Cincinnati Southern Railway

Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railway

Company type	Railway company
Industry	Rail transport
Founded	1881
Headquarters	Cincinnati, Ohio , United States
Area served	Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee
Products	Rail freight and passenger transport (historical)
Owner	City of Cincinnati (until 2024), Norfolk Southern Railway (since 2024)
Parent	Norfolk Southern Railway (since 2024)

The Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railway (CNO&TP; ) holds ownership of the Cincinnati Southern Railway, which extends from Cincinnati, Ohio to Chattanooga, Tennessee. The operational management is leased to the Norfolk Southern Railway. Originally funded and possessed by the city of Cincinnati since the 1870s, it stood as the sole municipally owned long-distance railroad in the United States until March 2024. Presently, CNO&TP retains ownership and control over this vital rail corridor.

History

Completed in 1880, this rail line was financed by Cincinnati to preserve competitive transport options amid evolving commerce along the Ohio River. Because municipal entities were constitutionally barred from holding stock in private companies, city official Edward A. Ferguson championed direct municipal investment. In 1869, voters authorized $10 million in municipal bonds, followed by another $6 million to finalize the construction of the 337-mile track featuring numerous tunnels. The final spike was driven in December 1879, and passenger operations commenced by March 1880.

Routing

The railway’s primary route is segmented into three sections: First District (from Cincinnati to Danville, Kentucky), Second District (Danville to Oakdale, Tennessee), and Third District (Oakdale to Chattanooga). The Second District, often called the "Rathole," is distinguished by its steep inclines, 27 tunnels, and tight curves. Between 1959 and 1963, Southern Railway undertook significant improvements including cuts and reroutes that alleviated many operational difficulties; today only four tunnels remain in use.

Originally constructed with a broad gauge of , the railway was converted to standard gauge () within a remarkable 13-hour timeframe in 1886.

From the late 1990s through the 2010s, Norfolk Southern invested over $1 billion over six decades to upgrade double-track sections south of Somerset, Kentucky. These ongoing projects focus on straightening curves and increasing capacity on one of its most lucrative routes. Such infrastructure enhancements demonstrate Norfolk Southern’s dedication to sustaining a competitive edge and supporting growth in critical markets.

Queen and Crescent Route

In 1881, Cincinnati leased ownership of the railroad for 25 years to the Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railway (CNO&TP), which was under the control of financier Frédéric Émile d'Erlanger. Erlanger merged five railroad segments running from Cincinnati through New Orleans and westward to Shreveport, Louisiana, creating what became known as the Queen and Crescent Route, connecting the Queen City with the Crescent City.

Erlanger divested his stake in 1890. By 1894, Samuel Spencer had reorganized CNO&TP into an expanded version of the Southern Railway.

In 1926, the railroad introduced the Queen and Crescent Limited, a passenger train equipped with coaches, Pullman sleeping cars, and a dining car. Despite these amenities, it never turned a profit and was discontinued in 1949.

1911 strike

In January 1911, white firemen employed by CNO&TP initiated a strike demanding that black firemen be removed from their positions. Although striking occurred, trains continued operating with black crews amidst violent clashes near Kings Mountain, Kentucky, Somerset, Kentucky, and Oakdale, Tennessee, resulting in at least eleven fatalities.

Cincinnati Southern Railway

The Cincinnati Southern Railway consists of a 337-mile stretch running between Cincinnati and Chattanooga. This line is uniquely owned by the City of Cincinnati and leased on a long-term basis to the Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railway (CNO&TP), making it the sole municipally owned long-distance railroad in the United States. The current lease is set to expire in 2026, with an option to extend for an additional 25 years. Oversight of the railway is provided by five Trustees appointed by the Mayor of Cincinnati.

Norfolk Southern manages the CNO&TP as part of its Alabama Division operations. The corridor accommodates over 50 trains daily, predominantly transporting intermodal containers and automotive products, alongside general manifest freight, grain, coal, and other bulk materials.

Historically, the CNO&TP experienced significant growth in revenue freight ton-miles, rising from 1.7 billion in 1925 to more than 4.1 billion by 1967. Conversely, passenger miles on the line decreased sharply during that timeframe, dropping from 134 million to just 15 million.

In 2023, Norfolk Southern reached an agreement to purchase Cincinnati Southern for $1.6 billion. This acquisition was subject to approval by Cincinnati voters, regulatory agencies, and the state legislature. After securing regulatory consent and receiving voter endorsement in November 2023, Norfolk Southern finalized the purchase in March 2024.

See also

• Queen and Crescent Route
• Interstate Commerce Commission v. Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railway Co.
• Cincinnati–Blue Ash Airport, previously owned by the City of Cincinnati but located outside its corporate boundaries
• French Park (Amberley, Ohio), also municipally owned by Cincinnati beyond city limits

References

• Southern Railway Ties, August 1963
• Trackside Guide No. 1 - Cincinnati, Trains September 2002
• Railroads of Cincinnati, including CNO&TP history with photos

Further reading

• Tate, Curtis. "Tunnel Trouble: Building and Rebuilding the Cincinnati Southern, 1869–1999." Ohio Valley History 12.3 (2012): 68–77. excerpt

External links

• Particularly Everything Blog - Queen and Crescent: Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railway