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NASHVILLE AND CHATTANOOGA RAILROAD: THE EARLY YEARS
(By Jim and Jenny Lou Brock, published in the March 6, 1975 issue of the Cowan Bell.)
In the 1860’s the heaviest locomotive weighed no more than 16,000 pounds, and there were not supposed to be more than sixteen cars to the train.
Stock injured or killed on the track was given half valuation, the railroad paying the owner this amount. Most farmers weren’t happy with this practice since the general opinion was that a horse, cow or hog had more rights upon the track than the train.
For many years, the switch engine as we know today was unknown and there is record of the N & C’s having used mules for this purpose.
There were no through train runs in the 1860’s. Breakfast was in Nashville, dinner at Decherd, and supper at Chattanooga. (It was not until the 1880’s that The Franklin House in Cowan became a railroad stop for meals. This hotel became famous for its hospitality and the quality of its dining-room service.)
Until 1869 the passenger train schedule from Nashville to Chattanooga was ten and one-half hours. It was cut to nine hours in that year.
Passenger engines up to 1870 were required to run fifteen miles an hour and freights ten. In 1872 the passenger train speed was increased to twenty-five miles and hour.
In 1870 the N & C operated four passenger trains between Nashville and Chattanooga.
Four “Palace Sleeping Cars” went on the road in 1871.
In March, 1864, 45 men worked for the N & C. In May, 1865, the number was 93. In January of 1873, 1,167 were employed.
In 1864, at the close of the Civil War, high wages prevailed. Engineers were earning $10.00 per day; conductors, $60.00 per month; Firemen, $5.00 per day. In 1865 laborers were receiving $7.00 per day. By 1873 wages were down. Engineers were paid $4.00 per day; conductors $3.00 per day; firemen, $2.25 per day; laborers, $0.75 per day.
J.L.B. & J.R.B.
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