Louisville & Nashville Railroad – L&N (2024)

The Louisville & Nashville was originally intended to connect its two namesake cities, which it did by 1859. By the 1920s, the L&N had grown to more than 6,000 miles, connecting 14 states. There is no doubt the L&N was a key component of the economic growth of the southern states during the late 1800s and early 1900s. While many other railroads experienced receivership and financial challenges, the L&N always avoided financial calamity, and gained the nickname of ‘Old Reliable.’

Ohio River to the Atlantic Ocean

Photo: Roger Puta

In its formative years after being chartered in 1850, the L&N focused on building its line south from Louisville to Nashville, eventually reaching Birmingham and New Orleans. By 1902, the railroad created a second parallel rail line from Cincinnati to Atlanta GA. This second corridor allowed the L&N to tap into the coal fields of Kentucky, but also created a Ohio River to Atlantic Ocean rail line. For the final leg from Atlanta to the coast, the L&N relied on partner railroads such as the Georgia Railroad and the Atlantic Coast Line.

See Also

This Map Will Show You America's Ghost Network Of Abandoned Railroads

The Age of Civilized Travel by Ron Flanary

August 20, 1966-Cincinnati Union Terminal: It’s hard not to like the “face” of an EMD E or F-unit. L&N 793 is idling at CUT’s engine facilities with an FP7 (606) behind it. The duo will head south for Louisville, Nashville, Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile and New Orleans with number 5, the “Humming Bird,” at 6:45 PM Eastern Time.

You could have purchased a roomette in the train’s “Pine” series sleeper on the rear of the train, and had a scrumptious L&N-signature dish, the Gulf Coast Seafood Platter, in the diner-lounge as you coiled along the “Short Line” to Louisville. After a 9:50 PM arrival there (plus the addition of a Louisville-Atlanta “Pine” series behind you), you could have the Pullman porter make up your room and retire for a restful ride down the Main Stem. It was an experience I tried on this very train about three weeks after this shot—and I still remember how wonderful it was. This was the age of civilized travel.

Louisville & Nashville Railroad Stats

• Reporting Mark: LN
• Operated: 1850-1982
• Length: 10,396 miles
• Mainline: Louisville/Cincinnati OH/St. Louis to the north – Nashville/Knoxville TN – Atlanta/Birmingham in the middle – Montgomery/New Orleans/Florida to the south
• Primary Cities: Louisville KY, Nashville TN, Cincinnati OH, St Louis MO, Knoxville TN, Chattanooga TN, Atlanta GA, Birmingham AL, Montgomery AL, Mobile AL, New Orleans LA
• Headquarters: Louisville KY
• Passenger Trains: Dixie Flyer, Dixieland, Gulf Wind, South Wind, Southland
• Successor: Seaboard Coast Line
• L&N Today: Part of CSX Transportation

L&N Map 1914

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For More Information

Louisville & Nashville Railroad Historical Society

For More Information – Sources and Resources

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

• Association: Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Historical Society
• Association: Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society
• Association: Carolina Clinchfield Chapter National Railway Historical Society
• Association: ET&WNC Railroad Historical Society and their Facebook Page
• Association: George L. Carter Railroad Historical Society
• Association: Louisville & Nashville Railroad Historical Society
• Association: Norfolk & Western Historical Society
• Association: Southern Railway Historical Association
• Association: Watauga Valley Railroad Historical Society
• Personal Maps & Memorabilia: Documents, maps, timetables, and track charts
• Archives of Appalachia: ETSU, Johnson City TN
• Book – Castner, Flanary & Dorin: Louisville & Nashville Railroad, The Old Reliable
• Book – Drury. The Historical Guide to North American Railroads
• Book – Flanary: The Louisville & Nashville Cumberland Valley Division
• Book – Flanary, Lindsey & Oroszi. The Southern Railway
• Book – Flanary, Oroszi & McKee: ‘The Louisville & Nashville in the Appalachians’
• Books – Goforth: ‘Building the Clinchfield‘ and ‘When Steam Ran the Clinchfield‘
• Book – Graybeal: ‘The Railroads of Johnson City‘
• Book – Irwin & Stahl: ‘The Last Empire Builder: The Life of George L. Carter‘
• Book – Lindsey: ‘Norfolk Southern 1995 Review’
• Book – King: ‘Clinchfield Country‘
• Book – Marsh: ‘Clinchfield in Color‘
• Book – Oroszi & Flanary: ‘Dixie Lines, The Louisville & Nashville Railroad’
• Book – Poole: ‘A History of Railroading in Western North Carolina‘
• Book – Poteat & Taylor: ‘The CSX Clinchfield Route in the 21st Century‘
• Book – Stevens & Peoples: ‘The Clinchfield No. 1 – Tennessee’s Legendary Steam Engine‘
• Book – Way: ‘The Clinchfield Railroad, the Story of a Trade Route Across the Blue Ridge Mountains‘
• Book – Webb: ‘The Southern Railway System: An Illustrated History’
• Book – Wolfe: Southern Railway Appalachia Division
• Magazines/Online: ‘Trains‘, ‘Classic Trains‘
• Newspaper Articles: Newspapers.com
• Online Article: Flanary: ‘The Quick Service Route, The Clinchfield Railroad‘; Scientific American: ‘The Costliest Railroad in America‘
• Online Videos: Ken Marsh on Kingsport area railroads and region’s history Video #1 | Video #2:
• Website: Carolana.com – North Carolina Railroads, South Carolina Railroads
• Website: HawkinsRails.net
• Website: StateOfFranklin.net which hosts Johnson’s Depot
• Website: RailFanGuides.us for Johnson City and for Erwin
• Website: SteamLocomotive.com
• Website: VirginiaPlaces.org – Railroad History of Virginia
• Website: WvncRails.org – North Carolina and West Virginia Railroads

Contact Us

Would enjoy hearing from you if you have questions, suggestions, edits, or content that you are willing to share. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have similar interests in the railroads or model railroading.

3Cs Websites

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

1. Gazetteer of American Railroads, 1914 ↩︎