1920 map shows line from Nashville coming around Moccasin Bend to the Cravens Yards and on past Wheland Foundry
Nashville tracks going past U.S. Pipe and on above Chestnut Street
Nashville line as it swerves into the Union Depot site
Soldiers by Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad cars at the Car Shed in 1864
Old stone bridge support on the Nashville train coming through Wauhatchie
photo by Alex McKeel
Chattanooga Creek crossing
Cravens Yard near the foot of Lookout Mountain
Train pulls into Chattanooga at the old Belt Line crossing near Wheland Foundry
photo by John Wilson
Belt Line crosses Nashville tracks near Wheland Foundry
photo by John Wilson
Nashville line coming toward the Chattanooga Creek bridge from Lookout
photo by John Wilson
After the Union Depot closed, Nashville line was diverted under South Broad Street Bridge by relocated Chattanooga Creek to join main line
photo by John Wilson
Nashville line crosses 26th Street
photo by John Wilson
Tracks run out by Siskin Steel
photo by John Wilson
Old rail ties put to use as posts on W. 26th Street at Sydney
photo by Wes Schultz
Spur line at Sydney Street
photo by Wes Schultz
Rail service on Sydney Street
photo by Wes Schultz
Spur on Sydney Street, just off the main line to Nashville
photo by Wes Schultz
Section of old brick pavement near the Nashville line
photo by John Wilson
Rail remnant at 25th Street
photo by John Wilson
Rail crossing on Main Street
photo by John Wilson
Main Terrain Park is built on old Nashville rail line right of way
photo by John Wilson
Track and cross ties are still in place behind beer distribution center by Main Terrain Park
photo by John Wilson
Shadows fall on remnant of Nashville line at beer distributorship
photo by John Wilson
Last bit of track at 14th Street
photo by John Wilson
Entryway to Chattanoogan hotel was built on Nashville Railroad right of way
photo by John Wilson
Chattanooga got a railroad connection to the state capital at Nashville in February 1854 - just over four years after the first train on the Western and Atlantic had arrived. It was finally completed to Wauhatchie and around a narrow shelf of land at the foot of Lookout Mountain across from Moccasin Bend. The line clung close to the river across from Ross's Towhead - a little island that is now underwater.
It went across the property of pioneer settlers John Divine and William Crutchfield in South Chattanooga after a crossing of Chattanooga Creek. It ran just east of Chestnut Street, which was then known as Boyce Street, as it headed for the depot at Ninth Street.
The line was first called the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad. Later, it was the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railroad after it was extended much further north.
After the Union Station was closed in 1971, there was no further need for the Nashville train to come downtown. On the route going from the Cravens Yards across from Moccasin Bend and then across Chattanooga Creek a new line was put in that veered straight east. It went under the South Broad Street bridge over Chattanooga Creek. It then headed for the main line, while going under an overpass on South Market Street. To avoid additional trestles over Chattanooga Creek, the creek in the stretch from South Market Street to South Broad Street was turned into a straight, stagnant ditch during this relocation project.
The track on the old Nashville line now runs out by Siskin Steel at 26th Street, though a few fragments are visible closer into town.
Just a couple of short lengths of track jut out from the asphalt at 25th Street.
There is still a section behind the chicken processing plant at South Broad and Main Street. There's an intersection leading over toward the former Central Passenger Station that was at 1301 Market St.
The new Main Terrain Park is built along the old right of way of the Nashville and Chattanooga line. One section of track runs behind the loading dock at the nearby beer supply plant.
A sliver of the old track, growing in the thick grass, falls just short of reaching 14th Street.
The line went on across where the entryway to the Chattanoogan hotel was built and across where the TVA Building was erected at the former sprawling Union Station site.