Frisco Junction Tennessee – CSX and Norfolk Southern

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Frisco Junction: CSX and Norfolk Southern

Frisco Junction just north of Kingsport TN is right on the state line of Tennessee and Virginia. To my estimation and bias, it is one of the great railroad hotspots in the nation. The Clinchfield Railroad and the Southern Railway have always crossed here. But, it wasn’t until 1985 and a trackage right partnership between CSX and Norfolk Southern that this junction really started to hit fifth gear.

With the trackage rights partnership, both railroads could begin to use the two mainlines north and south of the junction to access other destinations and junctions and to also relieve grades in certain directions.

The four legs of the junction include:

  • CSX North to Speers Ferry
  • CSX South to Kingsport TN
  • NS North to Appalachia VA
  • NS South to Bulls Gap TN

Over the years you could watch 30-40 trains a day including:

  • Clinchfield/CSX Coal Drags and Empties from/to Dante and Miller Yard
  • Southern/NS Coal Drags and Empties
  • Manifest Freights for both railroads, including CSX’s Florida to Chicago/Detroit perishable
  • Tank car and raw material trains entering and leaving the nearby Eastman Chemical plant.

As you can see from the detailed report further down this page created by Ron Flanary and David DeVault…..on October 16th, 1986 the junction saw:

  • 32 trains
  • 106 units
  • 1608 loads
  • 1143 mtys
  • 19 passenger cars (NRHS excursion)

Frisco JCT Map

To obtain a view and a perspective of the junction, click on this Google Maps link.

1st Frisco Trackage Rights Train by Ron Flanary

Narrative and Photo by Ron Flanary

June 17, 1985: “This was the very first Seaboard System train to use trackage rights over the former Southern Appalachia Division between Frisco and Big Stone Gap/Appalachia. The westbound empty train is just past Gate City, rolling under US 23 at the old quarry site of Marceum. A second caboose was added to the head end to simplify the run-around move at Appalachia, where the train had to reverse directions to use the CV Subdivision to reach Loyall, Ky. Notice the CTC signal heads were turned to the left since they were not yet in service. This train was operating on timetable-train order authority with an NS pilot crew.”

A Day North of Frisco by Ron Flanary, August 23rd 1986

Narrative and Notes/Map by Ron Flanary

“My railroading friends might find some of this interesting. I’m going through many files of old notes and correspondence, and I pulled these out with the thought they might be of some interest.

In 1986, the former Southern Appalachia Division between the new connection with Seaboard System (CSX) and Frisco, Tenn. became a busy piece of railroad. New CTC, siding extensions and new siding construction (most of it financed by CSX) was critical to manage this level of heavy coal trains (with rear end pushers) of both NS and SBD. There were several daily “situation reports” I had written up using information from various sources, particularly the operators at Andover (NS), sometimes the dispatchers at Erwin (CSX), and the operators at Frisco. It was just a fun exercise to see how the railroad operated, which was a primary interest of mine. I was also taking photos, of course, but just the steady drumbeat of traffic in itself was worthy of study. There were several daily “situation reports” I had written up using information from various sources, particularly the operators at Andover (NS), sometimes the dispatchers at Erwin (CSX), and the operators at Frisco. It was just a fun exercise to see how the railroad operated, which was a primary interest of mine. I was also taking photos, of course, but just the steady drumbeat of traffic in itself was worthy of study.”

Frisco Junction TN Overview

A Day of Trains at Frisco October 18, 1986 by Ron Flanary and David DeVault

When I saw the following from Ron Flanary, I was so thankful that this information and detail still exists. Thank you, Ron and David for taking the time and effort to chronicle the rail traffic on the newly integrated Frisco JCT.

Many of you will enjoy reliving these exciting years of the 1980s/1990s, while I will also use this information to design and operate the model railroad.

In Ron’s words…..

“Here’s a more comprehensive report for October 18, 1986, although this one focusses entirely on the CSX/NS junction at Frisco, Tenn. Lots of details!”

Frisco Junction Train Chart 1986
Frisco Junction TN
Frisco Junction TN
Frisco Junction TN

Clinchfield.org Sources and Resources

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Clinchfield Railroad

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