As many of us who grew up around Luttrell would attest, the railroad holds a special place in our childhoods: walking the tracks, smashing pennies or hearing the train whistle late at night on a coal run to Middlesboro. In our county's history, the coming of the railroad, too, had an impact on lives. Today's society may take for granted the magnitude that railroad accessibility has had on the development of Union County. Prior to the Civil War, much of the south, and particularly, Southern Appalachia, had sparse rail lines and service, especially when compared to the much more industrialized northern states.

"From Hearth and Hoe" highlights the beginnings of a line in Union County: "Railroad ties to the outside world were the exception rather than the rule. Only one community had the distinction of being served by a railway- Luttrell. When discussions began concerning the construction of a line through the county during the 1880's, many residents and officials lobbied for it to pass through Maynardville, since the village was situated near the center of the county. Their efforts failed, however, the Powell Valley Railroad crossed the county at Luttrell in 1887 instead. This facility, later named the Knoxville-Cumberland Gap and Louisville Railroad, finally became the Southern Railway and served much of the county with passenger and freight services for many decades."

"Railroad construction led to a new demand for consumer goods as well as new markets for rural products. Farmers and loggers hauled crossties, tanning bark, acid wood, telephone poles, and other forest and farm produce by wagon to the depot at Luttrell, where agents representing various companies were on hand to trade with them. Coal also came to the county by rail, with the cars sidetracked until they were unloaded and the coal sold to schools, churches, and a number of homes. Reba Campbell related that 'My father, Truman DeVault, had the coal contract for the Union County Schools, and coal that he hauled to the schools was delivered at Luttrell.' Moreover, the rail line brought hay and other items that were purchased by farmers from other parts of the county, including automobiles, the largest item shipped into the county. Luttrell served as a transportation hub, and people came from miles around to catch the train to Knoxville for a day's shopping. Moreover, drummers often came to Luttrell and hired drivers and hacks to transport them over the county selling hardware and other items. Buyers of poultry and eggs also hired local people to drive them over the county where they contacted farmers. With better transportation facilities, Union County's isolation began to break down after the turn of the century."

Transportation changes as society and technology advances. Sharp's Chapel was connected with the flatboats of the Clinch River. Liberty, now Maynardville, used a long established "pike" as access to the larger town of Knoxville. Luttrell benefited as a railroad transportation hub through parts of the 19th and 20th centuries. Since I live in Plainview now, I can still hear that train whistle blow on occasion, albeit more faint than my childhood, but just as stirring and lonesome as a Hank Williams song. I'm sure that whatever technology is used to transport people and goods in the future will impact Union County; most likely, and optimistically in my opinion, in positive ways.