Clinchfield Railroad History Timeline

Home » History of the Clinchfield Railroad » Clinchfield Railroad History Timeline

Clinchfield Railroad
CSX Blue RIdge Subdivision

The CSX Blue Ridge Subdivision, the old Clinchfield line south of Erwin is now reopen after the extensive damage from Hurricane Helene. The first revenue freight train ran on September 21st, and two coal trains followed on September 25th. Ribbon cutting photo by Mark Loewe. . Use this link to see Designs in Orbit’s exceptional video updates with drone footage. Also, Train Chaser Elliot provides wonderful coverage.  Click here to read about the monumental CSX rebuilding efforts on Clinchfield.org. In the weeks ahead we will add much more content chronicling the events of the past year.

History Timeline of the Clinchfield Railroad

1800s – The Conceptual and Failed Beginnings

  • 1831: A convention in Estillville, Virginia, first discusses a transportation route connecting the Ohio River to the South Atlantic.
  • 1832: Vice President John C. Calhoun advocates for a rail line from Charleston, SC, to Cincinnati, OH.
  • 1836: The Louisville, Cincinnati, and Charleston Railroad is chartered, but completes very few miles of track.
  • 1886: The Charleston, Cincinnati & Chicago Railroad (3Cs) is chartered by General John T. Wilder.
  • 1886–1893: The 3Cs begins construction.
  • 1890: 3Cs tracks reach Erwin, Tennessee.
  • 1890: 3Cs begins to experience financial challenges. By the Panic of 1893, all construction has ended, leaving hundreds of miles of graded or completed right-of-way.
  • 1893: The 3Cs is sold in foreclosure to the Ohio River & Charleston Railway.
  • 1897: The Ohio River & Charleston begins to sell off key segment of their line.

Early 1900s – The Rise of the Carolina, Clinchfield and Ohio

  • 1902: Entrepreneur and coal magnate George L. Carter purchases the Ohio River & Charleston assets between Huntdale NC and St. Paul VA, creating the South & Western Railway.
  • 1905: Chief Engineer M.J. Caples is hired and proposes a high-standard, low-gradient railway, significantly upgrading the original plans.
  • 1905: Carter secures significant investment from the banking firm of Blair & Company, enabling the new high-standard construction.
  • 1907: General offices for the South & Western are moved to Johnson City, Tennessee.
  • 1908: The South & Western Railway is renamed the Carolina, Clinchfield and Ohio Railway (CC&O).
  • 1909: The CC&O line from Dante, Virginia, to Spartanburg, South Carolina, is completed.
  • 1909: The first passenger train arrives in Spartanburg, with George L. Carter aboard.
  • 1910: A station is built near Little Switzerland, North Carolina, to serve the local resort.
  • 1912: The CC&O purchases the charter of the Clinchfield Northern Railway for its Elkhorn City extension.
  • 1912–1915: The “Elkhorn Extension” is built, extending the line north from Dante, Virginia, to Elkhorn City, Kentucky.
  • 1915: The line is completed from Spartanburg SC to Elkhorn City KY, with George L. Carter driving the final spike.

Mid-20th Century – Operations and Change

  • 1924: The CC&O is leased for 999 years by the Atlantic Coast Line (ACL) and the Louisville & Nashville (L&N) railroads.
  • 1924: The operating company is officially named the Clinchfield Railroad (CRR), with headquarters in Erwin, Tennessee.
  • 1943: The first “Santa Claus Special” train runs, delivering gifts along the railroad’s route.
  • 1948: The first diesel locomotives, EMD F3s, arrive on the Clinchfield, beginning the transition from steam.
  • 1954: The Clinchfield completely transitions to diesel power, retiring its last steam engine.
  • 1954: All passenger train service on the Clinchfield is discontinued.
  • 1961: Manifest freight accounts for almost half of Clinchfield’s revenue, showcasing its role as a vital bridge line.
  • 1967: The Atlantic Coast Line (ACL) merges with the Seaboard Air Line (SAL) to form the Seaboard Coast Line (SCL).
  • 1971: The SCL gains full control of the L&N.

1970s–1985 – Consolidation and Absorption

  • 1972: The Clinchfield, SCL, L&N, and other affiliated railroads begin marketing themselves as the “Family Lines System”.
  • 1980: The Seaboard Coast Line (SCL) and Chessie System merge, forming CSX Corporation.
  • 1982: The SCL and L&N are fully merged into the new Seaboard System Railroad.
  • 1982: Freight service under the Clinchfield name ends.
  • January 1, 1983: The Clinchfield Railroad is merged into the Seaboard System Railroad, ending its 79-year independent corporate identity.
  • 1985: The Clinchfield route is now fully integrated into the larger CSX Transportation network, eventually becoming what is now the Blue Ridge and Kingsport Subdivisions.

Clinchfield.org Sources and Resources

The following are excellent resources for those of you wanting to explore and learn more about the Clinchfield Railroad. These sources of information also serve as reference and historical materials for Clinchfield.org. Much of the content on the website is verified across multiple sources.

Clinchfield Railroad