As the Tennessee Central was working on it's rail line to Knoxville, in Smith County a branch split off to reach the industry of Carthage. The spot where the spur split from the main line was about 8 miles southeast of Carthage at a location known as Carthage Junction. 100 years ago, this depot was located there, close to where Preston Rd. meets highway TN141.
After passenger rail traffic ceased, the depot was vacant for many years. Eventually, it was purchased and relocated a couple of miles away along TN56 at the Interstate 40 exit. The depot served as the office for Gordonsville Motor Company.
More recently, preservationists have looked to save this station. The first step was to relocate this depot three miles up the road to South Carthage on Oct. 23, 2014. At this new location, the property has been flattened and now overlooks a park along the bank of the Caney Fork River. The tracks used to run right next to this spot, but now the tracks are torn up and across the street has become the endpoint of a rails-to-trails path.
There is still much work to do, such as rebuilding the roof and restoring the interior. Then, they will improve the grounds around the station. You can follow their progress on their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/CarthageJunctionDepot
No comments:
Post a Comment