Cincinnati New Orleans & Texas Pacific Railway
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- Passenger Trains | Asheville Special | Birmingham Special | Carolina Special | Crescent | Peach Queen | Pelican | Piedmont Limited | Ponce de Leon | Royal Palm | Southerner | Tennessean
- Cities: Bristol TN/VA
- Related Lines: Embreeville Branch | Johnson City & Carolina | Johnson City Southern
- Notable People: Dr. Samuel B. Cunningham | Samuel Spencer | W. Graham Claytor, Jr.
- Today: Norfolk Southern
- Railfan Guides: Virginia & Southwestern
- Resources & Sources: Books | Scholars-Authors | Museums | Associations | Website Editor | Site Map
- Related Websites: Rails Across the Appalachians | Clinchfield.org
Cincinnati New Orleans & Texas Pacific Railway
CNO&TP/Cincinnati Southern Railways
The Cincinnati New Orleans & Texas Pacific (CNO&TP) Railroad (a legal entity) leases the Cincinnati Southern Railway (the actual railroad) from the City of Cincinnati.
The CNO&TP in turn leases the key 337 mile railroad to the Norfolk Southern Railway. The CNO&TP has been operated under the terms of the lease by the Southern Railway, and successor Norfolk Southern since 1894.
Late in 2022, the Norfolk Southern announced it was buying the Cincinnati Southern from the city of Cincinnati for $1.62B.
The Cincinnati Southern is the only interstate rail line owned by a municipality. As of early 2024, the sale to Norfolk Southern is being reviewed by the federal government.
CNO&TP History
The citizens of Cincinnati approved an initial bond issue in 1869 for $10 million to construct the line that would serve as a key component linking the Ohio River to the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. The route would traverse the southern United States during an era of redevelopment and economic expansion. By 1879, the line had been completed from Cincinnati to Chattanooga at a total expense of $16 million.
In hindsight, the proceeds from the $1.6 billion sale price, and the millions of dollars in lease payments for 140+ years is a substantial return that has funded many projects and services for the city of Cincinnati.
CNO&TP Stats
- Founded/Chartered: 1869
- Operated: 1879 – Present (Leased/Operated by Norfolk Southern)
- Abbreviation: CNO&TP (Also known as Cincinnati Southern)
- Initial Route: Cincinnati OH to Chattanooga TN
- Length: 337 Miles
- Related Railroads: Southern Railway, Norfolk Southern Railway
- Headquarters: Cincinnati OH, Owned by the City of Cincinnati
- Cities: Cincinnati OH, Lexington KY, Danville KY, Somerset KY, Oneida TN, Oakdale TN, Dayton TN, and Chattanooga TN
- Key Individuals: Samuel Spencer
- Today: Norfolk Southern Railway
Cincinnati Southern Map
Map by City of Cincinnati
https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/dote/modes-of-transportation/by-rail/cincinnati-southern-railway/
Southern-Railroads.org Sources and Resources
- Personal Maps, Timetables & Memorabilia – Documents, maps and track charts that I have from the SOU and predecessor railroads
- Book – Flanary, Lindsey & Oroszi: The Southern Railway
- Book – Graybeal: The Railroads of Johnson City
- Book – Harshaw: ‘Trains Trestles & Tunnels, Railroads of the Southern Appalachians’
- Book – Lindsey: ‘Norfolk Southern 1995 Review’
- Book – Scales: Natural Tunnel, Nature’s Marvel in Stone’
- Book – Stout: ‘Southern Railway: Through Passenger Service’
- Book – Ward: ‘Southern Railway Varnish 1964-1979’
- Book – Webb: ‘The Southern Railway System: An Illustrated History’
- Book – Wiley & Wallace: ‘The Southern Railway Handbook’
- Book – Withers & Sink: ‘Southern: A Motive Power Pictorial’
- Book – Wolfe: Southern Railway Appalachia Division
- Magazine – ‘Trains‘
- Magazine – ‘Classic Trains‘
- Website – StateOfFranklin.net which hosts Johnson’s Depot
- Website – Carolana.com – North Carolina Railroads, South Carolina Railroads
- Website – Hawkinsrails.net
- Website – RailFanGuides.us for Johnson City
- Website – Norfolk Southern Track Charts at Multimodalways.org
- Website – TheDieselShop.us
- Website – SteamLocomotive.com
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3Cs Websites
Appalachian-Railroads.org | Clinchfield.org | Southern-Railroads.org