Clinchfield Railroad Photos

During the steam era a total of 128 locomotives saw service on the Clinchfield ranging from the 39 ton 4-4-0's to the 500 ton Challengers. In the late 1940's at the height of steam operations, the Clinchfield had an unusually high percentage of articulated locomotives for a medium size railroad. In 1948, the last year of total steam operations, the locomotive roster listed a total of 86 locomotives with 65% being the articulated type. Today, only two of the 128 original steam locomotives have survived. These are the CRR #1 and #99. See photos and history below.

An updated photo of #1 at the Baltimore Museum will be here soon.

The 673, shown in the photo above, is a class E-3, 4-6-6-4, built by American in June 1943 and purchased from the Defense Plant Corporation in July 1947. This engine was retired on August 10, 1953.

Engine 414 is a Class K-4, 2-8-2 Mike built by A-Brooks and was a general purpose engine used for freight, passenger service and switcher. It was retired in September, 1953 and eventually sold for scrap.

CRR No.99

Engine CRR #99 is a 4-6-2 "PACIFIC" class, high wheeled, locomotive built in December 1905, by Baldwin Locomotive Works and was the first new locomotive placed in service on the Clinchfield. It was used solely for passenger service and eventually sold to the Black Mountain Railroad (North Carolina) in 1954 who, in turn, sold it to the city of Jackson, TN. in February 1956 for the Casey Jones Museum. This is the same type locomotive used by Casey prior to his fatal wreck. This engine can now be seen at the museum

CRR No.1

This engine was acquired by the OR&C in 1900 as #1 and renumbered it "5". It was included in the South and Western purchase in 1902 and later to the Clinchfield in 1908. It was still numbered as the South and Western #5 when this photo was taken. As observed, maintenance was neglected by the missing pilot and unkept condition. The engine during this period was used mostly in work train service during the CRR construction.

Dante,VA,1908

This photo shows the #1 after it's purchase by the Black Mountain Railroad. Up to that time, it was still identified as the CRR #5. It was again sold back to the Clinchfield in 1955 when the Black Mountain dieselized. Later that year, the town of Erwin purchased it for the purpose of developing a display with the engine. Since it never materialized, the #1 sat behind the CRR shops rusting.

Erwin Yard,1913

In 1968, with a change in management and renewed interest in steam excursions, the engine was completely overhauled at the CRR shops, sporting brass trimmed domes, air pump and graphite smokebox. It's rebirth maiden trip was made on November 23, 1968, from Erwin to Kingsport, TN, and return. This was the first steam locomotive to operate over the line in fourteen years. It was not the last. In 1979, this historic engine was retired and is now on display at the Baltimore Museum.

Erwin Yard,1968

The Clinchfield Railroad Depot on Nolichucky Avenue in Erwin, TN underwent extensive renovations.

Photo courtesy of Unicoi County Public Library