Appalachian Region Thrives
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- Charleston Cincinnati & Chicago Railroad: History | Locos | Maps | John T. Wilder | Railfan Guide
- ET&WNC: History | Maps | Locomotives | Timetables | A. Pardee | G. Hardin | T. Matson
- Appalachian Railroad Cities: Asheville | Cincinnati | Erwin | Johnson City | Knoxville | Lynchburg | Roanoke | Spartanburg | and more
- Appalachian Mountain Gaps:
- Railfan Guides | Abandoned Lines & Railroads | Rails to Trails
- 3Cs Model Railroad: CRR, SOU, ET&WNC & the 3Cs
- Sources & Resources: Scholars & Authors | Books | Museums | Organizations | Links
- Appalachian-Railroads.org: Site Map | Editor
- Related: Clinchfield.org | Southern-Railroads.org
Page Contents
The Appalachian Region and its Railroads Thrive
With the seven primary ‘Trans-Appalachian’ railroads completed and expanding exponentially, the Appalachian Region now had the infrastructure to reach its commercial and financial potential. Whether it was coal, minerals, textiles, timber, furniture, exports, agricultural goods, automotives, perishables, chemicals, and more……you name it…..these seven railroads carried it.
Additionally, people began moving to the Carolinas, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida for jobs and a warmer climate, so the railroad passenger business was also thriving. And, the region was a perfect vacation destination.
Photo by Roger Puta, 1981
Railroad Cities of the Appalachians
Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia certainly had its share of cities with a major railroad presence, Several towns, such as Roanoke VA and Johnson City TN were actually born from a railroad’s arrival. The Appalachian region’s rail hubs included: Appalachia VA, Asheville NC, Bristol TN/VA, Chattanooga TN, Cincinnati OH, Corbin KY, Erwin TN, Johnson City TN, Kingsport TN, Roanoke VA, Salisbury NC, and Spartanburg SC. Appalachian Towns and Cities Front Page
Beloved Appalachian Short Line: ET&WNC Railroad
Even though it was not a major or standard-gauge Appalachian Railroad, the ET&WNC deserves some notoriety. It’s narrow-gauge and mountain charm has always made it a perennial favorite with railfans world-wide. Even into the mid-1960s as a small portion of the railroad survived as a standard gauge short-line, we could watch their 2-8-0 steam locomotives perform switching duties in downtown Johnson City. The railroad’s legacy and one of its original narrow gauge engines live on today as part of the Tweetsie Railroad theme park in Blowing Rock NC. ET&WNC Front Page
ET&WNC Remembrance by Ron Flanary:
“This is a fresh scan of an old favorite of mine. ET&WNC No. 208 (ex-Southern 722) was spotted up beside the “bloomer factory” (where they made ladies’ underwear) at Elizabethton, Tennessee on November 7, 1964. The crew was having “beans” (lunch) at that moment. In 1964, this was just everyday steam, still working in revenue freight service. (Photo and narrative by Ron Flanary)
Appalachain-Railroads.org: A Work In Progress
Our research and chronicling efforts started in 2022, and with some good luck, we have many more years to devote to this project. Efforts have already begun to annually update and donate the digital files of Appalachian-Railroads.org to the regional Archives and to the Railroad Historical Associations.
Our simple goals for this website are:
- with the internet, create new awareness, appreciation and railfans for the Appalachian Railroads as they existed, and as they exist today
- research, further explore, and preserve the history of the Appalachian Railroads. Share, and link you to information resources.
- highlight the individuals and organizations who have those same goals
We welcome your participation, comments, photos, articles, and questions.
Home Page Sections: Home | Railroad Void | First Appalachian Railroads | Breaking the Mountain Barrier | The Appalachian Region and its Railroads Thrive. Website Sections: Appalachian Railroads | 3Cs | ET&WNC | Appalachian Cities | Railfan Guides | Abandoned Rails | Model Railroad | Sources & Resources
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.
- Association: Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Historical Society
- Association: Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society
- Association: Carolina Clinchfield Chapter National Railway Historical Society
- Association: ET&WNC Railroad Historical Society and their Facebook Page
- Association: George L. Carter Railroad Historical Society
- Association: Louisville & Nashville Railroad Historical Society
- Association: Norfolk & Western Historical Society
- Association: Southern Railway Historical Association
- Association: Watauga Valley Railroad Historical Society
- Personal Maps & Memorabilia: Documents, maps, timetables, and track charts
- Archives of Appalachia: ETSU, Johnson City TN
- Book – Castner, Flanary & Dorin: Louisville & Nashville Railroad, The Old Reliable
- Book – Drury. The Historical Guide to North American Railroads
- Book – Flanary: The Louisville & Nashville Cumberland Valley Division
- Book – Flanary, Lindsey & Oroszi. The Southern Railway
- Book – Flanary, Oroszi & McKee: ‘The Louisville & Nashville in the Appalachians’
- Books – 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 – Lindsey: ‘Norfolk Southern 1995 Review’
- Book – King: ‘Clinchfield Country‘
- Book – Marsh: ‘Clinchfield in Color‘
- Book – Oroszi & Flanary: ‘Dixie Lines, The Louisville & Nashville Railroad’
- 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 – Webb: ‘The Southern Railway System: An Illustrated History’
- Book – Wolfe: Southern Railway Appalachia Division
- Magazines/Online: ‘Trains‘, ‘Classic Trains‘
- Newspaper Articles: Newspapers.com
- Online Article: Flanary: ‘The Quick Service Route, The Clinchfield Railroad‘; Scientific American: ‘The Costliest Railroad in America‘
- Online Videos: Ken Marsh on Kingsport area railroads and region’s history Video #1 | Video #2:
- 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: VirginiaPlaces.org – Railroad History of Virginia
- Website: WvncRails.org – North Carolina and West Virginia Railroads
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
