Memphis and Charleston Railroad

The 1857 completed Memphis and Charleston Railroad was the first railroad in the United States, connecting with their railway line the Mississippi River to the Atlantic Ocean. It was founded in 1846 and led by Memphis on Corinth (Mississippi) and Huntsville (Alabama ) to Stevenson (Alabama ). From Stevenson led them across the tracks of the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad to Chattanooga (Tennessee). There were about Atlanta connection to Charleston (South Carolina). Like most other railways of the South was she a broad gauge line with 1524 mm track gauge.

Between Tuscumbia and Decatur ( Alabama) led the route on existing tracks of 1850 acquired Decatur - Courtland - Tuscumbia Railroad. This railway was the first company west of the Appalachians opened a route.

When the Civil War broke out in 1861, the railway line was strategically significant because it was the only major east -west connection of Könföderierten to the Mississippi River. She was especially during the Battle of Shiloh important. On the morning of April 11, 1862 captured Union troops under General Mitchel Huntsville, whereby the web was useless for the Confederates.

The Memphis and Charleston Railroad went up in 1894, founded the Southern Railway. The track is still in operation and is one of the successor company, the Norfolk Southern Railway.