Train halts by Lula Falls
Up toward Eagle Cliff
photo by John Wilson
Start of sweeping trestle
photo by John Wilson
Middle of the trestle
photo by John Wilson
Into high cut
photo by John Wilson
Leaving the valley
photo by John Wilson
Looking up to the top of the cut
photo by John Wilson
Coming out of the cut
photo by John Wilson
Turn toward Lula Lake and Falls
photo by John Wilson
Shoring boulder up
photo by John Wilson
High drop on the right side of the track
photo by John Wilson
Through a rock city
photo by John Wilson
Boulder by the track
photo by John Wilson
Trees and tall shrubs shade track
photo by John Wilson
Gorge below falls
photo by John Wilson
Near Lula Falls
photo by John Wilson
Rail bed is perched just above Lula Falls
photo by John Wilson
Rock Creek above the falls
photo by John Wilson
Lula Lake
photo by John Wilson
Approaching bridge over Rock Creek
photo by John Wilson
Bridge over Rock Creek
photo by John Wilson
Headed for trestle #11
photo by John Wilson
Passing through another rock cut
photo by John Wilson
Straight section in the woods
photo by John Wilson
Rock Creek to the left
photo by John Wilson
Embankments on both sides
photo by John Wilson
Creek moves away from the rail bed
photo by John Wilson
A few timbers still remain at #11 trestle
photo by John Wilson
Looking down into the deep gulch at #11 trestle
photo by John Wilson
Rail line at the Hinkle community
photo by John Wilson
Steep bank on the side
photo by John Wilson
Track through the woods
photo by John Wilson
Old line reaches Middle Street
photo by John Wilson
Middle Street and Higdon Lane
photo by John Wilson
Along Higdon Lane
photo by John Wilson
Hinkle Lane curves to Highway 157
photo by John Wilson
The train that ran from Chickamauga, Ga., to Durham on Lookout Mountain continued its slow ascent of the mountain after passing Nickajack Road near the lower slopes.
As the route approached the top, the convicts charged with constructing the route faced considerable obstacles. It was necessary to first build a long, sweeping trestle just below Eagle Cliff. Then there was a tall section of rock that must be gnawed through.
Another trestle was necessary along the steep bluff at the gorge below the thundering Lula Falls.
The route was hammered through a series of giant boulders and then dug out along the side of the falls and then on to Lula Lake.
A bridge had to be constructed across Rock Creek just above the lake.
Now a train bed had been completed through a section of some of the most scenic and awe-inspiring terrain in the Chattanooga region.
There were some lesser cuts necessary as the line continued just above Rock Creek. The route veered away from the creek at one point, then later rejoined it.
Another tall trestle (#11 of the 14 trestles along the rail bed) gapped a high gorge as the community of Hinkle was reached.
The route reached the present Middle Road.
The next section went along the present Higdon Lane to the current Hinkle Road (Highway 157).