Huntsville and Madison County Railroad Authority
Encyclopedia
The Huntsville and Madison County Railroad Authority was created in 1984 to operate on 14 miles of track that was abandoned by the Louisville and Nashville Railroad
.
The line was originally constructed by the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway
and this portion of the railway ran from Huntsville to Attalla, Alabama
(near Gadsden
). A ferry ran the train down the Tennessee River
between Incline (near Hobbs Island) and Gunters Landing (at Guntersville
). The NC&StL later became part of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad
. The HMCR now operates the line between downtown Huntsville and the community of Norton. The tracks between Norton and Incline have been abandoned and in sections, have been removed completely. The Alabama and Tennessee River Railway
operates the line south of Guntersville. The ferry service has been abandoned.
The Alabama Industrial Railroad operated the HMCR from 1984 until February 1985. The HMCR is now operated by the Authority, Warren P. Jones, Chairman; Karen P. Monroe, General Manager.
The HMCRR interchanges with the Norfolk Southern at Huntsville, Alabama
.
Louisville and Nashville Railroad
The Louisville and Nashville Railroad was a Class I railroad that operated freight and passenger services in the southeast United States.Chartered by the state of Kentucky in 1850, the L&N, as it was generally known, grew into one of the great success stories of American business...
.
The line was originally constructed by the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway
Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway
The Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway was a railway company operating in the southern United States in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia...
and this portion of the railway ran from Huntsville to Attalla, Alabama
Attalla, Alabama
Attalla is a city in Etowah County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Gadsden Metropolitan Statistical Area. According to the 2005 U.S. Census estimates, the city had a population of 6,474. -2000 Census data:...
(near Gadsden
Gadsden, Alabama
The city of Gadsden is the county seat of Etowah County in the U.S. state of Alabama, and it is located about 65 miles northeast of Birmingham, Alabama. It is the primary city of the Gadsden Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of 103,459. Gadsden is closely associated with the...
). A ferry ran the train down the Tennessee River
Tennessee River
The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. It is approximately 652 miles long and is located in the southeastern United States in the Tennessee Valley. The river was once popularly known as the Cherokee River, among other names...
between Incline (near Hobbs Island) and Gunters Landing (at Guntersville
Guntersville, Alabama
Guntersville is a city in Marshall County, Alabama, United States and is included in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. At the 2010 census, the population of the city was 8,197. The city is the county seat of Marshall County. Guntersville is located in a HUBZone as identified by the...
). The NC&StL later became part of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad
Louisville and Nashville Railroad
The Louisville and Nashville Railroad was a Class I railroad that operated freight and passenger services in the southeast United States.Chartered by the state of Kentucky in 1850, the L&N, as it was generally known, grew into one of the great success stories of American business...
. The HMCR now operates the line between downtown Huntsville and the community of Norton. The tracks between Norton and Incline have been abandoned and in sections, have been removed completely. The Alabama and Tennessee River Railway
Alabama and Tennessee River Railway
The Alabama & Tennessee River Railway is a shortline railway operating over trackage formerly operated by CSX Transportation. The line's western terminus is a junction with the CSX main line in Birmingham, Alabama, near CSX's Boyles Yard. The eastern terminus is Guntersville, Alabama, near the...
operates the line south of Guntersville. The ferry service has been abandoned.
The Alabama Industrial Railroad operated the HMCR from 1984 until February 1985. The HMCR is now operated by the Authority, Warren P. Jones, Chairman; Karen P. Monroe, General Manager.
The HMCRR interchanges with the Norfolk Southern at Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
.
Sources
- Edward A. Lewis, American Shortline Railway Guide 5th ed., (Kalmbach Books, 1996).
- Mike Walker, SPV's Comprehensive Railroad Atlas of North America - Southern States (Steam Powered Publishing & SPV, 2001) Ownership and detail of rail line.
- North America Railroad Map Software v 2.13, (Railway Station Productions, 2004) http://www.RailroadMap.com