We have two where I used to live in TN. The Tennessee Central which was split up among three railroads in the late 1960’s was finally torn up between Cookeville and Crab Orchard Tennessee in the late 1980’s or early 1990’s(?). The depot in Crossville (just west of Crab orchard) was remodelled. I am assuming it is still standing and has a gift shop or some type of business in it. I have not been their in three years so I am not certain. Their is an excellent Trains article on the TN Central in 1987. The article was split into two parts. The other one is the Oneida and Western which was torn up in 1954. I remember seeing the old roadbed when I was younger. The O & W was a 38 mile shortline between Oneida TN and Jamestown TN. The old depot in Jamestown was still there a couple of years ago but was not looking very well on the outside… Also, their is an old O & W trestle in Big South Fork Recreation area that is still standing and has been refurbished. I think you can walk across it.
Long Island’s Newsday (Sunday, July 17, 2005, Section G - LI Life, Oyster Bay Edition, Pages G1, G6 - G8) had a cover story on hiking the roadbed of the Long Island Rail Road’s on Bridgehampton-to-Sag Harbor branch that opened in 1870 and shutdown in 1938. The rails were taken up to provide steel for World War II usage. Toward the end of its life, the Sag Harbor Rail Way ran a 40-passenger motorized car that locals dubbed “The Toonerville Trolley.” Unfortunately, the article is no longer online. The article had photos from the Ron Ziel Collection in the Queens Borough Public Library. These included:
A photo circa 1900 of the Sag Harbor Station with a train waiting to depart
A picture of the crew and station agent before “The Toonerville Trolley”
A photo of the August 1908 train wreck when an engine broke through the Long Wharf and plunged into 8 feet of water
There were also some Newsday photos of remaining evidence of the railroad (a mile marker, railroad spike, pilings) along today’s hiking path plus photos of the old freight building (now a Garden Center) and the modern post office where the passenger station stood. There was also a graphic showing the railroad’s route.
I was just talking about this abandoned railroad line near my house in the other thread (about the signal detector).
I often walk on it, it’s very clean because countless rains washed it. The scenery along it when I go a few miles south from my house is very nice and relaxing. You are surrounded by bushes and trees from both sides and you can walk as much as you want because trains aren’t passing. I go there now and then to take pictures and relaxe on my own.
I grew up right across Salt Creek. When the CNW still served the Ovaltine plant, we’d go down and watch them switch it out. I think it was a crime to remove the old bridges over the creek, particularly the CA&E one. That and all the trees. What do city planners have against trees? I haven’t been down there in quite some time. Is there any evidence of the old CGW ROW left along there?
