Richmond, Nicholasville,
Irvine and Beatyville Railroad
"The Kentucky River Route"
Introduction
History
Equipment
According to the Ghost Railroads of Kentucky
book, the RNI&B had four locomotives:
Richmond, Nicholasville, Irvine
& Beattyville Roster
| Number |
Type |
Builder |
Date |
Remarks |
| 1 |
4-4-0 |
Pittsburgh |
? |
|
| 2 |
4-4-0 |
Rogers |
? |
|
| 3 |
4-6-0 |
Baldwin |
1892 |
to L&A 3, then L&N 147, then 366 |
| 4 |
4-6-0 |
Baldwin |
1894 |
|
Later, when the RNI&B re-emerged as
the Louisville and Atlantic, the locomotive roster listed ten locomotives:
Louisville & Atlantic Locomotive
Roster
| Number |
Type |
Builder |
Date |
Remarks |
| 3 |
4-6-0 |
Baldwin |
1892 |
ex-RNI&B 3, then L&N 147, then
366 |
| 4 |
2-6-0 |
Baldwin |
1907 |
to L&N 550, scrapped 1937 |
| 5 |
2-6-0 |
Baldwin |
1889 |
ex-KU 12, L&E 12, to L&N 551,
scrapped 1927 |
| 6 |
4-4-0 |
Tauton |
1871 |
to L&N 67, scrapped 1924 |
| 7 |
2-6-0 |
Baldwin |
1902 |
to L&N 552, scrapped 1932 |
| 8 |
2-6-0 |
Baldwin |
1902 |
to L&N 553, scrapped 1930 |
| 9 |
4-4-0 |
Pittsburgh |
? |
to L&N 68, scrapped 1925 |
| 10 |
2-6-0 |
Baldwin |
1907 |
to L&N 554, scrapped 1930 |
| 11 |
2-6-0 |
Baldwin |
1904 |
to L&N 555, F&C 9 |
| 12 |
2-6-0 |
Baldwin |
1905 |
to L&N 556, F&C 8 |
I could not find any roster of the freight
equipment, but in the Ghost Railroads of Kentucky book, there are AC&F
builders photos for RNI&B 514, a stock car and RNI&B 1008, a boxcar.
There also is a photo of the L&A combination way car/caboose 'D'.
None of the rest of the photographs show the equipment very clearly.
There is one shot of a train leaving Irvine with three small passenger
cars in tow, but the numbers for neither the locomotives or cars are visible
Abandonment
After the L&N had laid new trackage from
Winchester to Irvine, the Frankfort to Irvine line was redundant and longer,
so the L&N was granted permission to abandon this line. The last
scheduled train ran September 30, 1932. The bridge over the Kentucky
River at Irvine lasted until World War II, when it was demolished for the
war effort, november 17, 1942.
Right-of-Way Still Visible
I have not traveled over all of the Rhiney-B's
right-of-way yet, but I am relatively familiar with the portion in Madison
and Estill Counties. I'll include more in this section when I've gotten
more information. If you have any descriptions about the ROW, please
email
us here at the Library.
Madsion County
The piers for the huge bridge over the Kentucky
River at Valley View are still standing, though the bridge is gone.
In the town of Valley View, the ROW is known as Depot Street, and is almost
the highest road in the town. About a mile from Valley View, the
the highway crosses the ROW, making for an interesting bump in the road
(My truck has been airborne there before.... don't ask!!!!). Following
Tates Creek Road back to Richmond, the ROW is clearly visible on the south
side of the road, and typically is on the far side of the small creek valley
from the highway. Somewhere in this area is the Million Tunnel, but
I do not know it's exact location. The roadbed crosses the highway
and climbs steadily toward Richmond, but around the area of Interstate
75, the roadbed gets lost to time and progress. I understand that
the railroad went across what is now the golf course behind Arlington,
Eastern Kentucky University's alumni club. I have yet to see the
actual roadbed on the north side of Main Street, but the rails are actually
still in place in the area of Second Street. The very rough crossing
next to Madison Central High School and the old Phillips Lighting plant
is one of the few remaining places that the Rhiney-B still has track on
it's ROW. Again, I can't trace the roadbed from Second Street out
of the city limits, but I do know that after the northern portion of the
Richmond Bypass was built, the ROW is clearly visible. Just after
leaving the traffic light at the Highway 52/Bypass intersection headed
northbound the highway climbs a hill then flattens out - look to the east,
you can see the ROW following the topography around a little valley.
The ROW can also be seen at a grade crossing on Concord Road, and then
again in the area now known as Greens Crossing (near the racetrack).
I believe this must be the Rhiney-B's station named Estrada, but I'm not
positive. From this general area, the old ROW has been converted
to a county highway, number 374 in this area, also known as Moberly Road.
The ROW crosses Highway 52 at Moberly, right next to a new Shell gas station.
The ROW/Highway 374 continues south from Highway 52 to a fork in the road.
The left fork is the ROW, I think, though the sweeping curve to the right
looks ROW-like also.... The ROW/Meadowbrook Road continues out to
EKU's Meadowbrook Farm, and crosses Muddy Creek on the original Rhiney-B
bridge !!! The road utilizes the ROW for a few miles, then turns
off the ROW to the left. If you look closely at this turn, you can
still trace the ROW through the cow pasture. The next visible location
is in Brassfield. Here, the old station is still standing, though
barely, and the deep cut through which the ROW passed is visible to the
point that it was filled in for Highway 499 to cross over it. the
ROW continues on to Panola, then crosses the county line into Estill County.
Estill County
Remaining Structures
Brassfield station building is being used
as a barn. No paint, tile shingles on roof.
Bridge over Muddy Creek near Meadowbrook
References
"Chapter 3, "The Rhiney-B" ", Ghost Railroads of Kentucky,
Date, pg. 33-42, roster pg.244, by
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Page Updated 02-23-01