Trains and Tunnels on Norfolk Southern's 'Rat Hole' Line

The Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific Railway is a subsidiary of Norfolk Southern. It was established in 1881 to operate the Cincinnati Southern between its namesake and Chattanooga, Tennessee, a distance of 337 miles. Train crews nicknamed it the “Rat Hole” for its 27 tunnels, most of which have been eliminated.

The railroad has a long and storied history, becoming part of the Southern Railway System in 1894 and Norfolk Southern in 1982. Until March 2024, the railroad and right-of-way were owned by the City of Cincinnati which leased the Cincinnati Southern to the CNO&TP. Because of its railroad, Cincinnati was “the longest city in the world.”

In 2023, Norfolk Southern agreed to buy the Cincinnati Southern via the CNO&TP for $1.6 billion, pending approvals from Cincinnati voters, the Surface Transportation Board, and the Ohio General Assembly. The Surface Transportation Board approved the deal, and in November 2023, Cincinnati voters also approved it. Norfolk Southern finalized the acquisition in March 2024.

Today, the Norfolk Southern-owned CNO&TP is a busy mainline with approximately 30 trains in 24 hours. Historically, there were three crew districts, but now there are only two: a north and south district divided at KD Tower, 9 miles south of Burnside, Kentucky. This program focuses on what was once the Third District, between Oakdale and Chattanooga.

In Norfolk Southern’s first month of outright ownership, we decided to document trains between Camp Austin and Dayton on two weekends. Despite the gloomy weather, we were not disappointed.

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[thomasmackowiak]

Thank you, Drayton, for documenting the Norfolk Southern trains in this video shortly after Norfolk Southern took over the rail line from Cincinnati, Ohio to Chattanooga, Tennessee which the Norfolk Southern purchased from the City of Cincinnati, Ohio. I enjoyed watching the different Norfolk Southern trains in this video while learning about where the trains originated and terminated and where some of the trains stopped to work train yards as they traveled between their origins and destinations. (Posted on 15 November 2024 at 1539 CST.)

[josephreed]

US Railroads move more than twice as much tonnage as the entire rest of the world combined.
US Railroads have the most skilled personnel, operating an amazing network.
Thank you for the videos.

[NorthernOhioRailroadAction]

This has to be one of my favorite video so far as a nickel plate road fan this has a little bit of history I believe back in the 1980s Nick wrote 765 did a excursions on the Rat Hole Division There is a DVD called Wheeling in the Rathole so when I saw this video posted it brought back memories of that DVD. Keep up the fantastic work love watching your videos thanks again and have a awesome weekend

[tatecarlson]

Very cool video showcasing the Rat Hole.

[rogertemple]

I really enjoy watching and listening to the history of Norfolk Southerns Rat Hole Line as well seeing the awesome train
footage on the tracks take care and thank you.🚂🚃🚃🇺🇲

[AerialAg]

Great videos! Your effort is appreciated !

[EmpireBeltRR]

Excellent video documenting the history and trains of the Rat Hole Line. I appreciated the informative and clear narration that accompanied the well done videos. A great combination!!!

[larrydockery]

love your vids theres nothing like taking vids of a train while its raining i miss riding the sd45s back in the 70s 80s for clinchfield rr

[robadams]

"29A runs on Norfolk Southern's Calumet Yard in Chicago to Inman Yard in Atlanta." I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and now I live in a suburb of Atlanta.

[ChadQuickW]

Superb video! Great coverage and information on the line. I hope you all will cover the rest of the line from Cincinnati to Oakdale. It’s a great line for rail fanning.

[teddyc.newton]

Great shots and great commentary! Not the same old same old, although admittedly there is only so much you can do photographing trains, y’all got it right making it interesting. Great location this time and smooth commentary.

[workinghardusa]

Great video and fantastic channel, well done!

[ChaseActual]

Those black numberboards on 8167 looked so good. I like that way better than white.

[vhucinb]

WOW Drayton That Was Amazing Trains!!!
Happy Railroading And Happy Thanksgiving!!!
🦃🦃 🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃🦃🦃

[NewRiverRailfan]

5:06 my favorite train symbol NS 278. Becuase it has a variety of colors and autoracks, and usually 80% of the time has good power on it like a tier 3 or a tier 2

[kilrbe]

Great video as always! Though I did just notice, it's 2024, I think it's time for 4k or at least 1440p video uploads now. You put such great work into production, yet still deliever at 1080p.

[DavidFloyd-dycl]

Want Tell You I Was Really Enjoying This Video Of North Fork Southern Trains. I'm From Kentucky.

[joshhooper]

I wish Tennessee valley railroad museum still did fall train rides from Chattanooga to Oneida and back my dad took my mom and me one one year I think sometime around 94 or 95 4501 was going to pull the train but had mechanical problems was pulled by diesels I can’t remember what they used just remember it was NS engines

[JasonTrew]

Drayton, I have some pics of that derailment from a few years ago

[trainchaserlouisvilleindia]

You should do a video about ns in my area! Its not far from here I think it’s in new Albany Indiana and Georgetown Indiana, it’s a pretty unique place well to me atleast but has a lot of history