Interstate Railroad: Clinchfield Connection

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Clinchfield Railroad

The CSX Blue Ridge Subdivision, the old Clinchfield line south of Erwin is now reopen after the extensive damage from Hurricane Helene.  Use this link to see Designs in Orbit’s exceptional video updates with drone footage. Also, Train Chaser Elliot also provides wonderful coverage.  Click here to read about the monumental CSX rebuilding efforts. In the weeks ahead we will add much more content chronicling the events of the past year.

Interstate Railroad

Interstate and the Clinchfield

Interstate originated coal along its 88 miles of mainline and branches and delivered to the Clinchfield Railroad at Miller Yard VA, and to the Southern Railway at Appalachia VA. Interstate also provided trackage rights for the L&N, allowing for coal and freight to be exchanged between the Clinchfield and the L&N.

Miller Yard by Ron Flanary

Miller Yard, VA, June 20, 1974. This facility was built by the Interstate Railroad in an isolated spot on the north bank of the Clinch River in 1923 as part of the line’s Guest River Extension from Norton, and down the Guest River Gorge.

Miller Yard VA - Interstate Railroad

From the left you have the Clinchfield RR main, the CRR passing track, then seven yard tracks, plus the Interstate main, all designated for either delivery or pick up traffic for the two railroads. On the far left were once a few section houses and a hotel, plus a depot (about mid-way down the tangent on the far left). There was also a coaling station (the concrete shell of which can be seen on the right), water tank and other facilities for both railroads. From 1930 to 1935, L&N crews also used the hotel for off-duty “rest” before heading back to Kentucky.

The small metal building held an Interstate clerk until just before this time. It was probably the worst job on the railroad, since this was (and is) a very lonely and isolated spot. The orange and white pole to the right is an antennae for the Interstate dispatcher’s radio.

After 1973, almost all L&N interchange traffic moved to the N&W Clinch Valley District between Norton and St. Paul, leaving very little interchange at Miller Yard. The TTX flat in the distance with two “pigs” were not permitted through the tight N&W tunnels, so they came this way for a few years. The Interstate continued to run its own coal traffic to the Clinchfield during this decade, but it eventually tailed off to nothing.

Interstate Stats

  • Reporting Mark: INT | IRR
  • Chartered: 1896
  • Began Operation: 1909
  • Length: 88 miles
  • Headquarters: Andover VA
  • Primary Cities: Appalachia and Norton VA
  • Primary Freight: Coal
  • Passenger Service: Yes
  • Successor: Purchased by Southern Railway in 1961
  • Clinchfield Connection: Miller Yard

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

3Cs Websites

Appalachian-Railroads.org | Clinchfield.org | Southern-Railroads.org