History – Page 14 – Railfanning.org

Elkton & Guthrie Railroad

August 24, 2005 Railfanning.org

GUTHRIE, Ky. – The Elkton & Guthrie Railroad was incorporated on Feb. 10, 1871, as the Elkton Railroad Company. “Work on the railroad was very slow and 13 years later, only the right of way had been cleared and the roadbed graded,” Dennis Mize wrote in his 1999 book L&N’s Memphis Line. “To make matters worse, the line was out of money and the prospects of raising additional funds for laying track and purchasing rolling stock were bleak,” Mize wrote. “The problem was solved by turning to L&N’s president, Milton H. Smith, who signed a contract on Aug. 30, 1884

The Legacy of Casey Jones

May 1, 2005 Todd DeFeo

Casey Jones is as much myth as he is historic figure. Jones was catapulted into American folklore and became a railroad legend shortly before 4 a.m. on April 30, 1900.

Kingston, Ga.: A Former Rail Hub

March 1, 2005 Todd DeFeo

This north Georgia town, though today a quiet hamlet, once served as a crossroads and as an important railroad city.

Andrews Raid showed importance of railroads

December 1, 2004 Todd DeFeo

James J. Andrews walked precisely as he made his way to the locomotive. Few, if any, noticed him or the raiders following close behind.

Railroad History Runs Deep in Henry County, Georgia

November 29, 2004 Todd DeFeo

On any given day, it’s not uncommon to hear the sound of a passing freight train in McDonough. The railroad roots in Henry County run deep.

Where the Tracks No Longer Run

September 1, 2004 Todd DeFeo

Less than 100 years ago, a narrow-gauge short line railroad once served the Dunwoody community, connecting it to a major thoroughfare between Charlotte and Atlanta.

An ‘Appalling Catastrophe’

February 1, 2004 Todd DeFeo

At about 8 p.m. on Sept. 29, 1906, a northbound Louisville & Nashville Railroad passenger train — No. 102 — steamed towards a swing bridge crossing the Cumberland River. Near the overpass, a glowing red light broke the night’s darkness, signaling for an approaching train to stop.

An engine from the Nicholasville, Ky., -based short line R.J. Corman sits idle outside the engine house in downtown Guthrie.

Railroad History Runs Deep in Guthrie, Ky.; Trains Still Run

June 1, 2003 The Cross-Tie

Driving into this small town, hugging the Kentucky- Tennessee state line, one can feel a sense of history, long forgotten over several decades.

Clarksville, Tenn., Railroad Strikes After Money Tightens

January 15, 2003 Todd DeFeo

When the money ran out on the Memphis, Clarksville & Louisville Railroad, employees refused to work and a nearly two-week strike began on Feb. 6, 1868.

The Crescent’s History

August 31, 2002 Railfanning.org

ATLANTA – The Crescent in its modern-day incarnation is rooted deep in southern history. The Crescent traces its heritage back to the 1890s. The Washington & Southwestern Vestibule Limited launched in 1891, running from New York to New Orleans. According to American Heritage Dictionary, a vestibule is “an enclosed area at the end of a passenger car on a railroad train.” That was considered a luxury for passengers to be able to walk between cars all the while protected from the elements. A 1950 edition of Ties magazine stated: “In an important sense, the new Crescent came to us from