort Payne was built by Southern Railroad in 1891. Having the appearance of a fortress, the exterior, which was renovated in 1986, is of pink sandstone. A new roof was installed not too many years ago, topping the Richardsonian Romanesque style. Passenger service lasted until the early 60's. Today the building is a museum and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Abingdon, VA Passenger Depot Built by Norfolk & Western in 1910. The building now houses the county Historical Society. It looks like there's almost a swiss look to the building. Next door is the old freight depot.
Dublin, VA Passenger Depot Built by Norfolk & Western. The look of this station reminds me of horse stables.
Seven Mile Ford, VA train depot This colorful train station is now used as Seven Mile Ford Equipmant Company. The depot was originally built by Norfolk and Western. The tracks are to the left of the building and US11 is on the right. On the track side, but not visible here is the bayed ticket window, but all of the windows have been replaced with wall. Here's how it looked 35 years ago: spec.lib.vt.edu/imagebase/drake/full/DR026.JPG
NW Caboose - Abingdon, VA The passenger and freight depots are both preserved on the south side of Abingdon. Next to the passenger depot is this well preserved Norfolk & Western caboose.
Norfolk & Western schedule - Roanoke, VA The important Norfolk & Western Railroad Depot in Roanoke, VA has been preserved for today's visitors. The building houses the O. Winston Link museum of Railroad Photography as well as a Roanoke Tourist Information Center. Also preserved is the train schedule board. Like a snapshot from a day in the past, the schedule shows all the incoming and outgoing passenger trains on June 19, 1955.
Cambria, VA Passenger Depot Cambria is a city in Montgomery County that has now been swallowed up by Christiansburg, but with its old city center intact. This depot is significant for two reasons. 1) It's one of the oldest in the state and is one of two surviving depots in southwest Virginia that dates back to the Reconstruction period. 2) Architecturally, it was designed in a high style Victorian Tuscan Italianate style, with an imposing central tower, overhanging eaves and a deep bracketted frieze. After the original Virginia & Tennessee Railroad depot was burned in the Civil War, this depot was reopened in 1870. Passenger service stopped in 1960. Like many trian stations, it fell into disrepair for a couple of decades until 1983 when locals bought the historic building to restore it. In 1985, the depot was added to the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Historic Register. In 2007, one area opened as the Cambria Toy Station and in 2009 a museum opened.
Radford, VA Railroad painting Radford is a medium-sized town with quite a railroad presence, with lots of NS trains running between the historic downtown and the river. At this particular spot in the parking lot, the fence keeping wayward souls from the tracks was painted with a nice train mural with the name of the town spelled out. I couldn't fully decipher the name, but looked like K. Smith 2010 Hello to anyone who found this photo here: www.rumbleinthegarden.com/st-johns-baseball/2013/3/6/4064...
Marietta, GA Train Depot This 1898 NCStL train station located in the heart of Marietta is now the city's welcome center.
Adairsville, GA Depot This depot was built in 1847 about a mile from the center of Adairsville. The depot was so vital to the town that the entire town relocated to be closer to it. At one time, Adairsville was the home of a major repair facility for Western & Atlantic railroad. During the Civil War, the Greal Locomotive Chase came through Adairsville. Service stopped at the depot in the 1960s. In the Mid 90's, most of the historic area of Adairsville went though a restoration project and the entire area is on the National Register of Historic Places. Today the depot is open as the Adairsville Rail Depot Age of Steam Museum and as a welcome center.
Stone From Bridge Abutment Montgomery County Bicentennial 1776-1976 Stone from bridge abutment Virginia-Tennessee Railroad 1848-1855 Located in the town square of Christiansburg, VA
Norfolk Southern Everything is CSX around where I live, so when I travel a few hours east and see NS, it feels rare. Photo taken in Radford, VA
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.
Buechel, KY Train Depot Buechel is a suburb of Louisville, and now the depot is the centerpiece of a town park. The Southern Railway depot was built in 1898 and moved to this location undergoing renovation in 2003.
Ringgold, GA Train Depot Built in 1849 out of stone. It probably is possible to get up to its level, but the street ducks below the tracks at this spot.
Norfolk and Western Caboose - Roanoke, VA Located behind the old N&W passenger station which is now a tourist ino center and O. Winston Link museum.
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.
Norfolk Southern Caboose Most cabooses I see these days are displayed for heritage purposes, such as at train depot museums. It had been a while since I had seen one on live tracks. Seen in Radford, VA.
Cartersville, GA Depot This train depot is one of the few Western & Atlantic depots still in existence. I think the most notable feature is the pronounced foor overhang over where the passengers would stand. Today, the depot is home to the Cartersville & Bartow County convention bureau. I stopped inside and bought a couple of post cards. The fence is a relatively new addition in the area, as the central business district is still vibrant, and yet these are frequently used tracks. For the full history, look here: roadsidegeorgia.com/site/cvilledepot.html
Norfolk & Western Caboose - Pulaski, VA Located in a new city park near the old Pulaski, VA train station which recently reopened after some remodelling.
West Jefferson, NC train freight depot It may have been relocated within the city by a couple of blocks, but I'm not sure. Today it serves as a hardware store.
Norfolk & Western Caboose - Rural Retreat, VA This is the first rectangular thing I've ever tried to photograph where the sun was so positioned in the sky in such a way where neither the left side nor the ride side was recieving direct sunlight, but was lined up to directly shine on only the front. Weird, huh?
Little General - Marietta, GA This replica train is located in Glover Park, in the middle of the town square in Marietta, GA. It's a smaller version of the "General" which was a part of the Great Locomotive Chase, one of the more interesting stories of the Civil War. The chase happened along the tracks between here and Chattanooga and the actual train is housed in the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History up the road in Kennessaw
Marion, Va Train Station This Passenger Depot in Marion, VA was built by Norfolk & Western to serve Smyth County in 1904. Passenger service lasted until 1971. In the mid 90's a developer turned the building into retail space. The blue thing on the left is a shaved ice stand. Today, the Depot is on the National Register of Historic Places.
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.
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.
Abingdon, VA Freight Depot This depot has survived and been transformed into a place to buy art. It is next door to the old town passenger depot which is now a museum.
1916 Glover Machine Works Locomotive Built by Glover Machine Works of Marietta, this 1916 locamotive was sold in a company in Virginia for hauling lumber. In 1921, GMW reassumed possesion. It was restored in 1992 and placed underneath an awning on the other side of the tracks from the old train station.
Dalton, GA Freight Train Depot There are two old restored train depots in Dalton. This one which used to be part of Southern Railway is now a visitors center and on this day must have had some event going on. (The other one is now a Restaurant.)
Stevenson, AL Train Depot (Version A) One of the older and busier train stations in the area, this historic depot was built in 1872 and has active train tracks on either side. Originally, a one story depot was constructed here in 1853 when tracks first came into town. When that building burned, it was replaced by this brick one in 1872. During the Civil War, Stevenson was a hub of activity. Troops skirmished here and the town changed sides several times, although it was mostly under Union control. Troops occupied the town and a large refugee camp sprang up between here and Ft. Harker a quarter mile away. Tens of thousands of soldiers, horses, wagons, prisoners of war, refugees, wounded and others passed through the city during the summer and fall of 1863 around the time of the Battles of Chattanooga and Chickamauga. Harpers Weekly noting the juncture of East-West and North-South rail lines here called Steveson one of the seven most important cities of the South. After the war, the Dept and the brick hotel built next door, also between the tracks continued as the center of life in Stevenson. Trains stopped here at mealtimes and passenegrs are in the hotel dining rooms. Other passengers spent the night here. It was said that the hotel is so close to the tracks that the trains opened the hotel windows and pulled the covers off the beds. The Depot and Hotel were added to teh National Register of Historic Places in 1974. However, the depot still needed to be saved. A group of citizens save the depot from deconstruction during the 1976 bicentennial when the last railroad office closed. In June of 1982, a community museum opened here after renovation. If you choose to visit the museum, there's plenty of parking, but you do have to cross live tracks. I consider this the standard view of the depot, from the parking side.
Stevenson, AL Train Depot (version B) This is an alternate view of this depot, take from the other side. I had to walk around a fence to get here. One of the older and busier train stations in the area, this historic depot was built in 1872 and has active train tracks on either side. Originally, a one story depot was constructed here in 1853 when tracks first came into town. When that building burned, it was replaced by this brick one in 1872. During the Civil War, Stevenson was a hub of activity. Troops skirmished here and the town changed sides several times, although it was mostly under Union control. Troops occupied the town and a large refugee camp sprang up between here and Ft. Harker a quarter mile away. Tens of thousands of soldiers, horses, wagons, prisoners of war, refugees, wounded and others passed through the city during the summer and fall of 1863 around the time of the Battles of Chattanooga and Chickamauga. Harpers Weekly noting the juncture of East-West and North-South rail lines here called Steveson one of the seven most important cities of the South. After the war, the Dept and the brick hotel built next door, also between the tracks continued as the center of life in Stevenson. Trains stopped here at mealtimes and passengers are in the hotel dining rooms. Other passengers spent the night here. It was said that the hotel is so close to the tracks that the trains opened the hotel windows and pulled the covers off the beds. The Depot and Hotel were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. However, the depot still needed to be saved. A group of citizens save the depot from deconstruction during the 1976 bicentennial when the last railroad office closed. In June of 1982, a community museum opened here after renovation.
Stevenson, AL Train Depot from the front An old enging and an L&N Caboose are out in front of the Depot, the old hotel is seen in the back. One of the older and busier train stations in the area, this historic depot was built in 1872 and has active train tracks on either side. Originally, a one story depot was constructed here in 1853 when tracks first came into town. When that building burned, it was replaced by this brick one in 1872. During the Civil War, Stevenson was a hub of activity. Troops skirmished here and the town changed sides several times, although it was mostly under Union control. Troops occupied the town and a large refugee camp sprang up between here and Ft. Harker a quarter mile away. Tens of thousands of soldiers, horses, wagons, prisoners of war, refugees, wounded and others passed through the city during the summer and fall of 1863 around the time of the Battles of Chattanooga and Chickamauga. Harpers Weekly noting the juncture of East-West and North-South rail lines here called Steveson one of the seven most important cities of the South. After the war, the Dept and the brick hotel built next door, also between the tracks continued as the center of life in Stevenson. Trains stopped here at mealtimes and passenegrs are in the hotel dining rooms. Other passengers spent the night here. It was said that the hotel is so close to the tracks that the trains opened the hotel windows and pulled the covers off the beds. The Depot and Hotel were added to teh National Register of Historic Places in 1974. However, the depot still needed to be saved. A group of citizens save the depot from deconstruction during the 1976 bicentennial when the last railroad office closed. In June of 1982, a community museum opened here after renovation.
Stevenson, Al Depot architectural detail
"Safety Line" "Please stand behind the line for your safety." This suggestion goes back to the earliest days of passenger trains. This is seen at the Stevenson, AL Train depot where after many decades the line is tough to see. The words Safety Line is etched on the ground in the concrete.
Bristol, VA Train Depot This depot was built in 1902 and is located on the Virginia side of State Street. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as "Bristol Railroad Station" www.thebristoltrainstation.org/
Louisville City Hall Pediment Perhaps the most achitecturally interesting government building in downtown Louisville, the City Hall was constructed from 1870-73 (it says 1871 along the front.) It was built with Indiana Limestone at a cost of $464,778. while the interior has been completely overhauled a few times, the exterior remains unchanged except for basic renovation. The architectural style is a blend of Italianate and Second Empire style. The pediment over the main entrance features a relief of the Louisville city seal plus a steam train with the word "Progress" inscribed on it. Atop many of the windows are engravings of livestock heads. The building is three stories tall plus a raised basement. Today, it's primary function is housing the metro council offices and chambers. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.
L&N Caboose - Stevenson, AL Located at the Stevenson train depot, which is now a museum
NCStL Caboose Located at the Bridgeport, AL Depot
To and From Dixieland This is the slogan on the side of trains from the NCStL days
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&...
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 & 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 & 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&...
Tunnel Hill, GA The mountains of northwest Georgia were the biggest obsticle to connect a train line from Chattanooga to Atlanta in the earliest days of the railroad. The most formidable challenge was the Chetoogetta Mountain in Whitfield County. The first tunnel at this location was completed in 1850 with a tunnel of 1477 feet. Eventually, it became insufficient and a second tunnel was built in 1928. That second tunnel is the one that lines up in this image with a length of 1527 feet. The second tunnel parallels the original tunnel which is to the right and you can walk through today. roadsidegeorgia.com/city/tunnelhill.html
Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History In Kennessaw, GA, this museum's main feature is housing a locomotive "General" About 6 A.M. on April 12, 1862, a Federal spy and contraband merchant, James J. Andrews, of Ky, together with 18 soldiers and one civilian seized "General" and three box cars while the train crew and passengers were eating breakfast at the Lacy Hotel. Intedning to sabotge the state railroad between Atlanta and Chattanooga, the raiders steamed north to destroy track and burn bridges. They were foiled in this attempt by the persistant pursuit of conducter of the train Capt. W.A. Fuller, Fireman Jeff Cain and Anthony Murphy of the Atlanta Railroad shops, after a chase of 87 miles at the tracks a few feet from this location.
William A. Fuller marker Kennesaw, GA About 6 A.M. on April 12, 1862, a Federal spy and contraband merchant, James J. Andrews, of Ky, together with 18 soldiers and one civilian seized "General" and three box cars while the train crew and passengers were eating breakfast at the Lacy Hotel. Intedning to sabotge the state railroad between Atlanta and Chattanooga, the raiders steamed north to destroy track and burn bridges. They were foiled in this attempt by the persistant pursuit of conducter of the train Capt. W.A. Fuller, Fireman Jeff Cain and Anthony Murphy of the Atlanta Railroad shops, after a chase of 87 miles at the tracks a few feet from this location.
Locomotive "General" marker Kennesaw, GA About 6 A.M. on April 12, 1862, a Federal spy and contraband merchant, James J. Andrews, of Ky, together with 18 soldiers and one civilian seized "General" and three box cars while the train crew and passengers were eating breakfast at the Lacy Hotel. Intedning to sabotge the state railroad between Atlanta and Chattanooga, the raiders steamed north to destroy track and burn bridges. They were foiled in this attempt by the persistant pursuit of conducter of the train Capt. W.A. Fuller, Fireman Jeff Cain and Anthony Murphy of the Atlanta Railroad shops, after a chase of 87 miles at the tracks a few feet from this location.
Acworth, GA Caboose Main Street of Acworth is part of the old Dixie Highway which is now Old US highway 41. This caboose with the Acworth logo on it is near the downtown historic district
Bowling Green's L&N Station Built in 1923, this building is now a train museum and is on the National Register of Historic Places. www.historicrailpark.com/index.html
Huntsville Depot Built in 1860, the Huntsville train depot is the oldest in Alabama. During the Civil War, the depot was used as a prison for Confederate Soldiers, when Huntsville was occupied by the Union in 1862. (Some of their graffiti has been preserved on the walls.) The Depot served as division headquarters and passenger station on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad. The line is now part of Norfolk Southern Railroad. The last passenger train came in on March 30, 1968. The depot is listed ont eh National Register of Historic Places, and looks to be an impressive museum (although I was unable to see the inside.) It is part of the EarlyWorks system, along with Constitution Village.
The NEW Sherwood Motel It's a lousy photo with the window reflection showing up, but I love this building, the NEW Sherwood Hotel.
Figures of the NCStL Locomotive
My first tilt-shift mini fake: Duquesne Incline Taken in the Summer of '05. I figured this would be an easy first Tilt Shift Miniature Fake to use with GIMP. I am open to Constructive criticism, such as: "get rid of that stupid dark green thing in the bottom right corner!"
Monongahela Incline in Pittsburgh, Pa and built in 1870, is the oldest operational funicular in the US.
Tired of Walking - DC Subway You can do a lot of walking in Washington DC. My wife and I went from our hotel, to the capitol (to get tour tickets) then to the smithsonian, then back to the capitol, and then back to the smithsonian, and then we were tired. we bought all-day subway passes and rode to faraway suburbs (partially to rest and to be off of our feet) The Red Line approaches. Hello to anyone who found this here: www.drumchannel.com/news/NewsDetails/12809.aspx Proposed Mass Transit Fare Hikes Have New Yorker Organizing One-Day Grass Roots Boycott or here: godlessliberalhomo.blogspot.com/2009/01/tell-obama-congre...
Cincinnati's Union Terminal My take on the thing that everyone from Cincinnati has photographed at some point. this is the famous Union Terminal and now has new life as a museum. It was deemed a National Historic Landmark in 1977, and is also on the National Register of Historic Places.
9:15 Sunset I live on the wrong side of the Eastern/Central time zone border. I hate it in the winter when sundown is before 5:00 in Nashville. My wife and I can spend a full vacation day around town, and then return to our 15th story hotel room in the downtown Cincinnati Hyatt in time to see the sunset just above the ridge and Union Terminal. The convention center is in the foreground. This pic was taken in late June 2004.
Duquesne incline cars about to pass, Pittsburgh, Pa The Duquesne incline cars are about to pass, like they have done several times a day for over a hundred years. This picture was taken from Point State Park just in front of the fountain. Hello to anyone who found this photo here: artnoose.livejournal.com/176911.html
Looking up the Duquesne Incline, Pittsburgh Looking up the track of the duquesne incline on Mt. Washington near downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Hello to anyone who found this photo from here: itp.nyu.edu/alumniblender/2008/10/20/my-favorite-24-thing... or here: www.jonnygoldstein.com/2008/10/20/my-favorite-24-things-a...
