Thomas E. Matson | ET&WNC and 3Cs Railroads
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Page Contents
Thomas E. Matson of the 3Cs and the ET&WNC
Photo courtesy of the Cy Crumley Collection
Colonel Thomas E. Matson (1848–1921) was a pivotal 19th-century American engineer and civic leader whose technical mastery defined early Appalachian infrastructure. Originally from Philadelphia, Matson specialized in mountain railway construction, navigating some of the most rugged terrains in the Eastern United States.
Major Engineering Achievements
Matson is primarily celebrated for his leadership of two major rail projects that transformed the region:
- East Tennessee & Western North Carolina (ET&WNC) Railroad: Serving as Chief Engineer and Superintendent in the early 1880s, Matson designed the narrow-gauge route for the legendary ‘Tweetsie’ line. His most famous feat was engineering the passage through the Doe River Gorge, which required blasting ledges into solid rock and constructing multiple river crossings. His dedication was legendary; he famously used block and tackle systems to hoist mules up vertical cliffs to complete construction.
- Charleston, Cincinnati & Chicago (CC&C) Railroad: In the late 1880s, Matson served as Chief Engineer for the “3 C’s”. He oversaw the construction of over 140 miles of track intended to connect South Carolina to Kentucky. Although the project faced financial collapse during the Panic of 1893, Matson’s work laid the groundwork for what eventually became the Clinchfield Railroad.
Beyond rail, Matson’s technical legacy includes designing the landmark Elizabethton Covered Bridge in 1882.
Industrial and Civic Leadership
Following his engineering career, Matson became a central figure in the growth of Johnson City, Tennessee.
- Johnson City Foundry and Machine Works: Matson founded and served as the first president of this facility, which specialized in custom ironwork and the repair of ET&WNC locomotives. He personally imported machinery from Philadelphia to build a sprawling complex at a critical railroad junction.
- Mayoral Service: Matson transitioned into politics, serving as the Mayor of Johnson City from 1892 to 1896. During his tenure, he guided the city through a period of intense industrialization and served as a charter member of the City Railway Company, which built a belt line around the town.
ET&WNC Bibliography
- Personal Maps & Memorabilia: Documents, maps, timetables, and track charts
- Archives: Archives of Appalachia at East Tennessee State University.
- Newspaper Articles: Newspapers.com
- Magazines/Online: ‘Trains‘, ‘Classic Trains‘
- Ferrell, Mallory Hope. Tweetsie Country: The East Tennessee & Western North Carolina Railroad. Boulder: Pruett Publishing Co., 1976 (Revised edition, Johnson City: Overmountain Press, 1991).
- Graybeal, Johnny. Along the ET&WNC, Volume I: Early Narrow Gauge Locomotives. Hickory: Tarheel Press, 2001.
- Graybeal, Johnny. Along the ET&WNC, Volume II: The Ten-Wheelers. Hickory: Tarheel Press, 2002.
- Graybeal, Johnny. Along the ET&WNC, Volume III: Depots. Hickory: Tarheel Press, 2003.
- Graybeal, Johnny. Along the ET&WNC, Volume IV: Freight Cars, Part A – Boxcars, Reefers, and Stock Cars. Hickory: Tarheel Press, 2005.
- Graybeal, Johnny. Along the ET&WNC, Volume V: Freight Cars, Part B – Flatcars, Gondolas, and Maintenance-of-Way. Hickory: Tarheel Press, 2007.
- Graybeal, Johnny. Along the ET&WNC, Volume VI: Passenger Cars and Cabooses. Hickory: Tarheel Press, 2011.
- Graybeal, Johnny. The Railroads of Johnson City. Charleston: Arcadia Publishing (Images of Rail), 2007.
- Poole, Carey Franklin. A History of Railroading in Western North Carolina. Johnson City: Overmountain Press, 1995.
- Scheer, Julian, and Elizabeth McD. Black. Tweetsie: The Blue Ridge Stemwinder. Charlotte: Heritage Printers, 1958 (Reprinted by Overmountain Press, 1991).
- Sulzer, Elmer G. Ghost Railroads of Tennessee. Indianapolis: V.A. Jones Co., 1975 (Reprinted by Indiana University Press, 1998).
- Websites: Carolana.com, CarterCountyHistory.com, StateOfFranklin.net which hosts Johnson’s Depot, SteamLocomotive.com
