There’s something about a locomotive rolling down the track that can cause a gray-haired fellow to turn into a bright-eyed schoolboy wallowing in railroad nostalgia.

For Scotty Brock, a Cornersville, Tenn., town recorder, the railroad is the centerpiece for his most recent book. Brock is writing about the history of the L&N railroad, Lewisburg Line — a line, still in use, that makes tracks from Brentwood, Tenn., through the Tennessee towns of Lewisburg, Frankewing and Wheelerton, all the way to Athens.

Brock’s research has already uncovered interesting facts such as the engineer’s blueprint, floor plans for each of the 19 depots on the line and stories of the pumping system used for the old steam engines. “It also has many wonderful photographs, including when they began to dig the lines in northern Giles County in 1912,” Brock said. 

But, he needs help from the citizens of Athens. “I am seeking any photographs from the citizens of Athens that has to do with this railroad,” he said. “It could be photographs of L&N trains, depots, accidents, track cars or any of the numerous track gangs (railroad workers).”

In its current state, Brock’s book contains 200 pages. Brock said it will contain many photos and articles that most have never seen before. “Charles Castner, retired L&N employee and famous L&N historian, as well as an author with the University of Louisville Library and Archives Department, has donated several important pieces of history for this book,” Brock said.

Brock said the book wouldn’t be a typical railroad book. “It will have many stories of how the railroad worked and shaped our lives,” he said. “I will also have a section in the book that will be for the memories of L&N railroad workers.”

Brock said anyone that retired from the L&N or had loved ones who worked with the line can send a typed story of the job their loved one held or some of the things they remember about their jobs with the L&N.

“One woman, who has already provided me with information, is 89 years old and grew up living on a camp car as her family traveled up and down the line building and preparing bridges,” Brock said. “Most books don’t have these type of stories, but the railroad was such an important part of the development of this part of the country, I want to make sure that those men and women who worked so hard in this industry get recognized.”

Brock is looking for photos he can copy and then return the original back to the owner. “They will give me their photos to only make copies,” he said. “I have a copy stand at my home in Cornersville where I digitally photograph the images. I clean them up and resize them in Photoshop. At that point, I am finished with the originals and return them in the same condition I received them.”

Brock said, so far, the farthest that someone has sent photos is San Antonio, Texas.

“In 2006, I wrote a book about the history of Cornersville and the oldest photographs that I was entrusted with were from 1862,” Brock said.

For more information, contact Scotty Brock at 931-675-0404.