Rogersville and Jefferson Railroad

Rogersville and Jefferson Railroad Company was incorporated under special act of Tennessee on February 27, 1852.[2]

In 1860, the company completed construction of 12.1 miles (19.5 km) of 5 ft (1,524 mm)[3] gauge railroad line between Bulls Gap, Tennessee and Holston River, Tennessee.[4]

Financing for the construction of the railroad and its rehabilitation after the American Civil War was obtained mainly through the State of Tennessee.[5]

In 1867, the company constructed 2 miles (3.2 km) of railroad line between Holston River, Tennessee and Rogersville, Tennessee.[4]

The company was placed in receivership by the Governor of Tennessee in 1866 because it defaulted on the payment of the interest on its debt.[5] The State of Tennessee appointed commissioners during the years 1867–1871 to sell the delinquent railroads on which the State had statutory liens.[5] On March 20, 1872, Joseph Jacques, agent for the East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railroad Company, bid $23,000 for the property.[5] A court confirmed the sale on November 18, 1873.[5] On December 26, 1873, the railroad line was sold to W. P. Elliott, who operated the line until September 13, 1877.[5] On that date, W. P. Elliott conveyed the property to H. M. Aiken, who operated the property until October 24, 1884.[5] On that date, Aiken conveyed the property to the Tennessee and Ohio Railroad Company.[5]

The Tennessee and Ohio Railroad Company conveyed the property to East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railroad Company on July 22, 1889.[6]

The property eventually became part of Southern Railway Company on July 7, 1894, through its acquisition of the East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railway Company.[7]