Charleston Cincinnati and Chicago Railroad – 3Cs
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Page Contents
Charleston Cincinnati and Chicago Railroad
The First Pioneer
It is usually noted that the first pioneers have higher risk, less experience, and a greater chance of failure than those who follow. The Charleston Cincinnati & Chicago Railroad (3Cs) was just that pioneer. The vision ended up being spot on, but the lack of funding and economic downturns took their toll. In the end, the 3Cs failed, but 30 years later the Clinchfield Railroad succeeded and prospered beyond expectations.
3Cs Railroad: The Vision
In the 1870s, railroads had reached the west coast, but no railroad had crossed the Appalachian Mountains between Washington DC and Nashville TN. The north and deep south had extensive rail lines, but the middle of the Eastern U.S. was void of this new and efficient means of transportation and economic development.
The people, the states, the cities and towns, and the businesses of this region were all well aware they would be left behind if they did not aggressively take action to bring railroads to this area of the country.
So, the vision was simple: run a rail line through the middle of the Appalachian Mountain region which was rich with natural resources such as coal, iron, and timber…..then transport the resources to either a river or ocean port. Additionally, connecting the Ohio River with the Atlantic Ocean and transporting goods across the mountains would be lucrative and more efficient than rivers or canals.
Conversely, the task was hard: building railroads across the mountains was initially expensive and then costly to operate.
General John T. Wilder was the champion of that vision. A Civil War hero, Mayor of Chattanooga, and later a successful businessman, Wilder knew that East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia possessed great opportunity. Early in the 1880s, Wilder moved to Johnson City to create multiple businesses that could eventually supply customers and business for the railroad
3Cs: Construction Begins
With funding from England’s Baring Brothers and Company in hand, Wilder chartered the 3Cs in 1886 and construction soon began in three different locations in the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina. The 3Cs at this point was planned to run from Ashland Ky to Charleston SC. Johnson City TN was to serve as the headquarters for the railroad. As you can see from the map, the railroad was basically a straight line from Ashland, through Johnson City, then Spartanburg SC, and finally to Charleston SC. However, the actual railroad followed rivers through the mountains. These rivers were never straight and provided quite the curves as the line snaked through East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, adding extra miles and great operational costs. There were few large cities on the line, but branches were planned to Charlotte NC and Augusta GA. Two ten-wheeler locomotives were delivered in 1890. After several segments of the railroad were completed, the two locomotives provided limited passenger and freight schedules.
Chattaroi Railroad
In 1887 the 3Cs announced the purchase of the Chattaroi Railroad in Kentucky. The goal of the initial owners of the Chattaroi in the 1870s was to serve the coal fields at Peach Orchard KY. However, for the Charleston Cincinnati & Chicago Railroad, it was a vital link to its destination of the Ohio River at Ashland KY. Click here for more information on the Chattaroi.
3Cs: The Failure
In 1890, a financial panic caused the failure of Baring Brothers and sent the 3Cs into receivership, pausing all construction and limiting operation. Many have said in total, these multiple stretches of railroad grades were the most number of miles of unfinished railroad in history of the industry.
The Ohio River & Charleston Railroad bought the 3Cs for $550,000 in 1893.
3Cs Vision Realized
George L. Carter and the Clinchfield Railroad
George L. Carter purchased segments of the original CC&C in the early 1900s. He added new construction to the existing CC&C roadbed, reducing grades and curves. The outcome was the Clinchfield Railroad (CC&O) running from Elkhorn City KY to Spartanburg SC.
The dream of bridging the Ohio River with the Atlantic Ocean was finally realized. For many years thereafter, the Clinchfield Railroad became a Class 1 railroad that efficiently moved millions of tons of goods, products and natural resources across and through the mountains.
The vision of so many business people, municipalities, politicians, and investors from 1830s to the end of the century was finally realized in 1915. Connecting the Mid-West with the South East, while tapping the natural resources of the Appalachian Mountains made great business sense, and brought prosperity to the region and its people.
Three Railroads
Instead of being one railroad with the 3Cs stretching from north to south, its vision was accomplished by three railroads that worked together to provide a seamless service.
- Chesapeake & Ohio Railway – Chicago to Elkhorn City KY
- Carolina Clinchfield & Ohio Railway – Elkhorn City to Spartanburg SC
- Atlantic Coast Line – Spartanburg SC to Charleston SC (and many other important growing southern cities)
Wilder’s 3Cs Vision Realized
John T. Wilder’s original vision of the 3Cs connecting the Ohio River and the Atlantic Ocean while initially a failure, was spot on. Wilder did live to see the completion of his vision. No doubt he lamented in the personal fortune he lost, but hopefully he realized that history will chronicle the eventual success.
3Cs Railfan Guide
As we explore the 3Cs and other Appalachian Railroads, we will provide Railfan Guides that allow you to explore them online, or by driving, riding, or hiking. Some of these railroads have segments that are thriving, others that are in decline, and many are abandoned. Quite a few of the abandoned roadbeds are now roads or rails-to-trails, while others require some hiking. Of course, railfan guides are never fully complete, and can always be improved, so send me your ideas, questions, and suggestions.
Click here for the Charleston Cincinnati & Chicago 3Cs Railfan Guide
Charleston Cincinnati & Chicago Today
Remnants of the 3Cs remains in Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Kentucky. Over the coming months we will add photos and information where you can follow and view the grade or roadbed. Below are scenes of the roadbed running through Johnson City, crossing and paralleling the Southern Railway (Norfolk Southern) mainline, then heading south in the direction of Erwin.
CC&C 3Cs Grade in Boone Lake
By using Google Maps, you can see the outline and inundated remains of the CC&C 3Cs grade within Boone Lake as it hugged the shoreline of the Watauga and South Holston Rivers. The grade you see below is between Boone Dam and the confluence of the Watauga and South Holston.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Colonial+Heights,+TN+37663/@36.4380381,-82.4307556,797m/dat
More Rails Across the Appalachians information will be added to this page and website in the days ahead. Please let me know if you have any questions, see any edits that should be made, or have any content you are willing to share. Would enjoy hearing from you if you have similar interests in Appalachian Railroads, the 3Cs, the region, or model railroading.
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.