The Nashville & Eastern Railroad Authority wants the state to provide $20 million in recurring funding for maintenance of the railroad that runs through the Upper Cumberland.
The state provided the authority with $20 million last year, but Authority Vice Chairman Chuck Womack said the authority would like to see that funding continue. Womack said the funding would be primarily for repairing the track. Womack said repairs are particularly needed on the portion of track from Carthage Junction to Cookeville.
“All along that area, the railroad ties, as I said, are in bad shape, and we need to have major repairs because there’s a speed limit of only 10 miles an hour because of the deterioration of the track,” Womack said.
Womack said the track’s bridge that goes over the Caney Fork River is also in disrepair. Womack said repairing the track would allow for more tourism to come to Putnam County.
“Tourist trains have stopped coming up this way because of the deterioration of the track,” Womack said. “But the winery that’s near Baxter would love to have trains to come up and stop there, got their winery, and then come up into Cookeville.”
Womack said the Nashville & Eastern Railroad has been very successful between Nashville and Lebanon. Womack said the same success can no longer be duplicated elsewhere on the railroad.
“Industries and plants are building along the railroad and using the railroad, but there’s not that much activity up this way. And a good reason is because the track is not in the best of shape,” Womack said.
Cookeville and Monterey have passed resolutions and letters of support for the authority’s request. Womack said he is working to get support from Algood and Putnam County. Womack said residents can help by contacting their state representatives.