Clinchfield – CSX Railfan Restaurant Guide

Home » Clinchfield and CSX Railfanning » Clinchfield – CSX Railfan Restaurant Guide
Clinchfield Railroad

Where Do We Eat?…..by Thomas Pittman

Narrative and Photo by Thomas Pittman

Clinchfield CSX Line through Spruce Pine NC - Photo by Thomas Pittman

One of the most important questions on any railfanning trip is “Where are we eating?” Whether you’re looking for something quick or wanting a nice sit down meal, the Clinchfield offers several places along the line that are worth checking out! There are several other quality restaurants along the route not mentioned here, but we will only be mentioning restaurants that are trackside (or very close), have some kind of railroad significance or tie, or are the only places in a particular area. That’s not to say that the listed restaurants aren’t quality establishments themselves!

McClure, VA

-McClure Kwikway- not a restaurant but a service station with a small deli that will likely be along the way on your train chase.

St. Paul, VA

There are several “Fast Food” Restaurants in the St. Paul area for those looking to eat on the run, as well as some “Downtown” restaurants. There are several options directly adjacent to where the crossover with NS’s Clinch Valley District is, although I wouldn’t really consider them “trackside.” A word of wisdom: you may want to consider either packing your meal or getting something to-go in St. Paul if you are planning to spend a lot of time north of St. Paul. There’s not a lot of options for this remote section of the railroad. Unless you plan to go to downtown Haysi, Elkhorn City, or all the way to Pikeville, you will spend a lot of time driving around to any of these 3 towns if you have to break off your railfan schedule for a meal.

Fort Blackmore, VA

-Front Porch Store and Deli- located about 1 mile off the Clinchfield near Ft. Blackmore.

Gate City, VA

-Hob-Nob Drive-In- We’re off the Clinchfield Trail again with this one (sort of). If you’re driving from Copper Creek to Kingsport, this place will be along the way and is directly across the road from NS’s Appalachian District.

-There are also a small selection of fast food and downtown restaurants in both Gate City and Weber City, VA, many of which are in viewing distance of NS’s Appalachian District,

Hob Not Drive-In Gate City VA - Clinchfield Railroad Restaurant Guide

Kingsport, TN

-Thai Riverside- Thai restaurant located on the Holston riverfront. It is adjacent to the Clinchfield entering Kingsport from the north, but there’s not a fantastic view of the railroad.

-Riverfront Seafood- Seafood restaurant located on the Holston riverfront. It is adjacent to the Clinchfield entering Kingsport from the north, but there’s not a fantastic view of the railroad.

-Hot Dog Hut on E. Sullivan Street- Fast food and short order joint that offers an excellent view of the south end of North Yard (Mad Branch) at Kingsport.

-Downtown Kingsport offers a wide selection of downtown restaurants, and Stone Drive hosts virtually any fast food or chain restaurant you could want. Downtown is also home to the first “Pals” restaurant if you want to sample an original East Tennessee staple.

Johnson City, TN

-Burg’r & Barrel- If you are a true Clinchfield Fan, you need to eat here at least once. The restaurant is housed in the ex-Clinchfield Johnson City Depot in downtown. Although the Clinchfield Right-of-Way does not run past the depot anymore (RoW was relocated to the “High Line” in 1970), NS’s A Line is still viewable from the restaurant, and is situated in the area that was common to the ET&WNC, Southern, and Clinchfield in Johnson City.

-White Duck Taco Shop- Located directly across the street from Burg’r & Barrel, this restaurant is also of railfan significance as it is housed in the ex-ET&WNC Johnson City Depot and is trackside to NS’s A Line.

-Like Kingsport, Johnson City offers a wide selection of downtown and chain restaurants. The downtown area offers some additional restaurants that feature trackside views of NS’s A (Bristol) Line that aren’t listed here.

Unicoi, TN

-Whistle Stop Deli- trackside restaurant with an excellent view of the railroad

-Maple Grove Restaurant- adjacent to the railroad but not a good view

-Los Jalapenos Mexican and Primos Italian- both of these restaurants are located in a strip mall adjacent to the South End of Hannum. Neither offer track view seating, but the railroad is easily viewed from the parking lot.

Rock Creek, TN

-Clarence’s Drive-In- Although not trackside, Clarence’s used to be a popular spot for railroaders when Erwin was still booming. The restaurant has relocated since the yard closed but is still in operation.

-Clinchfield Sub Station- Clinchfield themed sandwich shop that is adjacent to the railroad, but doesn’t offer a good view of the track.

Erwin, TN

-Steel Rails Coffee House- Railroad themed coffee shop

-Erwin/Rock Creek also offers a small selection of fast food and downtown restaurants. Taco Bell and Bojangles are situated on the north end of Erwin Yard.

Toecane/Loafers Glory, NC

-Bonnie and Clyde’s (Loafer’s Glory)- This restaurant is about a mile and a half from the RoW, but is the only restaurant anywhere remotely close to the railroad between Spruce Pine and Erwin. It’s very popular with the locals and railfans alike, and you will likely pass directly by this place on your train chase.

Spruce Pine, NC

No other town along the Clinchfield offers as much trackside dining as Spruce Pine. Locust/Lower Street offers many locally owned restaurants, and there are a handful of fast food options in the Grassy Creek area. One option is to get your food to-go and enjoy a picnic meal at either the “Loops/Orchard” or “North Cove” Overlooks on the Blue Ridge Parkway as you view the Loops from Rocky to Camp Two and what used to be Ridge.

-Live Oak Gastropub- Trackside dining with heated/covered outdoor seating and a great view of the railroad

-Hef’s- bar and grill with windows that view the railroad

-Bierdock Brewery- Brewery restaurant with windows that view the railroad.

-DT’s Blue Ridge Java- Coffee shop and restaurant with windows that view the railroad.

-El Ranchero- Mexican restaurant with a view of the railroad.

-Bangkok Station- Thai and Sushi restaurant with windows that view the railroad

Altapass, NC

-Altapass Orchard- situated between the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Clinchfield RoW, the Orchard offers fresh apples, BBQ, and ice cream. Be wary that they are only open seasonally.

Marion, NC

There are no Clinchfield trackside restaurants in the town of Marion, but Marion offers a selection of downtown and chain restaurants.

Bostic/Forest City/Rutherfordton, NC

There are no Clinchfield trackside restaurants in either of these cities, but they both offer a wide selection of downtown and chain restaurants.

Railroaders recommend “Scotts on Broadway,” “Big Dave’s Family Seafood,” and “Forest City Fish Camp,” all in Forest City.

Chesnee, SC

No trackside restaurants but there are a handful of hometown and fast food restaurants.

Railroaders recommend “Bantam Chef.”

Spartanburg, SC

Being one of the biggest metro areas on the Clinchfield, there obviously are plenty of dining options in the “Hub City.” There aren’t many trackside restaurants with a good view of the railroad, but there are several spots that are/were popular with train crews.

-Ike’s Korner Grille- adjacent to Spartanburg Yard, but not a great view of the railroad.

-Chef Ae’s- Located above Spartanburg Tunnel with a great view of NS’s Piedmont Main Line.

-Wades- not trackside but a very popular restaurant for Clinchfield Crews laying over in Spartanburg.

-Sugar-n-Spice- not trackside but was a very popular restaurant for Clinchfield Crews laying over in Spartanburg.

-Papa’s Breakfast Nook- not trackside but was a very popular restaurant for Clinchfield Crews laying over in Spartanburg.

-Beacon Drive-In- not trackside but was a popular restaurant for Clinchfield Crews laying over in Spartanburg. The “Beacon” is also a very popular spot with locals and is a Spartanburg landmark.

Clinchfield.org Sources and Resources

The following are excellent resources for those of you wanting to explore and learn more about the Clinchfield Railroad. These sources of information also serve as reference and historical materials for Clinchfield.org. Much of the content on the website is verified across multiple sources.

Clinchfield Railroad

Contact Us at Clinchfield.org

Would enjoy hearing from you if you have questions, suggestions, edits, or content that you are willing to share. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have similar interests in the Clinchfield or Model Railroads.

3Cs Websites

Appalachian-Railroads.org | Clinchfield.org | Southern-Railroads.org