Cincinnati, Ohio

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Cincinnati, Ohio

Cincinnati is one of those few cities that evolves, has a personality, and continues to thrive despite many economic, technological, or culture changes. Originally it was an important river port in the 1800s which established its prominence. But, once it was apparent that railroads were a superior and complementary means of transportation, Cincinnati embraced the new transportation technology and by 1900 was an important rail hub.

Many small railroads were Cincinnati’s first, but eventually those railroads were purchased by, merged with, or joined by the big railroad companies of the era such as:

  • Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
  • Chesapeake & Ohio Railway
  • Louisville & Nashville Railroad
  • New York Central Railroad
  • Norfolk & Western Railway
  • Pennsylvania Railroad
  • Southern Railway
Cincinnati Union Terminal - 1963 - Roger Puta

City-Owned Railroad

Cincinnati holds a distinction that no other major city does, it built and owned a railroad that prospered and returned excellent profits to city coffers for many years.

Photo by Roger Puta: Cincinnati Union Terminal with B&O’s National Limited in 1963

Cincinnati Southern Railroad

In 1880 the City of Cincinnati financed and built a railroad heading due south to Chattanooga TN, with the eventual hope of reaching New Orleans and providing a quicker connection to the gulf and Atlantic port. Construction was successful through some challenging terrain as it crossed the Appalachian Mountain plateau, but effort ended in Chattanooga since there were already rail lines in operation and under construction from Chattanooga to New Orleans.

Cincinnati Southern Railway

For over 130 years, Cincinnati has leased the rail line to Southern Railway, and subsequent Norfolk Southern, which have operated it as a major east coast manifest freight route. During this time, Cincinnati Southern was also known as the Cincinnati New Orleans & Texas Pacific Railroad, the legal entity used to enable the lease.

In 2023 it was announced that Cincinnati would sell the Cincinnati Southern to Norfolk Southern for $1.6B. The sale is expected to close in 2024.

Cincinnati Stats

  • Coordinates: 39°06′00″N 84°30′45″W
  • Elevation: 742 feet above sea level
  • Named For: Society of the Cincinnati
  • Originally Known As: Losantiville
  • Nickname: Queen City, Cincy
  • Founded: 1802
  • Population: 309,317 (2020)
  • County: Hamilton
  • Highlights: Transportation Hub with the Ohio River and multiple railroads, Proctor and Gamble, and Cincy Sports Teams, and Chili.

More Rails Across the Appalachians information will be added to this page and website in the days ahead. Please let me know if you have any questions, see any edits that should be made, or have any content you are willing to share. Would enjoy hearing from you if you have similar interests in Appalachian Railroads, the region, or model railroading.

For More Information – Sources and Resources

The following are excellent resources for those of you wanting to explore and learn more about the history and operation of the Appalachian Railroads. These sources of information also serve as reference and historical materials for Appalachian-Railroads.org. Much of the content on the website is verified across multiple sources.

Contact Us

Would enjoy hearing from you if you have questions, suggestions, edits, or content that you are willing to share. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have similar interests in the railroads or model railroading.

3Cs Websites

Appalachian-Railroads.org | Clinchfield.org | Southern-Railroads.org

Contact Us

Would enjoy hearing from you if you have questions, suggestions, edits, or content that you are willing to share. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have similar interests in the railroads or model railroading.

3Cs Websites

Appalachian-Railroads.org | Clinchfield.org | Southern-Railroads.org