Chattanooga Railroad Series: The Unfinished Line To Stevenson (Part 2)

  • Thursday, December 11, 2014

Well over a century later, there are still many signs along Highway 41 by the Tennessee River of "the Stevenson Extension." But they can only be discovered by careful exploration.

This was part of a 42-mile alternate route by Southern Railway between Chattanooga and Stevenson, Ala. The work went on in earnest from 1905 until it abruptly halted in October 1907.

A section of Wilcox Road, just off Highway 41 on the climb up Cummings Gap, is the old rail bed. A large culvert was built by the railroad under Wilcox Road across the creek that cut the ravine that heads toward Lookout Valley.

At the north end of Wilcox Road, the line went straight north toward the one tunnel on the entire route. This was the 1,100-foot Raccoon Mountain Tunnel, which can still be seen today.

It is just to the right of Highway 41 near the top of the climb up Cummings Gap. A tractor-trailer often parks on the side of Highway 41 just above the entrance to the tunnel.

Granny's Fire Works at the peak of Cummings Gap is along a line on top of the tunnel.

The end of the tunnel past Granny's was filled in earlier so it is no longer visible.


 


 

Breaking News
Home In Dallas Bay Damaged By Fire Tuesday Evening
  • 1/8/2025

A home in Dallas Bay was damaged by fire Tuesday evening. Dallas Bay Fire crews were dispatched at 7:40 p.m. to a reported residential structure fire at 1829 Coffeetree Lane in District ... more

Latest Hamilton County Arrest Report
  • 1/8/2025

Here is the latest Hamilton County arrest report. (If your case is dismissed, just email us your name and date we ran it and we will promptly take off. Email to news@chattanoogan.com ) ASEGBOLA, ... more

City Council Weighing Whether To Let IDB Handle Many PILOT Tax Breaks
  • 1/7/2025

The City Council is weighing whether to let the city Industrial Development Board handle most PILOT (Payment in lieu of Taxes) tax breaks. Under a proposal from the Chamber of Commerce and ... more