Hiwassee Loop History

For more information on the history of the L&N’s Atlanta Division:

• George, Michael. Louisville & Nashville’s Atlanta Division. Collegedale, TN: The College Press, 2000
• Buehler, Ingrid, and Linda Caldwell. The Old Line Railroad. Benton, TN: Tennessee Overhill Heritage Association and Polk County Publishing Co. Inc., 2009

Hiwassee Loop History

Journey on the Historic Hiwassee Rail Line

The railroad used today by the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum’s Hiwassee River Scenic Railroad has a long and remarkable story. This line was once part of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad’s Atlanta Division, connecting Etowah, Tennessee, with Marietta, Georgia. For decades, it played an important role in moving passengers, freight, timber, and mineral resources through the rugged southern Appalachian region.

When the route was completed in 1890, trains had to climb steep mountain terrain using a series of switchbacks. While that design worked, it also slowed operations and made service less efficient. To improve the route, railroad engineers developed a more practical solution that would later become its defining feature: a loop around Bald Mountain.

Completed in 1898, the Hiwassee Loop allowed trains to gain elevation in a compact space without relying on multiple switchbacks. The loop became one of the most distinctive engineering features on the line and helped give this route a character all its own. Along with the double curves near Jasper, Georgia, the route became known as the “Hook and Eye Line.” Railroad enthusiasts and historians still use that nickname today.

By the early 1900s, the L&N Railroad had established a newer route west of the Hook and Eye Line. As a result, this section became known as the “Old Line.” Even so, it remained active for many years because it continued to serve mining operations in Copperhill, Tennessee. Freight service endured until those mining activities ended in 2001, after which CSX Transportation abandoned that portion of the railroad.

Preservation efforts soon gave the line a new purpose. In 2002, the Tennessee Overhill Heritage Association purchased the abandoned tracks to protect this important piece of regional history. The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum later became the operator of heritage passenger service on the line, helping preserve the railroad while introducing new generations to its story.

Today, the Hiwassee River Scenic Railroad offers more than a train ride. It gives passengers a chance to experience a preserved mountain railroad while taking in the beauty of the Hiwassee River Gorge. Along the way, riders enjoy river views, forested hillsides, mountain scenery, and reminders of the communities and industries that once depended on these rails.

What makes this trip special is the combination of scenery and railroad heritage. The Hiwassee Loop stands as a reminder of the ingenuity required to build rail lines through difficult terrain, while the surrounding landscape highlights the natural beauty that has always made this region memorable.

A ride on the Hiwassee River Scenic Railroad connects past and present. It is a chance to see a historic railroad still in use, learn how it shaped the region, and enjoy one of Tennessee’s most distinctive rail excursions.