masthead_shortlines
southern southern_shortline

Smoky Mountain Railroad

tag_quote

From 1910 until 1961, the city of Sevierville, Tennessee, nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, was served by a railroad of its very own. This shortline, built in 1908 and 1909 to standard gauge, linked then-remote Sevierville with the nearby commercial and industrial center of Knoxville, some 30 miles distant. Originally dubbed the Knoxville, Sevierville & Eastern Railway, locals came to know the KS&E as the "Knoxville, Slow & Easy" (or just "Slow & Easy"), given the unhurried pace of its trains.

Friends of the Slow and Easy

smn_state A meandering 30 mile standard gauge shortline in eastern Tennessee, the Smoky Mountain Railroad ran through the western foothills of the Smokies between Vestal (greater Knoxville) and Sevierville, Tennessee. This region is a rich agricultural and timber area. The road began as the Knoxville, Sevierville & Eastern Railway Company, incorporated in 1907. From 1921 to the end, following foreclosure and new management, the line operated as the Smoky Mountain Railroad. Three Baldwins and a Lima locomotive served the road during steam years; a General Electric 44 tonner offered a brief flirtation with diesel service. The shortline interchanged with the Southern Railway in Knoxville. Mixed train passenger service was dropped in 1951, and the line was abandoned by 1964.

smn_guide1955

1955 Official Guide ad / collection

Motive Power

Smoky Mountain #107

  • builder:Baldwin Locomotive Works
  • arrangement:2-8-0 Consolidation
  • built:Nov 1887, Baldwin #8869
  • fuel:_________
  • notes:
  • blt Southern Railway #107
    to Smoky Mountain #107, 1942
    on display at Pigeon Forge, Tn
  • builder

    Smoky Mountain #110

  • builder:Baldwin Locomotive Works
  • arrangement:4-6-2 Pacific
  • built:Nov 1911, Baldwin #37303
  • fuel:coal/water
  • notes:
  • blt Little River #110
    to Smoky Mountain #110, 1942
    to private ownership
  • builder

    Smoky Mountain #206

  • builder:Baldwin Locomotive Works
  • arrangement:2-6-0 Mogul
  • built:Jul 1910, Baldwin #34964
  • fuel:coal/water
  • notes:
  • blt Genesse & Wyoming # 9
    to Southern Iron & Equipment #1498
    to Brooklyn Cooperage #16
    to Smoky Mountain #206
    on display at Chattanooga Choo Choo
  • builder
    tag_jump

    See also our Chattanooga Choo Choo scrapbook in Preservation

    smn206f12 smn206f2 smn206f3 smn206f4 smn206f5 smn206f10 smn206f11 smn206f6 smn206f7 smn206f8 smn206f9 smn206f1

    Jun 2019 / RWH

    Smoky Mountain #440

  • builder:General Electric
  • model:44 tonner
  • type:B-B light switcher
  • built:Sep 1940, GE #12911
  • series:386 produced 1940-56
  • engine:(2) Caterpillar D17000
  • notes:
  • (thought to be 4th 44 tonner built)
    blt Great Northern #5201, later #51
    to Smoky Mountain #440
    to White Transfer
    to Walkersville Southern Railroad
  • builder
    tag_jump

    See also our Walkersville Southern Railroad scrapbook in Preservation

    smn440e1 smn440e2 smn440e4 smn440e5 smn440e3 smn440e6 smn440e9 smn440e8 smn440e7

    Jul 2020 / RWH

    smn440i1 smn440i2 smn440i3 smn440i4 smn440i5 smn440i6

    Jul 2020 / RWH

    Rolling Stock

    Clippings

    slrt_banner
    clipping_SLRT7

    from Steam Locomotive & Railroad Tradition
    7 / Mar 1961 / collection

    clipping_SLRT9

    from Steam Locomotive & Railroad Tradition
    9 / Dec 1961 / collection

    clipping_SLRT15

    from Steam Locomotive & Railroad Tradition
    15 / May 1965 / collection

    Links / Sources

    This page was updated on 2020-09-11