Yards of the Clinchfield Railroad

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Clinchfield Railroad

Clinchfield Railroad Yards

Researched and Chronicled by Scott Jessee and Sandhi Kozsuch

Clinchfield Railroad Erwin TN Yard in 2016

Since the Clinchfield Railroad was only 277 miles in length, with many of the CRR trains being quickly interchanged with other railroads, the need for large yards was less than most railroads. The Clinchfield prided itself in moving freight on and off the railroad, with minimal wait time in yards.

The Clinchfield’s primary yard was at its midpoint in Erwin TN with a capacity of over 1,000 cars. Second largest was Dante, the center of coal operations. The third largest yard was in Kingsport due to the industrial customers there. The yards at its endpoints were not the largest, but oh so efficient at interchanging traffic.

Photo: The north end of the CRR Erwin Yard in 2016 soon after it was closed.

Below are the railroad’s primary yards, based on the CRR’s 1966 and 1982 track charts. The most important changes during those decades were that much of the Johnson City Yard was relocated because of the High Line, and that the Elkhorn City yard operations and the interchange point had begun to transition to C&O’s Shelby Yard at Shelbiana KY.

Elkhorn City Yard

  • Mile Posts: .5 to 2.2 miles, 1.7 miles in length
  • Operation: Jointly operated by Clinchfield and Chesapeake and Ohio, key interchange with C&O
  • Features: Wye
  • Estimated Capacity: 400 cars +/-
  • Grade: 1.2 to 1.4%
  • Coordinates: 37.302783, -82.340213

Elkhorn City Yard Track Chart 1966

Clinchfield Railroad Elkhorn City Yard Track Chart

Dante Yard

  • Mile Posts: 35.0 to 37.3m 2.3 miles in length
  • Operation: Clinchfield’s key coal yard
  • Features: Engine house, turntable, track scales
  • Estimated Capacity: 900 Cars +/-
  • Grade: .5 to 1.38%
  • Crews: Round the clock switching and mine runs. 16 hours of yardmaster supervision M-F, 8 hours Sa & Su
  • Coordinates: 36.962009, -82.295652

Dante Yard Track Charts 1966

Clinchfield Railroad Dante Yard Track Chart
Clinchfield Railroad Dante Yard Track Chart

Miller Yard

  • Mile Posts: 52.3 to 53.4 miles, 1.1 miles in length
  • Operation: Key interchange with Interstate and L&N Railroads
  • Features: Interstate Railway Wye and Coal/Water
  • Estimated Capacity: 465 Cars +/-
  • Grade: .2 to .3%
  • Coordinates: 36.862391, -82.408720

Miller Yard Track Chart 1966

Clinchfield Railroad Miller Yard Track Chart

Kingsport Yard

  • Mile Posts: 92.9 t 96.5 miles, 3.6 miles in length
  • Operation: Key industrial yard. Tennessee Eastman largest customer.
  • Features: Wye
  • Estimated Capacity: 850 cars counting Carter Yard, South Yard, North Yard, and miscellaneous tracks
  • Grade: .1 to .5%
  • Crews: Yardmaster supervision around the clock, 5 yard crews M-F and adjusted for weekend operations.
  • Coordinates: 36.545409, -82.564195

Kingsport Yard Track Charts 1966

Clinchfield Railroad Kingsport Yard Track Chart
Clinchfield Railroad Kingsport Yard Track Chart

Johnson City Yard after 1970 – Barrett Yard prior to 1970

  • Mile Posts: 118.2 to 121.3, 3.1 miles in length
  • Operation: Local industries and interchange with ET&WNC and Southern Railway
  • Features: Turntable
  • Estimated Capacity Before 1970: 375 Cars +/-
  • Estimated Capacity After 1970 on the Highline: 150 Cars +/-
  • Grades: .4 to 1.0%
  • Crews: 1st and 2nd shifts operated with one yard crew on each shift, adjusted for weekend operations.
  • Coordinates: 36.308668, -82.363672

As you can see from the 1966 track charts, the Clinchfield weaved through Johnson City across many at-grade street crossings. This reduced the speed of the trains and congested the city streets. In 1970, the Clinchfield was able to bypass the city with the High Line, reducing the length of the Clinchfield by 2.6 miles, and improving the train schedule across the Johnson City area by at least 20 minutes. In addition, a helper district from Kingsport to Unicoi was abolished due to the old mainline’s 1.1% grade south of Johnson City.

Barrett Yard Prior to the 1960s

Click here for more Information on Barrett Yard as it existed before the 1960s.

Johnson City Yard Track Charts 1966

Clinchfield Railroad Johnson City Yard Track Chart
Clinchfield Railroad Johnson CIty Yard Track Chart

Johnson City Yard Track Chart 1982

Erwin Yard

  • Mile Posts: 135.2 to 137.9, 2.7 miles
  • Operation: Primary Yard, Shops, and Engine Facilities. Headquarters and Operational Center.
  • Features: Turntable, engine house, shops, dispatchers office
  • Estimated Capacity: 1,075 Cars +/-.
  • Erwin Yard in 1980 had the main line, E01, E02, and E03 for coal trains, then E04-E016 for classifying, switching, holding, yarding, and merchandise traffic.
  • Grades: .4 to 1.0%
  • Crews: Round the clock operations with yardmaster supervision, Dispatcher office located in the GOB.
  • Coordinates: 36.144409, -82.420999

Erwin Yard Track Charts 1966

Clinchfield Railroad Erwin Yard Track Chart
Clinchfield Railroad Erwin Yard Track Chart

Bostic Yard

  • Mile Posts: 243.4 to 245.4, 2.0 miles
  • Operation: Interchange with Seaboard Air Line, Seaboard Coast Line
  • Features: Turntable
  • Estimated Capacity (Ray Poteat): 485 Cars. Tracks 1-7 for merchandise held about 335 cars.
  • Grades: 0 to .3%
  • Crew: Operators around the clock
  • Coordinates: 35.374833, -81.858308

Bostic Yard Track Chart 1982

Clinchfield Railroad Bostic Yard Track Chart

Spartanburg Yard (Beaumont)

  • Mile Posts: 275.4 to 277.3, 1.9 miles
  • Operation: Interchange Southern Railway, Atlantic Coast Line (C&WC), and Piedmont & Northern
  • Features: Wye
  • Estimated Capacity (Ray Poteat): 485 Cars
  • Grades: 0 to .5%
  • Crew: Operators around the clock
  • Coordinates: 34.958237, -81.929828

Spartanburg Yard Track Charts 1982

Clinchfield Railroad Spartanburg Yard Track Chart
Clinchfield Railroad Spartanburg Yard Track Chart

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

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