Train to Lookout Mountain at first started from depot on Newby Street and went under 11th Street before heading south on the Belt Line track
Route went near the National Cemetery, then the train headed for St. Elmo
Route soon changed to the Union Station and followed Belt Line tracks down toward the river and then south toward St. Elmo
Shows the first Broad Gauge route from Newby Street at the top and the second route from Union Depot coming up from near the river. At that point the line headed toward Forest Hills Cemetery.
Line turned west at Atcheson Foundry toward Forest Hills Cemetery
Broad Gauge entered St. Elmo just west of Tennessee Avenue
Line went along the later Virginia Avenue to Mountain Junction near the state line before curving back toward the foot of Lookout Mountain
When the line was electrified for street cars, a short cut was put in that crossed St. Elmo Avenue between 45th and 46th streets. The Broad Gauge continued on a straight path to Mountain Junction.
Broad Gauge went on a high trestle over Incline #1 and under Incline #2 along its route above Old Wauhatchie Pike
Line went to a switchback deep in the woods on the side of Lookout before heading upward toward Cravens House
Track went under the Incline and on to near where the Lookout Mountain Boulevard (Scenic Highway) reached the top of the mountain
Route of the Broad Gauge on the top of the mountain going toward the Lookout Inn
Broad Gauge tracks reach the site of the Lookout Inn just before the top Incline station
Broad Gauge trestle over the first Incline
There was a foot bridge over the spot where the Broad Gauge entered the top of the mountain between two boulders
photo by From the collection of T. Fred Miller
Broad Gauge cars in front of the Lookout Inn
Lookout Mountain route
Broad Gauge track branched off at the Acheson Foundry in Alton Park
photo by John Wilson
Route heading toward the Post Office
photo by Wes Schultz
Broad Gauge goes by branch library
photo by Wes Schultz
Broad Gauge passed by Forest Hills Cemetery as it headed for Lookout Mountain
photo by Wes Schultz
It curved in front of the gate to Forest Hills
photo by Wes Schultz
Railroad to Lookout went just west of Tennessee Avenue along what is now an alley
photo by Wes Schultz
Headed for Mountain Junction
photo by Wes Schultz
This section of the line is now an alley
photo by Wes Schultz
Past the St. Elmo Baptist Church
photo by Wes Schultz
Some of the track was used to help hold up nearby culvert
photo by Wes Schultz
More track in recycled use along the old bed of the Broad Gauge Railroad
photo by Wes Schultz
By handsome stone wall
photo by Wes Schultz
By 47th Street. This section was not used when a streetcar was put in and the line was shortened by use of a shortcut between 45th and 46th streets.
photo by Wes Schultz
Discarded rails put to use as fence and guard rail at stream crossing in South St. Elmo
photo by Wes Schultz
Starting the ascent of what is now called Guild Trail near Alabama Avenue
photo by Wes Schultz
Going by an interesting rock formation
photo by Wes Schultz
Broad Gauge often passed this boulder
photo by Wes Schultz
Track went across pike up the mountain where there now is a parking area for hikers and mountain bikers
photo by Wes Schultz
Headed for a crossing of the Whiteside Turnpike, which was the first road up the mountain
photo by Wes Schultz
Hiking trail where the Broad Gauge once ran
photo by Wes Schultz
Incline still runs, but not the Broad Gauge
photo by John Wilson
Intersection with the Whiteside Turnpike
photo by Wes Schultz
Taking a curve
photo by Wes Schultz
High trestle over the first Incline is still intact
photo by Wes Schultz
Trestle view of northern portion of St. Elmo and beyond
photo by Wes Schultz
First Incline Railway went through this gorge to a station near the current Chattem
photo by Wes Schultz
Approaching the small trestle that went over the Federal Road
photo by Wes Schultz
Federal Road, after going under the Broad Gauge, turned sharply toward the current Ruby Falls
photo by Wes Schultz
View of Moccasin Bend of the Tennessee River near the current Ruby Falls
photo by Wes Schultz
Gate at the Ruby Falls parking lot
photo by Wes Schultz
Approach to the Lookout Mountain Boulevard (Scenic Highway)
photo by Wes Schultz
Historical marker for Camp Demaray
photo by Wes Schultz
Fireplace at remains of Camp Demaray stone building
photo by Wes Schultz
Steps leading to Camp Demaray
photo by Wes Schultz
Track toward the switchback
photo by Wes Schultz
Hikers at the Switchback
photo by Wes Schultz
Cravens House was at the side of Lookout Mountain long before the Broad Gauge was built
photo by Wes Schultz
Route went below home of Robert Cravens
photo by Wes Schultz
Hardy Trail went by residence of Mayor Richard Hardy and on toward mountain's summit
photo by Wes Schultz
Hardy home just above the Broad Gauge track
photo by Wes Schultz
Hikers just after passing Cravens House
photo by Wes Schultz
Broad Gauge passes under the Incline Railway for the second time
photo by Wes Schultz
Valley view as the Broad Gauge nears the top of Lookout Mountain
photo by Wes Schultz
Broad Gauge just before it reaches the section where the Scenic Highway was built over it
photo by Wes Schultz
Line went through this gap at what is now the Stonedge Condominiums
photo by Wes Schultz
Approaching the Lookout Mountain, Tn., business district
photo by Wes Schultz
Behind the business section
photo by Wes Schultz
Approaching the road leading to West Brow Road
photo by Wes Schultz
Start of the section now known as the Cow Path
photo by Wes Schultz
Other end of the Cow Path
photo by Wes Schultz
Headed for the destination above the Incline top station
photo by Wes Schultz
It was once possible to step on a train in downtown Chattanooga and arrive at the top of scenic, historic Lookout Mountain beneath the majestic Lookout Inn. But it only lasted for a few short years.
The Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain Railway Company was organized in February of 1887. In June, the company advertised for 500 laborers to begin building the line.
The new railroad was more commonly known as the Broad Gauge to distinguish it from the Narrow Gauge that was built from the Point Hotel at the north end of the mountain beneath the future Point Park. The Narrow Gauge went in the direction of Sunset Rock to a station at Sunset Park. It was later extended to the Natural Bridge.
An elaborate hotel at the end of the Broad Gauge was begun in July 1889. This was on a peak above the site where Incline #2 built its upper station. The Lookout Inn was 365 feet long. It was four stories high with a 96-foot, octagon-shaped tower and a smaller tower. The Lookout Inn opened in June 1890.
The Broad Gauge initially used depots on Newby Street and then Georgia Avenue. It followed the Belt Line on a route that ran under 11th Street and then near the National Cemetery before heading for Alton Park. At the site of the Acheson Foundry, it dropped off the Belt Line onto new track that went along the north side of the Forest Hills Cemetery.
After a short time, the Broad Gauge switched to use of the Union Station across from the Read House. From there it followed a section of the Belt Line near the river that curved east across South Broad Street to a connection with the new Broad Gauge line.
The Broad Gauge curved just in front of the Forest Hills gate and then headed south through St. Elmo along a line between what became Tennessee Avenue and St. Elmo Avenue. Part of the line at the south end was later put into use as Virgina Avenue. The line curved up toward the mountain at 55th Street at the section known as Mountain Junction.
It went above Alabama Avenue before crossing the Johnson Turnpike. The Broad Gauge then went past the first road up the mountain, the Whiteside Turnpike. A short distance past that, it went under Incline #2 (today's Incline). Just beyond that, it crossed on a high trestle above the first Incline that was built to the Point Hotel. Then it went across a smaller trestle above the old Federal Road that dated to 1803. Just above the trestle, the Federal Road veered to the right and continued just above the rail line. The road to the home of Robert Cravens (Lower Cravens Terrace) went straight up from the small trestle.
The line then headed past the future Ruby Falls before coming to a switchback deep in the woods. Not far from the switchback a Civilian Conservation Corps camp was set up for workers who built numerous trails and rock walls on the side of Lookout Mountain. It was called Camp Demaray. A section of the old Broad Gauge was put to use as a road leading to the historic Cravens House. Just past Cravens House, the road goes to the left and the original railbed resumes just below the historic Hardy house. Richard Hardy, a Chattanooga mayor and industrialist and his wife, Ethel Soper Hardy, lived there for many years. Ethel Soper Hardy helped found the Humane Educational Association. A ceramic cat was atop the house for many years. The charming home with its interesting outbuildings became the property of the National Park Service and began falling into ruins.
The Broad Gauge passed by several trickling streams from mountainside springs in its gradual ascent to the top of Lookout. It once again passed under the Incline Railway. It came out at the top of the later Lookout Mountain Boulevard (Scenic Highway). A section of the highway at the top follows the old Broad Gauge route.
The Broad Gauge went by the Lookout Mountain House, whose original stone wall still stands at the top of the highway at the current Stonedge Condominiums. At Stonedge, the line entered through a narrow gap of rock. It then went on a trestle across a deep ravine. Some of the trestle piers can still be seen.
The Broad Gauge made a wide arc on its gradual ascent to the Lookout Inn. It went along the current East and West Road and behind the Cafe on the Corner and other current Lookout Mountain businesses. It went above the current Commons playground and then headed for the current Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church. At the current Lookout Mountain Elementary School it veered onto the section that today is known as the Cow Path trail. It came out just below the Incline station.
The Broad Gauge sometimes hauled as many as 650 passengers a day up the mountain. Some of the famous guests included the financier Jay Gould and the explorer Henry Stanley. However, both the Broad Gauge and the Lookout Inn soon ran into financial difficulty and were sold for far less than their original value.
The Lookout Inn was destroyed in a spectacular fire on Nov. 17, 1908. Several years earlier, the Broad Gauge service was discontinued.
The line was later electrified and for many years there was streetcar service on Lookout Mountain. The "Surface Car Line" ran until Aug. 28, 1928, when it was supplanted by bus service. This trolley line followed much of the old Broad Gauge route except a short cut was put in between 45th and 46th streets in St. Elmo so the line no longer went down to Mountain Junction.
Much of the old Broad Gauge is now in use as a popular hiking and mountain biking trail up Lookout Mountain from St. Elmo. It is now known as the Guild Trail and the Hardy Trail. The trail was donated by Jack Steiner of Ruby Falls to the Lookout Mountain Land Trust.