Clinchfield Railroad facts for kids

The Clinchfield Railroad was a famous train line in the eastern United States. It was known for its amazing engineering and for carrying coal. The railroad connected the coalfields of Virginia and Elkhorn City, Kentucky, to the textile mills in South Carolina.

The Clinchfield was the last major railroad built east of the Rocky Mountains. It stretched 266 miles and showed off incredible railroad building skills. For example, the "Clinchfield Loops" helped trains climb the steep Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina.

The Clinchfield Railroad officially started running on December 1, 1924. For many years, it was rented by two other big railroads: the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. In 1983, these companies merged to form the Seaboard System Railroad. The Clinchfield then became part of this new system.

Today, the old Clinchfield line is owned and operated by CSX Transportation. It's still an important route for trains carrying goods.

The Story of the Clinchfield Railroad

The idea for the Clinchfield Railroad started a long time ago, even before trains existed! People wanted a way to move goods from the Ohio River all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. In 1831, a meeting was held in Virginia to discuss this very idea. The route they talked about back then is very similar to where the Clinchfield was eventually built.

The "Triple C" Railroad (1886-1893)

In 1886, a former general named John T. Wilder started a company called the Charleston, Cincinnati and Chicago Railroad. People often called it the "Triple C" Railroad. This was the real beginning of what would become the Clinchfield.

The plan was to build a 625-mile line. It would go from Ironton, Ohio, to Charleston, South Carolina. It would also have a branch along the Ohio River to Cincinnati. This railroad was meant to serve farms, mountain resorts, and especially the rich coal fields of Virginia and Kentucky.

Wilder got money from a bank in London to build the railroad. Construction began in three different places at once. Tracks were laid from Johnson City, Tennessee, heading north and south. By 1890, tracks reached Erwin, Tennessee. Most of the grading (preparing the land) was done from Johnson City to Dante, Virginia.

However, the company started having money problems in 1889. By 1893, a big financial crisis hit, and the "Triple C" Railroad ran out of money.

The Ohio River and Charleston Railroad (1893-1902)

The old Clinchfield train station in Erwin, Tennessee

On July 17, 1893, the "Triple C" Railroad was sold because of its money troubles. A man named Charles E. Heller bought it for $550,000. He renamed it the "Ohio River and Charleston Railroad."

This new company owned 171 miles of track that were already working. It also had many more miles that were built but not yet in use. Construction continued slowly. In 1897, parts of the railroad were sold off. The last part was sold in 1902.

The South and Western Railway (1902-1908)

Around this time, a smart businessman named George Lafayette Carter was developing coal mines in Virginia. He needed a railroad to carry his coal to a seaport. So, in 1902, he bought the Ohio River and Charleston Railroad. He renamed it the South and Western Railway.

At first, it seemed like the railroad would be built the same way as before. But in 1905, a new chief engineer, M.J. Caples, had a better idea. He said that a railroad carrying heavy coal through mountains needed to be built extra strong. This meant building strong bridges, viaducts, and many tunnels. The Clinchfield ended up having 55 tunnels! Because of this high-quality building, it was one of the most expensive railroads ever built in the U.S.

Carolina, Clinchfield and Ohio (1908-1983)

The railroad got a new name on March 31, 1908: the Carolina, Clinchfield and Ohio. The line from Dante, Virginia, to Johnson City was finished in early 1909. The first train, with Mr. Carter on board, arrived in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on October 29, 1909. This connected the Clinchfield to other major train lines.

Mr. Carter had planned to put the main offices and train yards in Johnson City. But the land owners asked for too much money. So, the company bought land in Erwin, Tennessee, instead. Erwin became the main hub for the Clinchfield's operations.

In 1910, a train station was built near Little Switzerland, North Carolina. This was for visitors going to the mountain resort. The resort even built a special toll road to connect to the station. This road is now North Carolina Highway 226A.

The Clinchfield Railroad used steam trains for many years. But in 1954, they switched to newer, more powerful diesel trains.

Passenger train service on the Clinchfield began in 1909. But it ended in 1954. In its last years, passenger trains only ran three times a week. After that, the Clinchfield mainly carried freight, like coal. Freight service continued until 1982. That's when the Seaboard System Railroad bought all the remaining shares. The Clinchfield name was no longer used for freight operations.

The Clinchfield Today

In 1972, the Clinchfield became part of a group called the "Family Lines System." This was a marketing name for several railroads that worked together. On January 1, 1983, these railroads merged into one big company, the Seaboard System. Later, in 1986, the Seaboard System joined with another company to form CSX. CSX still operates the old Clinchfield lines today.

The Clinchfield Railroad is also famous for its "Santa Claus Special." This special train started in 1943. It ran the entire length of the Clinchfield's main line, from Elkhorn City to Kingsport, Tennessee. Along the way, people on the train would hand out gifts to children. Today, CSX Transportation continues this tradition. It's now known as the "Santa Train" and is still a beloved event for kids along the route.

Images for kids

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  Former Clinchfield depot in Erwin, Tennessee