I am much interested in description and any photos of the Virgina and South Western and Southern that routed from Bristol Tenn to Mountain City Tenn ca 1910-1940. I understand the train routed through Elizabethton, and from there up the winding Watauga River to Hunter, and on to Butler/Doe Station (now under TVA's Watagua lake) and to Mountain city. I think the old railroad bed passes near my front lawn in Hunter Tenn, just outside Elizabethton. Would appreciate any photos, historical info, track routing,references.

-- James R. Hawk (hawk@preferred.com), December 02, 1999

Answers

There's a map, timetable page, steam roster, and photos on pgs.26-28 of the Prince book covering the Southern. As for the old RofW, try a Delorme topo map , or a geological survey map. They would almost tell you how many steps it is from your front door to the roadbed!

-- Russell Underwood (Jay611@home.com), December 02, 1999.

Check out "Ghost Railroads of Tennessee". Lots of good info. on this line as well as many others of interest. I don't know of a better reference.

-- Tyler Hyder (thyder@preferred.com), October 22, 2001.