Yancey Railroad

Home » Connections and Interchanges of the Clinchfield Railroad » Yancey Railroad

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 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.

Yancey Railroad

The Yancey Railroad was originally the Black Mountain Railway, which had been owned by the Clinchfield Railroad. Click on this link for more information on the Black Mountain Railway.

The Yancey Railroad (YAN), a 12.8-mile short line in Yancey County, North Carolina, operated from 1955 to 1982, linking Burnsville (35.917°N 82.301°W, elevation 2,825 feet) to Micaville, Bowditch, and the Clinchfield Railroad at Kona. It hauled mica, feldspar, timber, and farm goods through the South Toe River valley’s steep Appalachian terrain, using diesel switchers like GE 44-ton and 65-ton models.

Black Mountain Railway

Its predecessor, the Black Mountain Railway, was incorporated in 1910 by J. Bis Ray and Charles L. Ruffin to tap Black Mountain minerals. Built in 1911 as narrow-gauge from Kona to Eskota (with a Bowditch branch), it used Shay and 4-6-0 steam locomotives for mica (key for insulators) and lumber. Acquired by the Clinchfield (Carolina, Clinchfield & Ohio) in the 1920s, it endured the Depression but closed in 1951 due to low traffic, with the ICC approving abandonment in 1954 if sold locally.

Yancey Railroad

Local investors bought the trackage for $22,000 in 1954, reorganizing as the Yancey Railroad, which started operations April 1, 1955, on standard gauge. With a GE 45-ton switcher (#1 “Blackie”) and boxcar caboose, it peaked in the 1960s moving 10,000+ tons yearly. A 1968 steam excursion attempt failed, and by 1976, it focused on maintenance-of-way. Closure came in 1982 amid trucking and mica decline.

Abandoned Rails

Today, the Yancey’s abandoned route is visible along NC-197: overgrown railbeds near Micaville show ties and culverts, while the Burnsville depot site has markers. Sections near Kona are hikeable via informal paths, preserving this Appalachian short line’s legacy. CSX (Clinchfield successor) runs the adjacent mainline

Yancey Railroad Stats

  • Reorganized: 1955 (originally the Black Mountain Railway)
  • Reporting Mark: YAN
  • Operated: 1955-1985
  • Length: 12.83 miles
  • Headquarters: Burnsville NC, Erwin TN (Clinchfield Railroad was its corporate parent for many years)
  • Primary Cities: Kona, Micaville, Burnsville, and Bowditch NC
  • Primary Freight: Timber, minerals, building materials, agricultural products
  • Ownership: Clinchfield Railroad
  • Clinchfield Connection: Kona NC

Yancey Railroad and the Clinchfield

Information about the Yancey Railroad and Clinchfield Railroad connection will be added in the days ahead.

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