The Nashville, Chattanooga and Saint Louis Preservation Society

The Nashville, Chattanooga and Saint Louis Preservation Society is the official historical society dedicated to the preservation of the famed Nashville, Chattanooga and Saint Louis Railway, a southeastern system which was mostly controlled by the Louisville & Nashville Railroad throughout most of its life. The NC&StL Preservation Society has been in existence since only 2001.

The Nashville, Chattanooga and Saint Louis Railway dates back to December 11, 1845 when it was originally chartered as the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad to connect its namesake cities. The railroad was under constant attack during the Civil War by both the North and South as they battled for control of the strategic line and late in 1873 the railroad was reincorporated to what it is classically remembered as today, the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway.

While the railroad became a victim of a vicious takeover by the Louisville & Nashville Railroad in 1880 (the two railroads were bitter rivals), an act which resulted in significant distrust towards the L&N by the cities of Nashville and Louisville for some time. Still, the NC&StL was allowed to mostly operate as an independent carrier for over the next 70 years eventually building a system that stretched from Paducah, Kentucky south to Atlanta, Georgia with lines also reaching Bruceton and Memphis, Tennessee. The railroad's lines were broken down into four, official divisions; Chattanooga, Huntsville, Nashville, and Paducah & Memphis. For more information about these divisions please click here.

To give a brief history about the NC&StL's parent, the L&N, it was a railroad synonymous with the southern states and southeastern US, served major cities from New Orleans and Memphis to St. Louis, Atlanta, and later Chicago. The L&N is also one of the few classic fallen flags to never have had its original chartered name changed at any point throughout its history, serving its home state and the southeast for over 120 years known as simply the Louisville & Nashville. While the railroad would become part of the burgeoning CSX system it was a highly respected and well-known transportation company for much of its existence.

It would be in 1957 that the NC&StL would officially be merged into the L&N forever ending its independence. However, as with most railroads of its size during those days, it was and remains affectionately remembered by the local communities it served.

To learn more about the Nashville, Chattanooga and Saint Louis Preservation Society please click here to visit their website.

Also, one other book on the NC&StL you may want to consider is Dain Schult's Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis - A History of "The Dixie Line". Just recently published in 2003 at almost 300 pages of information and photographs Mr. Schult's book goes into even more detail about "The Dixie Line" and its operations. All in all, if you have any interest in the NC&StL or would simply like to learn more about this often forgotten Class I system you cannot go wrong with either book! If you're interested in perhaps purchasing these books please visit The Railroad Diamond by clicking the tab in the menu to your left marked "TRD Store".