Kingsport Tennessee

The Clinchfield Station

The Carolina Clinchfield and Ohio (also just known as "The Clinchfield") was (and is, since as part of the CSX system it has remained pretty much the same type of operation) known as a coal hauling road. It was not noted for its passenger service. That was at least partly due to the routing of the line. There were few towns of major importance that it served.

That is why I was so surprised upon coming to this station on one of our roadtrips. I knew Kingsport had a station, and I knew it was brick. But I was not prepared for this. A brick edifice complete with a clock tower.

But here it was, and still is. Perhaps the grandeur of the station, which overshadowed anything I saw in Kingsport, was due to the Clinchfield's using it as a headquarters (though their main division point was in Erwin TN) for their operations in that part of their route. Perhaps it was due to local "political" considerations. Whatever the reason, it appears to be a station almost a "step above" its surroundings.

Thankfully, this magnificent structure has been saved and in its new life is the local bank building.