Customer Reviews

Ghost Railroads of Tennessee

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While it is a shame that Dr. Sulzer didn't get a chance to write any more 'Ghost Railroad' books, those of us who live (or are interested) in the states of Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana should consider ourselves lucky he started with us. Dr. Sulzer manages to capture not only the history and topography of the routes, but also a little bit of humor and local color as well. The amount of detail he managed to capture is amazing for some routes that at that time had been abandoned for decades. The maps are not the greatest for detail, but that was all he had at the time. This book is a must have for any Tennessee railfan and is well worth the price.

This amazing book has long been out-of-print and is a very enjoyable and well-documented collection of histories of long-defunct Tennessee railroads and branch lines. Simply put, it's a fun book to read.

I was particularly interested in the description and pictures of the Smoky Mountain Railroad which came right into downtown Knoxville from up in the mountains of Sevier County. As a student at the University of Tennessee in the late 1970s I can still recall seeing its rails poking out from underneath the gravel commuter parking lot which then covered the old yard, wondering what railroad they must've belonged to.

The only thing I would like to have seen is a chapter or appendix with new material bringing the book up-to-date to the present time from the 1970s where it essentially ends as was done with the recent reprinting of William Middleton's book on the South Shore Line interurban.

Buy it now before you regret missing this opportunity!

This book is a MUST for any railfan, and definately for any fan of southern railroads within states bordering Tennessee or passing through it. The original volume in good condition will bring $350 to $600 at train shows or collectors book stores. I don't know how long this new reprint will be out, but I would grab one if you are interested in railroad history at all. Sulzer did not just sit at home and write his history; he travelled to Tennessee and walked the old lines himself, talking to old railroaders and people who knew these old lines when they were alive. Often written in a personable tone, and with stories of real people who worked on the lines, the book is fun to read as well as bursting with historical facts. My only complaint against this new edition of the book is that it may make my original edition less valuable. But then using this new one will allow me to keep the old one in better condition.

"Ghost Trains of Tennessee" is a vibrant and informative study of various short-line routes "that have been historically indigenous to the social and economic background" of Tennessee. Elmer G. Selzer examines such colorful lines as The Jerkwater, The Tweetsie, and Tennessee's own Nashville & Chattanooga. From the turn of the century to the early 1970s, these lines transported everything from people and timber to tobacco and stock cars. In the 1920s, the routes covered more than 4000 miles of track. By 1975, the coverage had dwindled to 2,969 miles. Selzer movingly details how improved automobile highways and the depletion of logging resources caused the demised of many of these rail lines. The book contains multitutes of historic pictures (b&w and a few color); and the maps, charts, and paintings are large and sharp. Selzer's two other classic volumes are GHOST RAILROADS OF INDIANA and GHOST RAILROADS OF KENTUCKY.

Having lived in Middle Tennessee my whole life, I was familiar with the L&N, the N.C.& St.L., and the Tennessee Central... But little did I know that I had been driving over what had been the railroad beds of some of the ghost railroads contained within this book.

It all came to light for me when I noticed what turned out to be an old abandoned lime kiln on the side of a road. It had always been there, though I had not seen it previously due to its being hidden by summer foliage. I found it prior to the spring growth. Not knowing at the time what exactly it was that I had found, I inquired at the local county archive. I was told that it belonged to the old Duck River Valley Railroad. "The what?", I said. (The dirt road I had been driving was the old abandoned railroad bed.) I was directed to "Ghost Railroads of Tennessee", a 1st printing held on a shelf there in the archive. When I saw the information it contained, I set out to obtain my own copy.

I ended up with a 2nd edition, as the 1st editions are now rare and expensive. I can completely understand why the 1st edition is so hard to find. This book is a treasure trove of information about the old lines that once ran across this state in all directions. Trackage and gauges are covered, as well as motive power and rolling stock - though not to the same degree for each road. Charter dates, ownership, ownership transfers, and abandonments are covered as well. Maps showing locations, pictures and descriptions also enrich the text. Some personal recollections from folks that road these rails are there, too. For those that might wish to model a prototypical late 19th or early 20th century road in Tennessee, this is your reference guide...

Elmer G. Sulzer did a fine job with this work. When one considers the amount of information he gathered and compiled about railroads long since passed, the depth of his labor can be truly appreciated.