Appalachian Mountain Gaps

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Appalachian Mountain Gaps

To cross the Central and Southern Appalachian Mountains, from the Eastern Seaboard to the Ohio River Valley, there are two major challenges. Whether you are on foot, on a horse, on a train, or in a car…..these two very beautiful, but very formidable natural impediments are:

  • the Blue Ridge Mountains which run from Chattanooga TN in the south all the way north to Harrisburg PA.
  • the Appalachian Plateau which spans from Birmingham AL to southern New York state. Specific segments of the plateau are also known as the Cumberland Plateau and the Allegheny Plateau.

If you are lucky, one might be able to use a water gap, such as the Potomac or James River to cross. There are also wind gaps such as Buford’s Gap near Roanoke VA. And of course the third option is to find the lowest mountain gap possible, which still means a railroad, a highway, or a hiker will still need to climb hundreds, a thousand, or more feet to go up and over the crest.

Map: United States Geological Survey

Rails Across the Appalachians

Seven railroads successfully built and operated routes across the Appalachians to connect the Atlantic Ocean with the Ohio River. The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad was the first in 1852, the Clinchfield was the last in 1915. There were also unsuccessful efforts that included the Louisville Cincinnati & Charleston Railroad, the Blue Ridge Railroad, Atlantic Tennessee & Ohio Railway, and others.

Potential Water, Wind, and Mountain Gaps

While the following are not all of the potential gaps that could be used, these were the ones that were built, or at least surveys and completed and initial construction was started.

  • Potomac River – B&O
  • Afton Mountain near Waynesboro VA – C&O
  • James River near Glasgow VA – C&O
  • Jackson River near Clifton Forge VA – C&O
  • Greenbrier River near Caldwell WV – C&O
  • Buford’s Gap (air) near Roanoke VA – N&W
  • Roanoke River near Roanoke VA – Virginian
  • New River near Blacksburg VA – N&W and Virginian
  • New River near Thurmond WV – C&O
  • McKinney Gap and Nolichucky/Toe River near Spruce Pine NC – Clinchfield
  • Swannanoa Gap near Asheville NC – Southern
  • Saluda Gap near Hendersonville NC – Southern
  • Rabun Gap near Clayton GA – Blue Ridge Railroad (never completed)
  • Little Tennessee River near Franklin NC – Blue Ridge Railroad (never completed)
  • Emory River near Oakdale TN – CNO&TP/Southern
  • Clinch River and related creeks near Rocky Top TN – L&N
  • Around the western end of the Blue Ridge Mountains near Chattanooga/Cleveland TN – NC&StL, CNO&TP/Southern, and L&N

Appalachian Mountain Crossings – Atlantic Ocean to Ohio River

The following are the seven railroads and dates that a connection was successfully completed from the Atlantic to the Ohio:

  • 1842 – Baltimore & Ohio Railroad – Baltimore MD to Moundsville WV (Cincinnati 1871)
  • 1873 – Chesapeake & Ohio Railway – Richmond VA to Huntington WV (Newport News VA in 1880, Cincinnati in 1888)
  • 1879 – Southern Railway predecessor lines – Charleston SC to Cincinnati OH
  • 1892 – Norfolk & Western Railway – Norfolk to Kenova WV
  • 1896 – Nashville Chattanooga & St. Louis and partner railroads – Paducah KY to various Atlantic ports
  • 1902 – Louisville & Nashville and partner railroads – Cincinnati (via Knoxville) to various Atlantic ports
  • 1915 – Clinchfield and partner railroads – Charleston SC to Cincinnati OH

Blue Ridge Crossings

  • Baltimore & Ohio – 1842 – River Gap: Potomac River
  • Norfolk & Western (Virginia & Tennessee) – 1852 – Air Gap: Buford’s Gap near Roanoke VA
  • Chesapeake & Ohio – 1858 – Mountain Gap: Rockfish Gap near Waynesboro VA – 1900′ elevation
  • Southern Railway – 1879 – Mountain Gap: Ridgecrest near Asheville NC – 2600′ elevation
  • Southern Railway – 1879 – Mountain Gap: Saluda Mountain, Saluda NC – 2550′ elevation
  • Clinchfield Railroad – 1909 – Mountain Gap: McKinney Gap near Spruce Pine NC – 2628′ elevation
  • Note: Louisville & Nashville (L&N) and Nashville Chattanooga & St. Louis (NC&StL) did not cross the Blue Ridge, but rather skirted west through the Chattanooga/Cleveland TN area.

Appalachian Plateau Crossings

  • Baltimore & Ohio – 18?? –

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