The model railroad loosely represents the “Rathole Division” of the CNO&TP – Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific – 2nd Division. Known as the Rathole due to steep grades, 27 tunnels and numerous curves.
Today only 4 tunnels remain – #22 & #24 at Nemo, TN (near Lancing) and #25 & #26 at Oakdale, TN. The railroad today it is known as Cincinnati Southern Railway (CSR). It runs 337 miles from Cincinnati, OH to Chattanooga, TN and is owned by the City of Cincinnati – the only long distance railway owned by a municipality in the United States.
Norfolk Southern (NS) on November 21, 2022 reported executing a purchase agreement to acquire substantially all the assets of the 337 mile Cincinnati Southern Railway (CSR), which runs between Cincinnati, OH, and Chattanooga, TN. The $1.62 billion deal is expected to close in first-half 2024.