Louisville Southern Railroad facts for kids
The Louisville Southern Railroad (LS) was a train company in Kentucky, USA, during the late 1800s. It ran trains from 1884 to 1894 . After that, it became part of the larger Southern Railway.
Contents
Building the Railroad
Early Plans and New Beginnings
The company first started in 1868. It was called the Louisville, Harrodsburg and Virginia Railroad. But no tracks were built for many years. In 1882, another company, the Louisville, New Albany and Chicago Railway, wanted to compete with the L&N. They wanted to reach the Eastern Kentucky Coalfields.
So, the Louisville, Harrodsburg and Virginia Railroad changed its name. It became the Louisville Southern. They also hired Bennett Young to be their president.
Laying the Tracks
Building the railroad began in 1884. The tracks started in Louisville. They went through Shelbyville and Lawrenceburg. By 1888, the tracks reached Harrodsburg. A smaller track was also built to Burgin. There, the Louisville Southern connected with another major train line.
Expanding the Network
In 1888, the Louisville Southern started building another track. This one went from Lawrenceburg to Versailles and Lexington. The company then bought the Versailles and Midway line. This allowed them to offer service to Georgetown.
The track to Lexington crossed the Kentucky River at Tyrone. It used a very long bridge called Young's High Bridge. This bridge was 1,625-foot (495 m) long. Trains started running on this new line in October 1889.
How the Railroad Operated
Stations and Cargo
In Louisville, the LS used tracks and buildings from another company. This was the Kentucky and Indiana Bridge and Railroad Company. Passengers would get on and off trains at Central Station. This station was on Seventh Street. Cargo, like goods and supplies, was loaded and unloaded at the K&I's West End yard.
Mergers and Changes
The Louisville Southern was rented by the Louisville, New Albany and Chicago Railway from 1889 to 1890. Later, the East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railway rented both the Cincinnati Southern and the Louisville Southern. In 1894, all three companies joined together. They became part of the larger Southern system.
Today, the old tracks of the Louisville Southern are still used. They are now part of the Class I Norfolk Southern system.
