'The railroad opened up everything': The tracks of Erwin's history

Mike Tilley knows a thing or two about railroads. Tilley is the president of the Watauga Valley Railroad Historical Society and Chuckey Depot Museum in Jonesborough. Before that, he worked as a train operator for more than 40 years. "That's all I've done. Trains, all my life," Tilley said. Tilley started working on trains in the 1970s, but his love for railroads began in early childhood. "I grew up with the railroad, even as a small kid, I grew up with it," Tilley said. With eyes lit up, Tilley shared a memory of his visit to Spruce Pine, North Carolina to see a train engine with his father. "He took me over there and I got to go on an engine and got in the caboose and it was just — it just followed me all the way," Tilley said, smiling. "So that's why I had the interest … I don't get tired of it." With his decades of experience working on trains and immersion in their history, Tilley argues that the railroad may be the most integral part of the town of Erwin's early history. Erwin and the Clinchfield railroad Tilley explained that Erwin's history revolves around the railroad with the Erwin being the "main hub" for the Clinchfield line that is now part of CSX. Clinchfield's history begins with the Charleston, Cincinnati and Chicago Railroad (3Cs), according to clinchfield.org, a history site and blog edited by Johnson City native Sandhi Kozsuch, who Tilley referred to as his museum's "main historian." The site compiles maps, books and other sources into a comprehensive history lesson on the railroad. Railroad tracks first reached Erwin in 1890, less than fifteen years after the town was founded, according to the site. After a few more name changes and a change of ownership, it was officially named the Clinchfield railroad in 1924 and midpoint headquarters were set up in Erwin. "It was the main employer in Erwin at that time. I mean, everything revolved around the railroad men," Tilley said. Ultimately, the Clinchfield stretched from Elkhorn City, Kentucky to Spartanburg, South Carolina. The 277-mile CC&O linked with the Atlantic Coastline and Chesapeake and Ohio railways at either end, connecting America north to south. Tilley worked as tra Originally, the plan was to have Johnson City take on the CC&O headquarters, but due to disputes over land, Erwin became the home for the railroad's general offices, integral to the economic success and development into the town that exists today. Keeping the railroad alive As president of the Watauga Railroad Historical Society, Tilley said he tries to preserve and foster interest in the region's railroad history. "I try to keep the organization going and we're trying to get young people involved," Tilley said. "That's our main goal, is to keep this stuff alive." While the area's railways originally hauled coal, services expanded in the 20th century to manifest freight and passenger use. "The railroad opened up everything … and we just feel it's very important to keep that alive." Tilley's historical society has around 300 members and holds monthly board meetings at the museum. Members work as museum hosts or work on a mechanical crew to restore vintage train cars and coaches. The society also plans field trips to different historical railroad sites. "It's a great place for retirees, especially, to come get out of the house and work on something," Tilley said. "And then some are not mechanically-minded, and they fit in right here at the depot." The Chuckey Depot Museum is open Thursday through Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. It's located at 110 S. 2nd St. at the 2nd Street railroad crossing in Jonesborough.