Tuscumbia Railway
Encyclopedia
The Tuscumbia Railway was chartered on January 16, 1830 and proceeded to build a 2.1 mile railroad from downtown Tuscumbia, Alabama
to the docks on the Tennessee River west of Sheffield
. This was the first railroad chartered/constructed west of the Appalachian Mountains. The purpose of this railroad was to allow transport of cotton bales to a new wharf on the Tennessee River
. Also the name of a tourist railroad constructed in city-owned Spring Park.
With the success of this small railroad, it was decided to build a new railroad from Tuscumbia
to Decatur
via Courtland
. The Tennessee River between these points has a stretch of shallow rapids in the Tennessee River known as the Muscle Shoals which make river transport impossible and this railroad was designed to bypass that obstacle. Thus, the Tuscumbia, Courtland and Decatur Railroad came into being just two years later.
Tuscumbia, Alabama
Tuscumbia is a city in and the county seat of Colbert County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 8,423 and is included in The Shoals MSA....
to the docks on the Tennessee River west of Sheffield
Sheffield, Alabama
Sheffield is a city in Colbert County, Alabama, United States, and is included in The Shoals MSA. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 9,652. Sheffield is the birthplace of notable attorney, actor, former senator and presidential contender Fred Thompson...
. This was the first railroad chartered/constructed west of the Appalachian Mountains. The purpose of this railroad was to allow transport of cotton bales to a new wharf on 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...
. Also the name of a tourist railroad constructed in city-owned Spring Park.
With the success of this small railroad, it was decided to build a new railroad from Tuscumbia
Tuscumbia, Alabama
Tuscumbia is a city in and the county seat of Colbert County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 8,423 and is included in The Shoals MSA....
to Decatur
Decatur, Alabama
Decatur is a city in Limestone and Morgan Counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. The city, affectionately known as "The River City", is located in Northern Alabama on the banks of Wheeler Lake, along the Tennessee River. It is the largest city and county seat of Morgan County...
via Courtland
Courtland, Alabama
Courtland is a town in Lawrence County, Alabama, and is included in the Decatur Metropolitan Area, as well as the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the population of the town is 769.-Geography:...
. The Tennessee River between these points has a stretch of shallow rapids in the Tennessee River known as the Muscle Shoals which make river transport impossible and this railroad was designed to bypass that obstacle. Thus, the Tuscumbia, Courtland and Decatur Railroad came into being just two years later.