Overpass for the never-finished Stevenson Extension through Lookout Valley long stood across Browns Ferry Road at Patten Chapel Road
The new Chattanooga railroad book to be published by Chattanoogan.com includes a full account of the fascinating tale of the Stevenson Extension/Old Southern Grade that was started but never completed.
A sturdy concrete railroad overpass stood for decades across Brown's Ferry Road at Patten Chapel Road in Lookout Valley - with no track on either side. There are large concrete culverts in back yards nearby at Adkins Road and off Isbill Road. A smooth rail bed runs through the woods along the base of Raccoon Mountain until it reaches another big culvert at Wilcox Road. Then there is a 1,100-foot tunnel through Cummings Gap of Raccoon Mountain.
There is a smooth rail bed and similar over-sized culverts in several steep areas along Highway 41 far above the Tennessee River. There are piers at a Sequatchie River crossing. Then at South Pittsburg there are tall piers at the entrance of Battle Creek to the river and another unconnected overpass.
This mystery is explained from the annals of history dating to the early 1900s when the Southern Railway embarked on a major construction program in and around Chattanooga, including the new Stevenson line. It would go from the start of the new Lookout Mountain tunnel, along today's Highway 41 by the river, cross the river near Oates Island not far from Haletown, then go by South Pittsburg and on to Stevenson.
The actual work on the line started in 1905 in conjunction with the tunnel and the Terminal Station projects. The overpasses and culverts were built. The long tunnel at Raccoon Mountain was put through. The piers were ready for the bridge and creek crossings. Then it suddenly ended during a financial depression in October 1907.
The line was known as the Old Southern Grade in Marion County, where it was much more visible and was built on a raised bed in fields.
The only other known account of the line is some mention in Rails Remembered that was written by a former Chattanoogan, Louis M. Newton.
Railroads In and Around Chattanooga is due to be off the presses around the first of October.
The book by Chattanoogan.com publisher John Wilson, with many photos by Chattanoogan.com photographer Wes Schultz, will have 568 pages and 1,546 photos and maps.
It will be in the same softcover, 11 1/2 x 8 format as the book on the Stokes photo collection.
Pre-orders of the new railroad book are now being taken. To reserve a copy of the book that will be mailed to you when it comes off the presses, send $45 (includes tax, postage and handling) to
Chattanoogan.com
@John Wilson
129 Walnut St. Unit 416
Chattanooga, Tn., 37403
Make out checks to Chattanoogan.com.
Please let us know if you plan to pick up one or more copies later. This will help us in determining how many copies to print.
The price will be $40, which includes tax.
Please let us know by emailing to news@chattanoogan.com. Include your name and phone number and the number of copies you want to purchase.
One of the culverts for the Stevenson Extension in a back yard of a residence on Adkins Road in Lookout Valley