Most of the records for the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis
Railway were destroyed in the final merger with L&N. Only 9.5
linear feet survive at the University of Louisville, and none of
it is employee information.
Early records, according to Railway Review, March 11, 1922: Records of the last 50 years of the Nashville Chattanooga & St. Louis Ry. were destroyed this week by a fire which gutted the transportation building of the carrier at Nashville, Tenn. The records were highly valued.
NCPS is attempting to reconstruct a list of employee using NC&StL
News Items and Bulletins, magazines published by the railway from
1919 through 1957. This is a painstaking process that involves
reading each magazine and writing down the names mentioned, adding
titles and locations when possible. The database is over 13,000
names and we've barely scratched the surface.
If you would like to help in this project, please contact
us. We will assign you magazines and provide you with
an Excel spreadsheet in which you can enter your findings.
If you have relatives that worked for the NC&StL, please send
us whatever information you have to be added to the knowledge
base. Photos are also welcome.
Another good source for employee data is the former employees themselves.
We encourage them to provide us with written or taped memories of
the railway, including names of other employees. These first
hand memories are priceless!
If the former employee is deceased, try speaking with older relative
who may remember the railroad. Other good sources of information
are local libraries, newspapers, historical centers and genealogical
research groups.
Some internet links that will assist in research:
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