Any Railroad Fans? Hagan Switchback

[Jim Oaks]

This is a pretty good video of the Hagan Switchback in Hagan, Virginia. Coal trains coming south from Harlan, Kentucky pass through this mountain tunnel, and then back up to align themselves onto an east-west track.

My grandparents farm is 3/4 mile east of this switchback and the tracks actually cross over their farm splitting it in half. I still have the handwritten agreement between my great-great-great-great grandparents and the Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company from 1887 when they purchased the right of way for the tracks. My cousin owns the farm today and it's been in the family for well over 150 years.

The tracks used to run from Cumberland Gap to Norton, Virginia. When the tunnel was completed in 1930. This switchback was only meant to be a 'temporary' solution and is still in use today. It takes them about 45-60 to back the train up and switch it onto the other track.

On December 10th, 1941 my grandfather was employed as a watchman by the railroad police to guard the tunnel and did it until February 1942. At the time there was a fear after the Japanese bombing that our railroads could be sabotaged since they played such a vital role in this country.

I don't recall the timeframe, but trains stopped using the tracks west of the tunnel and they were eventually removed. There's just enough track there for the coal trains to back up on.

 

[Curious Hound]

That's pretty cool. I don't think I ever heard of that particular place. The railroads get pretty creative in mountainous areas. Logging railroads are riddled with switchbacks like that.