When Coal, Lumber, and Railroads Were King … In 1902, Justus S. Stearns of Ludington, Michigan bought 30,000 acres of virgin timberland in southern Kentucky. When coal was discovered soon afterwards, the Stearns Coal & Lumber Company was established. The company built the town of Stearns to serve as the hub of a logging and mining empire that would control over 200 square miles of land, build the Kentucky & Tennessee Railway, erect the first all electric sawmill in the U.S. and employ over 2,200 people living and working in 18 coal and lumber camps.
Most of the buildings in the Stearns business district were painted in company colors – sage green with white trim. The Company office headquarters building and surrounding Company houses were painted white with dark green trim. Residents enjoyed services provided by the Company, such as water and sewage, electricity, and steam heat for their homes. Recreation amenitiesincluded a golf course, tennis courts, pool hall, and baseball field for their leisure time.
The Kentucky & Tennessee Railway once stretched over 25 miles into the Big South Fork River valley and operated 12 steam locomotives. It served as the primary passage not only for timber and coal, but also for workers and supplies going to camps along its line. The K&T, like many shortline railroads operated steam locomotives several years after the mainline railroads had switched to diesel power. One of the more notable steam locomotives, Southern Railway No. 4501 was purchased by the K&T, re-lettered K&T No. 12, and operated until 1964. The only original K&T steam engine still in existence today is the K&T No. 10. Both No. 4501 and No. 10 are now located at Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga.
In the 1950’s, the Stearns Company closed several coal mines and the K&T discontinued passenger service. By 1976, the Stearns Coal & Lumber Company had sold its mining operations to Blue Diamond Coal Company. The Company's vast land holdings transferred to the National Forest, the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area, and private ownership. Coal mining ceased along the K&T in 1987. Today, the McCreary County Heritage Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization, has taken on the task to preserve, protect, and interpret the rich history of one of the few company towns in America still surrounded by its coal, lumber, and railroad roots. The National Historic District of Stearns, McCreary County Museum, and Big South Fork Scenic Railway provide the venues necessary for the Heritage Foundation to keep this thriving history alive.
Our Visit
My first picture of the Big South Fork Scenic Railroad taken off the highway bridge in Stearns.
Another view with the Norfolk Southern interchange.
Big South Fork Scenic Railway S-2 105 on the point of our train.
Chris Parker and I then drove to the parking area and I went inside the station to meet Becky, be our host for today's train ride. We picked up our tickets before getting better acquainted.
A ground picture of S-2 105, ex. Kentucky and Tennessee Railway 105, exx. Port Huron and Detroit 60, nee United States Army RSD-1 8030 built by American Locomotive Company in 1942, with the Stearns water tower in the background.
While we waited to board, another Norfolk Southern southbound freight passed through. Our train consisted of Big South Fork Scenic S-1 105, covered open air cars 1003, 1001 and 1004 and enclosed car 1005.
I chose a seat in coach 1003 in order to be closer to the sound of that Alco S-2 engine. I fell in love with the sounds of Alco engines on the Santa Fe and Southern Pacific when I was growing up. This trip would be a thrill and a chance to relive memories of a time I thought was lost. First, a safety announcement was made then with the sound of 105's steam whistle, we departed Stearns at 2:35 PM.
We first curved underneath the highway bridge on which I had taken the first pictures.
The interchange track with Norfolk Southern was visible.
Passing the old log pond.
The Big South Fork Scenic Railroad shops.
Making our way into the forest.
A left hand curve.
A right hand curve.
105 rounding another curve.
Then came a piece of straight track.
About to enter the tunnel.
A sharp turn as we exited.
Down below was Pounch Creek.
Our train next passed through a few rock cuts.
Roaring Paunch Creek below the tracks.
We next reached the Barthell Coal Company recreated town site.
Union Railroad 0-6-0 14 built by American Locomotive Company in 1944. In 1955, it was sold to Morehead & North Fork Railroad Company 14 at Clearfield, Kentucky then later sold to dealer George Silcott and in 1969, became the property of Cumberland Falls Scenic Railway. Later the engine was sold to the Tombstone Junction Amusement Park and renumbered 77, where she operated until 1989. The amusement park then burned down and 77 was sold to the Kentucky and Tennessee to be restored and operate on the Big South Fork Scenic Railway.
Barthell Company Store Number 2.
Curve at Milepost 4.
Our train then entered the Big South Fork National Recreation Area.
You can still see Roaring Paunch Creek as we neared it.
Approaching the switchback.
The track that led to Blue Heron. Once the switch was thrown, the engine started to push our train to Blue Heron, our layover location this afternoon.
Crossing Roaring Paunch Creek.
We arrived at the old coal mining community of Blue Heron, where the park ranger explained the history of the site and what to see then the return time was given so everyone would know when to be back on the train.
The large coal tipple that has a walkway across the valley above was my goal here. I walked up a paved trail that led me to several excellent exhibits.
The interior of Mine 30 was the coldest location on this very hot and humid day.
A mine fan blade.
I climbed up on the walkway above the coal tipple where you could look down into it.
Looking down into the tipple.
The view of the Blue Heron complex and our train below.
The Southern Railway hoppers helped to make this display more real.
The walkway provided an excellent view of the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River.
A mine cart on display on the walkway.
A family outing.
The coal tipple from the ground level.
Southern Railway cars positioned to be loaded.
A model of the Blue Heron coal tipple and yard. As I walked over for my next pictures, I heard thunder just before the sky let loose with a downpour of rain.
Big South Fork Scenic S-2 105.
The train at rest.
Becky and Chris before we all rode in the cab of 105 for the journey back to Stearns via the Kentucky and Tennessee mainline extension project.
