Finding Old Railroad Depots

A day Away By Mike Steely

I grew up about a block away from a railroad station, back when passenger trains still ran. That old station is still there and when I’m visiting my hometown I often drop by and peek in. The station is now used by the city and houses a few offices.
My family’s house was just across the street from the tracks and I became used to trains passing and the noise and rumbling. I now live in Knoxville and my backyard borders the railroad; I seldom notice the noise.
I guess that’s why I’m so interested in railroads and particularly the old railroad stations and depots. Many of them, like the Heiskell station, have long disappeared. Some, like the L&N Station and the Southern Depot yet stand in one form or another. My neighborhood’s station in Inskip has long disappeared but was once a stop between Knoxville and Fountain City for the short line that once served the area.
There are several that continue to exist today and are either empty, used for storage, or now have a different function. The Loudon, Cookeville, Crossville, Greenback, Clinton, Rogersville, Bulls Gap, Sweetwater, and Philadelphia depots still exist but with other uses.
The Etowah train station is one depot worth a visit. It was once the headquarters for the train company and now is a museum with a caboose and many exhibits. The Fountain City depot still stands and now houses several businesses yet you wouldn’t know or recognize it as a train depot.
The real surprise to me is the Corryton Depot. Or should I say Corryton Library?
Built in 1993 with funds raised by local residents to resemble a train depot, the library continues to serve the community and was acquired by the county after the “depot” style building was completed at 7733 Corryton Road.
You might think that the Corryton Historic Society is housed in the “new” depot but the society’s museum is housed in a historic one-room schoolhouse that was built in the early 1900s. The building has been restored to its original condition and now serves as a showcase for the society’s collections. Visitors can explore the museum and learn about the town’s early settlers, its agricultural heritage, and the impact of the Civil War on the area.
The Corryton Historical Society is located in Corryton and is dedicated to preserving the rich history and culture of the area. Founded in 1987, the society has a vast collection of artifacts, documents, and photographs that tell the story of Corryton and its people.