Family Lines System (Railroad): Logo, Map, History
Last revised: August 23, 2024
By: Adam Burns
In truth, the Family Lines System was never actually an operating railroad, it was merely a marketing tactic which brought together the allying lines of the Louisville & Nashville, Clinchfield, Seaboard Coast Line, and other smaller roads (such as the Georgia Railroad, Atlanta & West Point Railroad, and Western Railway of Alabama otherwise referred to as the West Point Route).
With this came a new livery (not unlike the later Seaboard scheme) applied to all with sub-lettering stenciled under locomotive cabs identifying the specific company.
This marketing scheme was also short-lived, lasting only from 1972 until 1982 when these railroads merged together formally to create the Seaboard System (itself operating for only a few years).
History
The three main components of the System were the L&N, Clinchfield, and SCL. The L&N (the first component) was a railroad synonymous with the southern states; it 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 change at any point throughout its history, serving its home state and the southeast for over 120 years.
Photos
Seaboard Coast Line BQ23-7 #5134 is seen here at Hamlet, North Carolina on October 30, 1979. The "Q" designated "Quarters" and the model was identical to the B23-7 save for the larger cab. Basically an experimental design the SCL was attempting to save money by removing the caboose and placing the entire crew at the head end. The original 10 were the only units ever built (#5130-5139). Warren Calloway photo.Louisville & Nashville
As the L&N itself disappeared into the Seaboard System in 1982 just a few years later the Seaboard itself would disappear into CSX Transportation. The Louisville and Nashville has its beginnings in 1850 when the State of Kentucky granted a charter for the railroad to build between its namesake cities.
It took nine years for the railroad to complete its original main line and it opened in 1859 with a connection to Memphis established by 1861.
At A Glance
Jacksonville, Florida (Seaboard Coast Line) Erwin, Tennessee (Clinchfield) Louisville, Kentucky (Louisville & Nashville) | |
Cincinnati - Knoxville - Atlanta Corbin, Kentucky - Norton, Virginia Winchester, Kentucky - Fleming, Kentucky Cincinnati - Louisville - Nashville - Birmingham - New Orleans Flomaton, Alabama - Pensacola, Florida - Chattahoochee, Florida Memphis Junction (Bowling Green, Kentucky) - Memphis Nashville - Evansville, Kentucky - St. Louis Evansville - Chicago Richmond, Virginia - Charleston, South Carolina - Savannah, Georgia - Jacksonville - Orlando - Tampa, Florida Wilson - Wilmington, North Carolina Wilmington - Pee Dee, South Carolina Winston-Salem - Florence, South Carolina Florence - Atlanta Brunswick, Georgia - Montgomery - Alabama Birmingham, Alabama - Waycross, Georgia Waycross - Albany, Georgia Albany - Dunnellon, Florida Jacksonville - St. Petersburg, Florida Dupont, Georgia - Naples, Florida Tallahassee/Chattahoochee - Jacksonville Montgomery, Alabama - Thomasville, Georgia - Savannah Jacksonville - Tampa - St. Petersburg, Florida Orlando - Polk City - West Palm Beach - Miami Elkhorn City, Kentucky - Dante, Virginia - Erwin, Tennessee - Marion, North Carolina - Spartanburg, South Carolina Carney Junction - Moss, Virginia St. Paul - Wilder, Virginia | |
The Civil War all but halted construction on the railroad and because L&N lines ran through both North and South territory the railroad had several miles of track destroyed through the course of the war.
To the east the Louisville and Nashville gained a connection to Cincinnati via the Cincinnati & Lexington in 1881. By the next decade in the 1890s, the L&N had a vast network in Tennessee and Kentucky giving it access to the rich coalfields of the southern Appalachians and by the turn of the 20th century in 1905 it had a direct main line to Atlanta, Georgia.
Through the early part of the 20th century the railroad would continue to expand in the east, mostly by the additions of branch lines to further serve the coal regions and by the time construction and acquisitions died down during this time the L&N found itself in the eastern tips of Virginia.
Seaboard Coast Line
A second component of the Family Lines was the Seaboard Coast Line, which was created just five years prior, in 1967, through the merger of the Atlantic Coast Line and Seaboard Air Line railroads.
Logo
The SAL is perhaps best remembered for being a somewhat smaller version of the Atlantic Coast Line, and everywhere the ACL went so too did the SAL (and thus it is no surprised that the two would decide to merge in the late 1960s).
This is not to say, however, that the SAL was an inferior road to the ACL, quite the contrary. The Seaboard held its own with its fiercest competitor and after managing to pull through troubles during the early years of its life, the railroad provided quality freight transportation to several southeastern markets.
The railroads, which made up the SCL was the Seaboard Air Line and Atlantic Coast Line. The SAL was derived over the years from several smaller lines which merged together or were later included under the Seaboard banner.
System Map (1975)
The railroad itself has its beginnings dating back originally to the Portsmouth & Roanoke Rail Road, which was chartered in 1832 to connect Portsmouth, Virginia with Weldon, North Carolina which sat along the banks of the Roanoke River (and was reorganized as the Seaboard & Roanoke in 1846).
The other original components of the Seaboard included the Raleigh & Gaston Railroad (connecting Raleigh and Gaston, NC) and the Raleigh & Augusta Air-Line Railroad (connecting Raleigh and Hamlet, NC which would control both former lines by the 1870s).
Together these three lines formed the backbone of the later Seaboard Air Line system, which first began to come together by the latter 19th century when John Robinson took control of the three and merged them as the Seaboard Air Line.
Throughout the rest of the 19th century and the first part of the 20th century the Seaboard expanding north and south throughout the southeast reaching cities such as Richmond, Norfolk, Wilmington, Charleston, Atlanta, Savannah, and points west in Alabama.
The railroad also built one of the last major main lines in recent memory when it completed an extension to Miami in 1927 (at its peak the railroad was 4,000+ mile system).
Surprising, a number of Alco units made it well into the Family Lines era. Louisville & Nashville C420 #1363 is seen here in service at Corbin, Kentucky on January 16, 1978. The unit began its career as Seaboard Air Line #122 in 1965. John Cloudier photo/Warren Calloway collection.Atlantic Coast Line
The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, also known as either the ACL or Coast Line, was synonymous with the South and served points from Richmond, Virginia to Florida and east to Birmingham, Alabama. The railroad was also very profitable being that it served direct north-south routes from Florida to Richmond.
It also held one of the most unique paint schemes of any Class I of both its day, having a beautiful purple and silver livery with yellow trim.
Remembered in the likes of the Southern Railway in later years the ACL was highly respected throughout most of its existence and like the Southern was blessed with excellent management and never faced any serious bankruptcy (and only entered receivership once during the early 1930s) threat up until its merger with the Seaboard Air Line in the late 1960s to form the new Seaboard Coast Line.
A pair of Louisville & Nashville U25C's appear to be tied down with a long string of hoppers at Ravenna, Kentucky on December 30, 1981. John Cloutier photo/Warren Calloway collection.The ACL began its life like many classic fallen flags, put together and shaped through a series of mergers with small railroads. Its earliest predecessor was the Richmond & Petersburg chartered in 1836 and after linking with the Petersburg Railroad the two made a through connection from Richmond to North Carolina.
Throughout the 1800s there were numerous smaller lines that would go on to form the Atlantic Coast Line including the Wilmington & Weldon, Wilmington & Raleigh, and North Eastern which served points between South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia (including the ports of Wilmington, NC and Charleston, SC, along with the capital of North Carolina, Raleigh).
Chesapeake & Ohio 4-8-4 #614 leads the "Family Lines Safety Express" through Boylan Junction in Raleigh, North Carolina in early 1981. Warren Calloway photo.The ACL itself would begin to form when all of these railroads came under the control of William Walters, a Baltimore investor. In the late 1800s these railroads would come under the holding company of the Atlantic Coast Line Company. The railroad’s growth would not end with the 1800s.
As each of its original lines were slowly merged into the holding company the ACL grew tremendously just after the turn of the century when it acquired the Plant System, a series of rail lines running throughout Georgia and Florida, and took control of the Louisville & Nashville (a classic fallen flag within itself) which served northeastern points from the ACL’s core system.
For comparison here is an example of the later Seaboard System livery, worn by B36-7 #5830 as it heads up a southbound freight through Kennesaw, Georgia during May of 1986. Rob Kitchen photo.Clinchfield
The Clinchfield Railroad was the final major component of the Family Lines System and it is one of the less notable fallen flags, most likely due to its very small size, only a tad over 300 miles at its peak!
However, the railroad does hold an important place in railroading history and is best remembered as another of the Appalachian coal haulers, lugging millions of tons of black diamonds from the mountains of Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina.
Along with the railroad’s association with coal it also served as a very efficient north-south bridge line for traffic of railroads such as the Southern and Chesapeake & Ohio.
The Clinchfield has its roots as early as that of the B&O itself, 1827, but its more modern form occurred in early spring 1908 when George Carter merged a number of started, but never finished, railroads in the southeastern Appalachia region into the Carolina, Clinchfield & Ohio Railway.
From here Carter set about completing and linking the railroads along with building new as well. This in itself was quite a task due to the very rugged topography.
However, Carter would go on to complete the lines and by 1915 had finished the railroad into much of its final form which was a strategic north-south link connecting Elkhorn City, Kentucky with Spartanburg, South Carolina.
A Louisville & Nashville/Family Lines caboose tags along at the end of a manifest freight through Atmore, Alabama during December of 1985. Gary Morris photo.Not only did Carter finish what would become the railroad’s principle main line, he did so in magnificent engineering fashion managing to keep the ruling grade at under 2%!
The railroad was so well constructed that it has changed little over the decades and continues to see many CSX freights daily mostly hauling, you guessed it, coal!
CSX Transportation
As the 1970s gave way to the 1980s the Family Lines and
its affiliated roads would officially be merged out of existence when
they all became the Seaboard System Railroad in 1982 under the CSX
Transportation banner (which also included the Chessie System) there was
little need for so many different company names and the L&N along
with its other allied roads were merged out of existence that year.
While the L&N is no more today the system and railroad it left behind continues to be an important part of CSX’s southern lines.
Recent Articles
-
Amtrak Timetables (May, 1972)
May 26, 26 12:19 AM
Presented here is Amtrak's complete timetable listing from the May, 1972 edition of "The Official Guide Of The Railways." -
Pennsylvania Independence Day Train Rides
May 25, 26 11:58 AM
Pennsylvania’s rich railroad heritage comes alive every Independence Day, but 2026—the nation’s semiquincentennial—offers extra patriotic flair. -
Ohio 'Wild West' Train Rides
May 25, 26 11:40 AM
For those enamored with tales of the Old West, Ohio's railroad experiences offer a unique blend of history, adventure, and natural beauty. -
New York 'Wild West' Train Rides
May 25, 26 11:37 AM
Join us as we explore wild west train rides in New York, bringing history to life and offering a memorable escape to another era. -
Kentucky "Father's Day" Train Rides
May 25, 26 11:34 AM
Kentucky offers a variety of historic and scenic train excursions that provide an unforgettable way to honor and spend quality time with fathers. -
Kansas "Father's Day" Train Rides
May 25, 26 11:33 AM
In this guide, we'll explore some of the best train rides available for Father's Day in Kansas. -
Vermont Independence Day Train Rides
May 25, 26 11:21 AM
On Independence Day, elements come together to offer a unique experience in Vermont: train rides that combine scenic beauty with patriotic celebrations. -
Georgia Independence Day Train Rides
May 24, 26 12:26 PM
As the 4th of July approaches in 2026, the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway in Blue Ridge, Georgia, invites you to celebrate America in true patriotic style aboard its Firecracker Special. -
Illinois Independence Day Train Rides
May 24, 26 11:58 AM
As America gears up for the 4th of July in 2026, the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM) in Union, Illinois, offers the perfect blend of patriotic festivities, family-friendly excitement, and living railroa… -
Alabama Independence Day Train Rides
May 24, 26 11:55 AM
For those seeking a unique way to celebrate the Fourth of July, Alabama offers a distinctive experience: honoring veterans and active military personnel on Independence Day by train. -
Ohio Independence Day Train Rides
May 24, 26 11:47 AM
In this guide, we will explore some of the best Independence Day train ride experiences available in Ohio. -
Alabama 'Wild West' Train Rides
May 24, 26 11:45 AM
Although Alabama isn't the traditional setting for Wild West tales, the state provides its own flavor of historic rail adventures that draw enthusiasts year-round. -
Missouri 'Wild West' Train Rides
May 24, 26 11:29 AM
In Missouri, a state rich in history and natural beauty, you can experience the thrill of a bygone era through the scenic and immersive Wild West train rides. -
Indiana 'Wild West' Train Rides
May 24, 26 11:27 AM
Indiana offers a unique opportunity to experience the thrill of the Wild West through its captivating train rides. -
Independence Day Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide
May 24, 26 11:25 AM
Americans celebrate Independence Day with fireworks, barbecues, and parades, but there's another unique way to experience the spirit of freedom: train rides. -
Illinois 'Father's Day' Train Rides
May 24, 26 11:23 AM
If you're in Illinois and searching for something distinctive, consider taking your dad on a train ride through the picturesque landscapes of the Prairie State. -
Florida 'Father's Day' Train Rides
May 24, 26 11:21 AM
For those looking for something a little different this year, why not consider celebrating dad on Father's Day by train? -
South Dakota 'Beer Tasting' Train Rides
May 23, 26 12:51 PM
While the 1880 Train's regular runs are a treat in any season, the Oktoberfest Express adds an extra layer of fun: German-inspired food, seasonal beer, and live polka set against the sound and spectac… -
Michigan 'Beer Tasting' Train Rides
May 23, 26 12:49 PM
If you’re looking for a pure slice of autumn in West Michigan, the Coopersville & Marne Railway (C&M) has a themed excursion that fits the season perfectly: the Oktoberfest Exp… -
Indiana 'Murder Mystery' Dinner Train Rides
May 23, 26 12:47 PM
This piece explores the allure of murder mystery trains and why they are becoming a must-try experience for enthusiasts and casual travelers alike. -
Maryland 'Ice Cream' Tasting Train Rides
May 23, 26 12:46 PM
Among WMSR's shorter outings, one event punches well above its “simple fun” weight class: the Ice Cream Train. -
Colorado 'Father's Day' Train Rides
May 23, 26 12:43 PM
With its rugged mountains, rich railroading history, and picturesque landscapes, Colorado sets the perfect stage for a memorable Father's Day outing aboard a vintage train. -
California 'Father's Day' Train Rides
May 23, 26 12:41 PM
Celebrate and honor dad by train on a scenic rail experience! Find out which locations in California host these unique trips. -
Kentucky 'Wine Tasting' Train Rides
May 23, 26 12:40 PM
Kentucky, often celebrated for its rolling pastures, thoroughbred horses, and bourbon legacy, has been cultivating another gem in its storied landscapes; enjoying wine by rail. -
Florida 'Wine Tasting' Train Rides
May 23, 26 11:56 AM
Wine by train not only showcases the beauty of Florida's lesser-known regions but also celebrate the growing importance of local wineries and vineyards. -
Southern 2-8-2 4501 Debuts In "Virginia Green"
May 23, 26 11:54 AM
Southern Railway 2-8-2 #4501 debuted in its return to Virginia Green at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum today, May 23, 2026. -
NS Unveils First America250 Locomotive: 1776, "The Bell"
May 22, 26 11:15 PM
On May 22, 2026 Norfolk Southern unveiled its first in the America250 heritage locomotives series, 1776, "The Bell". -
Reading & Northern Issues Safety Directive Ahead Of 4014 Visit
May 22, 26 12:01 PM
With thousands of tickets sold for its upcoming series of Semiquincentennial Steam Celebration excursions, Reading & Northern Railroad is also anticipating thousands more trackside spectators to bear… -
Ohio 'Murder Mystery' Dinner Train Rides
May 22, 26 11:36 AM
The murder mystery dinner train rides in Ohio provide an immersive experience that combines fine dining, an engaging narrative, and the beauty of Ohio's landscapes. -
Tennessee 'Murder Mystery' Dinner Train Rides
May 22, 26 11:31 AM
Amidst the rolling hills and scenic landscapes of Tennessee, an exhilarating and interactive experience awaits those with a taste for mystery and intrigue. -
Alabama 'Father's Day' Train Rides
May 22, 26 11:29 AM
Alabama, with its rich railway heritage and scenic countryside, is a wonderful way to experience by train. One location even hosts a special trip for Father's Day! -
North Carolina 'Father's Day' Train Rides
May 22, 26 11:26 AM
Celebrating dad on a scenic train in North Carolina can be found at the New Hope Valley Railway which hosts a special event for the day. -
Texas 'Wine Tasting' Train Rides
May 22, 26 11:25 AM
This article invites you on a metaphorical journey through some of these unique wine tasting train experiences in Texas. -
New York 'Wine Tasting' Train Rides
May 22, 26 11:22 AM
This article will delve into the history, offerings, and appeal of wine tasting trains in New York, guiding you through a unique experience that combines the romance of the rails with the sophisticati… -
The Spirit of America: George H.W. Bush’s 1992 Campaign Train
May 22, 26 11:11 AM
In the fading days of summer 1992, President George H. W. Bush embarked on a classic American political tradition: the whistle-stop tour. -
Burlington Northern Timetables (May, 1972)
May 21, 26 11:56 PM
Presented here is the Burlington Northern's condensed freight timetables from the May, 1972 edition of the "Official Guide Of The Railways." -
Whiskey Tasting Train Rides (2026)
May 21, 26 11:12 PM
These rides across the United States offer a sensory journey through lush landscapes and historical corridors, often pairing scenic vistas with curated whiskey tastings. -
Father's Day Train Ride Locations (2026)
May 21, 26 10:54 PM
Celebrate dad by train! Several heritage railroads and museums host trips honoring dads. Learn more about which locations offer such excursions. -
The Chessie Safety Express: Steam-Powered Advocacy for Railroad Safety
May 21, 26 10:44 PM
In the fall of 1980, a gleaming Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) 4-8-4 steam locomotive named No. 614 thundered across the rails of the Chessie System, pulling a colorful consist of passenger cars filled with… -
Frankfort and Cincinnati Railroad: "The Kentucky Midland Route"
May 21, 26 06:08 PM
The Frankfort & Cincinnati was a small shortline located in north-central Kentucky that was known as "The Whiskey Route" for the many distilleries it served. The F&C shutdown in 1985. -
North Carolina 'Whiskey Tasting' Train Rides
May 21, 26 12:43 PM
One of the GSMR's most distinctive special events is Spirits on the Rail, a bourbon-focused dining experience built around curated drinks and a chef-prepared multi-course meal. -
Connecticut 'Whiskey Tasting' Train Rides
May 21, 26 12:42 PM
While the Naugatuck Railroad runs a variety of trips throughout the year, one event has quickly become a “circle it on the calendar” outing for fans of great food and spirited tastings: the BBQ & Bour… -
Kansas "Dinner" Train Rides From Abilene
May 21, 26 12:37 PM
If you’re looking for a heritage railroad that feels authentically Kansas—equal parts prairie scenery, small-town history, and hands-on railroading—the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad delivers. -
Vermont "Dinner" Train Rides At Burlington
May 21, 26 12:34 PM
There is one location in Vermont hosting a dedicated dinner train experience at the Green Mountain Railroad. -
New Jersey "Father's Day" Train Rides
May 21, 26 12:24 PM
There are a few locations in New Jersey celebrating dads with a train ride. Learn more about these unique trips here! -
Massachusetts "Father's Day" Train Rides
May 21, 26 12:16 PM
The Cape Cod Central is the one location in the state hosting an event just for dads, a special brunch train. Learn more here! -
Historic Steam Locomotive Heads To Charleston For America250 Exhibit
May 21, 26 11:58 AM
A rare piece of West Virginia industrial history, an 0-4-0F fireless steam locomotive by H.K. Porter in 1945, is being installed near the West Virginia State Capitol Complex in Charleston as part of a… -
Connecticut 'Dinner' Train Rides At Essex
May 20, 26 11:55 AM
Connecticut's rail heritage can be traced back to the industry's earliest days and a few organizations preserve this rich history by offering train rides. The Essex Steam Train also hosts dinner-theme… -
Arkansas 'Dinner 'Train Rides On The A&M
May 20, 26 11:54 AM
If you want a railroad experience that feels equal parts “working short line” and “time machine,” the Arkansas & Missouri Railroad delivers in a way few modern operations can. -
Illinois 'Dinner' Train Rides At The MRM
May 20, 26 11:52 AM
The Monticello Railway Museum (MRM) is one of those places that quietly does a lot: it preserves a sizable collection, maintains its own operating railroad, and—most importantly for visitors—puts hist…
.%20%0A%20Warren%20Calloway%20photo.){kind=link}
