Louisville & Nashville Railroad
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- Related: Clinchfield.org | Southern-Railroads.org
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Louisville & Nashville Railroad
The Louisville & Nashville was originally intended to connect its two namesake cities, which it did by 1859. By the 1920s, the L&N had grown to more than 6,000 miles, connecting 14 states. There is no doubt the L&N was a key component of the economic growth of the southern states during the late 1800s and early 1900s. While many other railroads experienced receivership and financial challenges, the L&N always avoided financial calamity, and gained the nickname of ‘Old Reliable.’
Ohio River to the Atlantic Ocean
Photo: Roger Puta
In its formative years after being chartered in 1850, the L&N focused on building its line south from Louisville to Nashville, eventually reaching Birmingham and New Orleans. By 1902, the railroad created a second parallel rail line from Cincinnati to Atlanta GA. This second corridor allowed the L&N to tap into the coal fields of Kentucky, but also created a Ohio River to Atlantic Ocean rail line. For the final leg from Atlanta to the coast, the L&N relied on partner railroads such as the Georgia Railroad and the Atlantic Coast Line.
The Age of Civilized Travel by Ron Flanary
August 20, 1966-Cincinnati Union Terminal: It’s hard not to like the “face” of an EMD E or F-unit. L&N 793 is idling at CUT’s engine facilities with an FP7 (606) behind it. The duo will head south for Louisville, Nashville, Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile and New Orleans with number 5, the “Humming Bird,” at 6:45 PM Eastern Time.
You could have purchased a roomette in the train’s “Pine” series sleeper on the rear of the train, and had a scrumptious L&N-signature dish, the Gulf Coast Seafood Platter, in the diner-lounge as you coiled along the “Short Line” to Louisville. After a 9:50 PM arrival there (plus the addition of a Louisville-Atlanta “Pine” series behind you), you could have the Pullman porter make up your room and retire for a restful ride down the Main Stem. It was an experience I tried on this very train about three weeks after this shot—and I still remember how wonderful it was. This was the age of civilized travel.
Louisville & Nashville Railroad Stats
- Reporting Mark: LN
- Operated: 1850-1982
- Length: 10,396 miles
- Mainline: Louisville/Cincinnati OH/St. Louis to the north – Nashville/Knoxville TN – Atlanta/Birmingham in the middle – Montgomery/New Orleans/Florida to the south
- Primary Cities: Louisville KY, Nashville TN, Cincinnati OH, St Louis MO, Knoxville TN, Chattanooga TN, Atlanta GA, Birmingham AL, Montgomery AL, Mobile AL, New Orleans LA
- Headquarters: Louisville KY
- Passenger Trains: Dixie Flyer, Dixieland, Gulf Wind, South Wind, Southland
- Successor: Seaboard Coast Line
- L&N Today: Part of CSX Transportation
L&N Map 1914
For More Information
Louisville & Nashville Railroad Historical Society
For More Information – Sources and Resources
The following are wonderful resources for those interested in Appalachian Railroads. They also serve as sources of information for Appalachian-Railroads.org
- Association/Archives: Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Historical Society
- Association/Archives: Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society
- Association/Archives: Louisville & Nashville Railroad Historical Society
- Association/Archives: Norfolk & Western Historical Society
- Association/Archives: Southern Railway Historical Association
- Archives of Appalachia: ETSU, Johnson City TN
- Book: Drury: The Historical Guide to North American Railroads
- Book: Flanary, Lindsey & Oroszi: The Southern Railway
- Book: Goforth: ‘Building the Clinchfield’ and ‘When Steam Ran the Clinchfield’
- Book: Graybeal: ‘The Railroads of Johnson City’
- Book: Irwin & Stahl: ‘The Last Empire Builder: The Life of George L. Carter’
- Book: King: ‘Clinchfield Country’
- Book: Marsh: ‘Clinchfield in Color’
- Book: Poole: ‘A History of Railroading in Western North Carolina’
- Book: Poteat & Taylor: ‘The CSX Clinchfield Route in the 21st Century’
- Book: Stevens & Peoples: ‘The Clinchfield No. 1 – Tennessee’s Legendary Steam Engine’
- Book: Way: ‘The Clinchfield Railroad, the Story of a Trade Route Across the Blue Ridge Mountains’
- Book: Wolfe: Southern Railway Appalachia Division
- Magazine: ‘Trains‘
- Magazine: ‘Classic Trains‘
- Website: Carolana.com – North Carolina Railroads, South Carolina Railroads
- Website: HawkinsRails.net
- Website: StateOfFranklin.net which hosts Johnson’s Depot
- Website: RailFanGuides.us for Johnson City and for Erwin
- Website: SteamLocomotive.com
- Website: WvncRails.org – North Carolina and West Virginia Railroads
- Video: Ken Marsh on Kingsport area railroads and region’s history Video #1
- Video: Ken Marsh on railroads and region’s history Video #2:
- Article: Flanary: ‘The Quick Service Route, The Clinchfield Railroad‘
- Articles: ‘Johnson City Comet‘
- Article: Scientific American: ‘The Costliest Railroad in America‘
- Personal Maps & Memorabilia: Documents, maps and track charts
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.
- Gazetteer of American Railroads, 1914 ↩︎