Etowah, TN – May 25, 2004 - The Tennessee Historical Commission notified the Tennessee Overhill Heritage Association this week that a grant of $7,000 is being awarded to the Association for a survey of the Historic Old Line Railroad between Etowah, TN and Copperhill, TN. The state funds will be used to pay a portion of the cost of surveying the railroad and preparing a nomination to the National Register of Historic Places.

Linda Caldwell, Executive Director for the Tennessee Overhill Heritage Association, praised the Southeast Tennessee Development District for preparing the application on behalf of the Overhill. She said, “We appreciate our Development District and the Tennessee Historical Commission for their interest in this project.”

The Old Line Railroad was built in 1890 as part of the Knoxville Southern Railroad to connect Atlanta, GA to Knoxville, TN via the Hiwassee River Gorge and the Copper Basin. It is perhaps best known for the Historic Hiwassee (L&N) Loop, reputed to be the third longest rail loop in the world.

Owned for many years by CSX, the 40-mile section known as the Old Line was idled in 2001 after freight traffic halted. CSX then announced plans to abandon the line and salvage the materials. At that time local governments and civic groups from Southeast Tennessee came together and formed the Old Line Railroad Coalition for the purpose of preserving the line and the corridor.

Glenn Springs Holding, Inc, the company that is conducting the environmental remediation of the Copper Basin, provided funding for acquisition of the Old Line, which is currently owned by the Tennessee Overhill Heritage Association.

Early this year TVA rehabilitated 13 miles of the line between Wetmore, TN and Apalachia Powerhouse on the Hiwassee River in order to gain access to the powerhouse for repairs. This provided a window of opportunity to offer travel excursions on the 13-mile section of the line during the last three weekends in May. The excursions, dubbed the “Hiwassee River Rail Adventure,” are sponsored by the Tennessee Valley Railroad and the City of Etowah. The final trips will take place May 29 and 30. Organizers report that over 5,000 tickets have been sold to date.

The Old Line Railroad Coalition hopes that the entire line will eventually be restored and open for the public to enjoy. Members stress that the survey of the line is an important step in recognizing the historical significance of the line. Annie McDonald, preservation planner for Southeast Tennessee Development District said, “A survey of historic resources along the Old Line will definitively identify which parts of the line are eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.”

Linda Caldwell, Executive Director for the Tennessee Overhill Heritage Association, said, “The Old Line is a treasure trove of history. Tucked up next to the tracks are the remnants of whistle stops, mining camps, and mountain settlements that were all connected by the Old Line.” She added, “We are very excited about this opportunity to catalog the historic resources along the line so that the stories and people who made up the history can be told for many years to come.”

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For Immediate Release