CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — After 50 years of research, one local historian is inviting the community to hear the longstanding history of trains in one area of Montgomery County.

This local historian turned a childhood hobby into a lifelong pursuit, and he's inviting the entire Clarksville community to hear the story behind the rails.

Ralcon Wagner has been infatuated with trains since childhood. His obsession with trains began on his first train ride when he was three months old, and the years of research have made him an expert.

The city of Clarksville is hosting an upcoming program called "The Last Train to Clarksville."

Wagner will touch on the history of railroads in Clarksville and how they affected the growth of community.

Wagner will discuss two major rail lines that ran through Clarksville for several decades. One of those rail lines, the Tennessee Central, traveled in a north-south direction between Nashville to Hopkinsville, Kentucky. The second major line ran from Nashville to the Memphis line and connected to the main line in Bowling Green.

Recently, the city reopened its Historic L&N Train Station, which first came to Clarksville in 1854, playing a pivotal role in the city’s development and economy for generations.

Wagner said he wants everyone to leave knowing the impact railroads left behind, and hoping people will continue passing the history on

“Before there were interstates or airliners and things like that, everything moved by rail," Wagner said. "And before that, it was done by horse, buggies and stagecoach. So when the railroads came through, it changed the way everyone lived and moved around.”

The Last Train to Clarksville event will take place at the L&N Train Station on Sept. 20, from 1 to 3 p.m. The event is free, but registration is required to attend.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/middle-tn-neighborhood-news/city-to-host-the-last-train-to-clarksville-with-local-historian/