Crayne Railroad

Crayne Railroad, remembered by James Robert Dorroh. James Robert is the oldest living resident of Crayne, that has lived here all his life and knows more history of the little community than anyone. Most all the old Crayne families have died out or moved away. There may be some older folks than James Robert, but none that has spent their whole life in the community of Crayne.

The picture of the Rail Road Crossing sign is located at Crayne, behind James Robert's home place. I'm sure he had the railroad leave it when they took out the railroad tracks, for it is the only sign in it's kind left in the county.

In or about 1888 the Ohio Valley Railroad Company built a new railroad through Crittenden County. This road came through Crayneville, Ky., opening up a new way to travel and move products. Crayneville also had a tobacco factory, located on the East side of the railroad, known to us as the freight yard.

There were three passenger trains running north and south a day stopping at Crayneville, plus the freight train schedule. Located here were a passing track and section crew, who worked repairing the tracks. Also a nice depot where many agents worked through the years of the railroad. Remembering three agents, a Mr. Weams Croft, Mr. Alvie Brown and a Mr. Marshall.

In my day the railroad was known as the Illinois Central.

In 1982 the tack closed and sometime later was purchased by Pyro Equipment Company. In 1989 the P. and L. Company of Paducah leased the railroad and rebuilt the track from Princeton to Blackford.

In 1999 the removal of the railway that was established through the heart of Crittenden was started, and then the end of our railroad history was finished. Many people thought this was a foolish thing to do, removing our railroad tracks.

The picture above is a pleasant sight to see, reminding us of the trains than once ran through our community of Crayne.