Bo Ellis Photography

Abandoned Roads, Rails, and Buildings.

2/9/2015

In 1940 the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) completed work the the Hiwassee Dam in western North Carolina. The dam would flood almost 434,000 acres and create a lake that would have 180 miles of shoreline. The creation of this lake would mean many towns, graves, farms, roads and railroads, would have to be moved, or be flooded. The L&N would have to relocate part of their Murphy Branch line (Blue Ridge GA to Murphy NC) around the Cane Creek area.

Murphy NC was the meeting points for two railroads, the L&N and the Southern. The L&N would run from their Knoxville and Atlanta line in Blue Ridge, where the Southern ran from Ashville NC. Both railroads met and had their own Depots and rail yards in Murphy. Unfortunately the L&N abandoned tore up their tracks from Blue Ridge in 1982. The Southern kept their tracks and are now owned by the state of North Carolina.

The L&N Depot in Murphy.

This is where the L&N crossed over the Hiwassee River in Murphy. The depot is behind me.

This was the site of the L&N and Southern interchange rail yard. The L&N depot is behind me and the Southern depot would have been on the other side of the yard. (Burned down in 70's I believe)

Cane Creek. This area is usually flooded in the warmer months thanks to TVA. Noticed the old road bed to the right in the picture. Relocated due to the creation of Hiwassee Lake. I am standing on what use to be part of an old L&N bridge.

Abandoned footing for an L&N Bridge. Was built as part of the relocation of the railroad.

Site of an old railroad bridge over Cane Creek. Was relocated after Hiwassee Lake was made. This is usually (at least) 7-8 feet under the lake surface during the summer months.

The area of Cane Creek usually under water.

One of the few buildings left of the old copper complex in Copperhill Tn. Has nothing else to do with this blog, just thought yall might like it lol.

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Abandoned Brick Factory

12/4/2014

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On December 31st, 2007, a brick maker in Knoxville Tennessee closed their doors and shut down for good. A lack of houses being built in the area caused a bad slump in the construction business and unfortunately many suffered and lost their jobs. This massive building was a fun adventure for sure, it looked as if they had all up and left and never returned. Refrigerators still had food in them, calendars still hung on the walls. Hats, newspapers, safety glasses, office furniture, and much more were scattered across the floors.

Inside the brick factory.

Mustard anyone?

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Abandoned Railroad Coaling Tower

9/17/2014

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In 1925 the Southern Railway built a coaling tower just outside of Newport Tennessee to load coal into steam engines pulling trains between Knoxville and Ashville, and also for trains coming and going from Bristol and Ashville. In 1942 TVA started building the Douglas Dam on the French Broad River, which created a lake covering one million acres, forcing the Southern Railway to move its tracks south 300 feet and abandoned the coal tower. In 1943 when the lake was created and water started backing up, and when it was all said and done, the lake covered the base of the tower by two feet, making it impossible to get to during the summer. But once TVA drops the water it is very easy to get to by vehicle. The land now sits on TVA public land is a great place to bird watch. If it hadn't been for the building of the lake, the Southern or later Norfolk Southern, might have torn it down, but when it was abandoned the railroad saw no point in spending the money to tear down this structure. The state of Tennessee is now looking into adding it to the National Register of Historic Places.

Close up on the tower.

Parked my truck under it for sizing reference...(cell phone pic...)

Example of the wildlife in the area.

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Bringing Back History.....

9/9/2014

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On Thursday 9-4-2014 an event that many thought would never happen, happened. A fire was lit and a new life was given to former Southern Railways 4501. This engine was retired by the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in 1998 due to major mechanical issues and many thought it would never operate again, unit now. After a three year rebuild, the 4501 was removed from the TVRM shops last Thursday and a fire was lit. The next day would be spent doing test runs and was then brought back into passenger service for the 2014 TVRM Railfest this past weekend. The 4501 was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1911 and was the first of the Mikados of this type built for the Southern. It was later sold to the Kentucky And Tennessee Railroad in Sterns Kentucky. In 1961 the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum was founded by locals in Chattanooga TN that wanted to preserve railroading history. Three years later one of the founding members buy the 4501 from the K&T at scrap value. The engine would become the "mascot" for TVRM for many years. Now the engine known as "Queen Of Southern Steam" will ride the rails again and brings smiles to the faces to everyone that sees her.

Shop members start the fire in the firebox.

Shop crews add the last few touches on the 4501.

Southern Railways 4501 sits in the afternoon sun.

Southern 4501 enters Trion GA on her first excursion since returning to service.

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Abandoned Roads, Rails, and Buildings.

Abandoned Brick Factory

Abandoned Railroad Coaling Tower

Bringing Back History.....

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