Brimstone Railroad
from Rails Through Dixie by John Krause [1965] / collection
In Scott County of Tennessee, the Brimstone would fire up a Shay and light out 13 miles to a coal mine location, the identification of which generally escaped cartographers preparing filling station maps. The backwoodsy line, halting at a classic dead end, became even deader when forestry as well as coal yield dissipated. When the mine at the extreme reaches was productive, the Georgia-Pacific-controlled Brimstone ran rather regularly. Placement of cars on sidings along the line determined the locomotive's position in the train.
John Krause / Rails Through Dixie / 1965
The Brimstone Railroad was chartered in May of 1942 as a common carrier line in eastern Tennessee in order to form a successor to a series of smaller lumbering roads. In one form or another, it operated as a coal-hauling line until April 1, 1966. Operating 12 miles, from New River to Little Creek, the pike utilized 3-truck Lima Shays for motive power to deliver loaded coal hoppers to the Southern Railway. It was purchased by Georgia-Pacific Corporation and later by the Southern Railway, which operated the lines as the New River Railway.
1945 Official Guide ad / collection
from SPV's Comprehensive Railroad Atlas of North America / collection
from The Short Line magazine #87 [Aug 1987] / collection
from Steam Locomotive & Railroad Tradition
magazine #12 [Nov 1962] / collection
from Steam Locomotive & Railroad Tradition
magazine #17 [Feb 1967] / collection
from Extra 2200 South magazine [Feb 1970] / collection
Brimstone #35
New River, Tn / Mar 1956 / collection
Brimstone #35
to Smoky Mountain, 1921
to W.M. Ritter Lumber Co, 1938
to Brimstone, 1942
to Tennessee Valley Rwy Museum #35
to Yolo Short Line
to Silver Bend Tree Farm, 1995
from Rails Through Dixie by John Krause [1965] / collection
Brimstone #36
New River, Tn / Apr 1954 / collection
Brimstone #36
to Raleigh & Southwestern #1, 1917
to W. M. Ritter Lumber Co #36, 1945
to Brimstone & New River #36, 1965
to Tennessee Valley Rwy Museum #36
leased to Cass Scenic Rwy, 1987
sold to Cass Scenic Rwy, 1994
Links / Sources
- The Railroads of Scott County, Tennessee
- Encyclopedia of Scott County entry for Brimstone Railroad