Elizabethton, Tennessee

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Elizabethton, Tennessee

Next to Jonesborough, Elizabethton was one of the first towns in East Tennessee. Several railroads made the city an early location for commerce and industrial development in the region.

Elizabethton Stats

  • Coordinates: 36°20′11″N 82°14′21″W
  • Elevation: 1,593 feet above sea level
  • Originally known as: Tiptonville
  • Founded: 1799
  • Population: 14,456 (2020)
  • County: Carter
  • First Railroad: East Tennessee & Virginia (ET&V) was completed in 1856. In later years the railroad became part of the East Tennessee Virginia & Georgia (ETV&G), the Southern Railway (SOU), and finally the Norfolk Southern (NS) This rail line connected Johnson City to the major cities of the northeast and southern cities such as Knoxville, Chattanooga, Memphis, and New Orleans.
  • Second Railroad: East Tennessee & Western North Carolina (ET&WNC) in 1882 to Cranberry NC, and 1913 to Boone NC. The ET&WNC was narrow gauge from Johnson City to Boone, but also operated a standard gauge line on the same roadbed from Johnson City to Elizabethton.
  • Third Railroad: The Charleston Cincinnati & Chicago Railroad was chartered in 1886. Johnson City became the railroad’s headquarters. A few trains did run in 1890 in Johnson City before the railroad started to experience financial challenges. By the end of 1890, construction and operation had ceased.
  • Fourth Railroad: Ohio River & Charleston Railway (OR&C) in 1893. The OR&C purchased the 3Cs in receivership and worked to complete and operate the line with no success. It too went into receivership.
  • Fifth Railroad: Carolina Clinchfield & Ohio Railway (CC&O) was completed in 1909 from Dante VA to Spartanburg SC. Originally Johnson City was to be the headquarters, but due to the inability to secure land, the headquarters was moved to Erwin. In 1915, the line was extended to Elkhorn City KY where it connected with the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway. In 1924, its ownership and name was changed to the Clinchfield Railroad (CRR).
  • Johnson City Highlights: East Tennessee State University, VA Medical Center

East Tennessee & Western North Carolina

The first railroad to reach Elizabethton was the East Tennessee & Western North Carolina Railroad. Eventually the ET&WNC connected Johnson City to Boone NC with a narrow 3 foot gauge rail line. The portion from Johnson City to Elizabethton was upgraded in 1927 to include both standard and narrow gauge. In 1950, the narrow gauge operation was shut down, but the standard gauge portion continued operation for many years. Even into the mid-1960s, the ET&WNC utilized 2-8-0 steam locomotives to work the Johnson City to Elizabethton line, primarily servicing the rayon plants and other industries in Elizabethton.

Tweetsie

During the early 1900s, the the ET&WNC became known as Tweetsie by those who lived along the line in the mountainous region due to the sound of the narrow gauge locomotive whistles. The narrow gauge became nationally known at ‘Tweetsie’ when a theme park was built in Blowing Rock NC utilizing one of the original ET&WNC engines.

Bristol Elizabethton & North Carolina Railway

The second railroad in Elizabethton was the Bristol Elizabethton & North Carolina Railway which accessed the city from the north.

Virginia & Southwestern Railroad

In 1899, George L. Carter bought the BE&NC, changing its name to the Virginia & Southwestern Railroad. After additional construction, the line connected Bristol, Bluff City, Elizabethton, and Mountain City TN. At Bristol, the Virginia & Southwestern also developed a line into the coal fields of Virginia via Appalachia and Big Stone Gap. The V&S eventually was sold to the Southern Railway once Carter started making plans to build the Clinchfield Railroad.

Laurel Fork Railway

There was also a third Elizabethton railroad, the Laurel Fork Railway which operated out of Elizabethton following the ET&WNC and Doe River, ending in Hampton TN.

Links for Additional Information

http://www.cartercountyhistory.com/railroads-of-carter-county.html

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