Abandoned NC&STL Railway
Route Between Memphis, Jackson & Bruceton
National Fire Works Tracks - Milepost ONI 211.3
The original "Shell Plant" was National Fireworks Co. which shut
down after WWII. They had numerous buildings scattered around their
260 acres. (Even today, all munitions plants have their facilities
in as many separate buildings so that an explosion would not be
a huge calamity, destroying the whole facility with the loss of
many lives.) During the war, this plant likely employed hundreds
of workers and provided significant business to the NC&StL Railway.
After the war, these buildings were bought by other companies and
put to other uses, forming the nucleolus of Cordova's
industrial park/area. The Dutcher family bought a small portion
of the National Fireworks property and facilities in 1948 forming
Security Signals Co. that still produces numerous munitions under
contract for various government and private entities. Their plant
consists now of new buildings (post 1948) at 9509 Macon Rd. is still
in operation employing approximately 90 people. They have now built
a satellite plant in Oakland. --Bill
Strong
Macon Road (east of Lenow Road) looking northeast. A L&N GP35 #1127 rolling on the track siding southward to the cement factory in the early 1980's. Probably, the site may be former National Fire Works. Photo and contributed by Richard Parker.
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Last Switch Stand - Milepost ONI 211.2
Northeast of Macon Road beside Lenow Road looking southwest. This switch stand is the
last one before the dead end of the former main line. It is about a thousand feet to the
collapsed trestle (see below). The track to the left goes to a brick/block industry and
further to a concrete/cement factory (see tall cream tower). Former National Fire Works?
That will be nice I can put the mailbox on this switch stand at my home.
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Washed Out Trestle - Milepost ONI 211.0
This is the collapsed trestle, the worst bridge on the
Cordova Branch of the CSXT.
See one more photo
by others. |
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