The Louisville and Nashville Railroad was a Class I railroad that operated freight and passenger services in the southeast United States. Chartered by the state of Kentucky in 1850, the L&N, as it was generally known, grew into one of the great success stories of American business. Operating under one name continuously for 132 years, it survived civil war and economic depression and several waves of social and technological change. It was the premier Southern railroad, but also extended its reach far outside its home area, ultimately building a network of nearly 7000 miles of track. Early history and Civil War Its first line extended only barely south of Louisville, Kentucky, and in fact it took until 1859 to span the 180-odd miles to its second namesake city of Nashville. There were about 250 miles of track in the system by the outbreak of the Civil War, and its strategic location, spanning the Union/Confederate line

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