Overview
The locomotive W.B. Munford, operated by engineer Benjamin Bartle and carrying a small party of railroad officials and guests, became the first train to cross the new Cumberland River railroad bridge at Clarksville, Tennessee. The successful crossing demonstrated the strength of the long-awaited structure and marked a major milestone in the completion of the Memphis, Clarksville & Louisville Railroad, helping connect Clarksville to a rail route between Louisville and Memphis.
Quick Facts
- Date
- Aug. 6, 1860
Associated Organizations
Associated Places
Place
Cumberland River Bridge
Completed in 1860 by the Memphis, Clarksville & Louisville Railroad, the Cumberland River Bridge was the engineering centerpiece of Clarksville’s first railroad.