Monday, November 14, 2011

Clarksville Tennessee

Clarksville Bridge
I was in Clarksville, Tennessee for a couple of days last week for work. I worked long hours and did not have any real chance to do any railfanning, but I did spend a few minutes one lunch hour to see what I could see.

Clarksville is served by the R.J. Corman Railroad Company, over the former Louisville & Nashville line. R.J. Corman calls it the "Memphis Line" and it runs from South Union in Kentucky to Cumberland City in Tennessee. I don't know why it is called the Memphis Line, as it goes nowhere near Memphis.

There is a rather impressive bridge over the Cumberland River in Clarksville (see above). The center span is a swing bridge. I understand it is still operational and used in high water situations to let the river barges pass. It looks like each end is protected by signals..
Swing Bridge in Clarksville Tennessee

On one side of the bridge is a long wooden trestle leading up to the river.
Trestle Bridge in Clarksville Tennessee

More information on the bridge: Photo 1photo 2

I followed the line for a bit on the east side of the river, and found this R.J. Corman train in a tree-lined corridor.
R.J. Corman #1858 in Clarksville Tennessee

RJCP 1858 is a GP16 originally built for the Atlanta and West Point Railroad, and was owned by CSX for a while. Flickr photo. The train was fairly short.

I was shooting this with a telephoto from a bridge over the rails, and I couldn't get closer and I didn't have time to wait, so this is as good as it gets. I'm going back again in December so perhaps I will get another opportunity to see the rail action in Tennessee.

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5 comments:

Eric said...

Steve, was that RJ Corman train the "Last Train to Clarksville"? Remember the Monkees? 45 years ago? Wikipedia tells me that song was actually about Clarkdale, in Arizona, but they thought Clarksville sounded better.

Anyway, the rails there looked well-burnished, with the leaves clear of the railhead so there should be no Gaspe-like traction issues.

That trestle looked historic!

Thanks for sharing,
Eric

Tyler said...

That's a very nice scene for a "stumble upon" shot!

Are the three green dots in triangular formation to the left ef the engine soem sort of internal reflection of the headlight and ditchlights? I have not noticed such a result in my images before.

Canadian Train Geek said...

Tyler, I do believe the three green dots are internal reflections in the lens from the headlights. I have seen them in low light situations like this was.

Tommy said...

The line is called the Memphis Line because at one time, it was the L&N mainline from Bowling Green to Memphis. RJ Corman bought the eastern end of the line from Cumberland City, TN to Bowling Green.

Canadian Train Geek said...

Thanks, Tommy!