By Charlie Hutson
LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- Once upon a time Lafollette was serviced by two rail lines.
The Southern Railroad depot was located on Depot Street at the top of the hill. This location is where the Lafollette tennis courts once were, and today it is where the Lafollette indoor multi-sport complex is located.
L&N Railroad was the other rail line. The above image is from 1918 and shows an L&N train near what was later the depot location, located between North 5th and North 7th Streets. There is no depot there today.
For many years, former Lafollette Mayor R.C. "Curt" Alley was the ticket agent at the Lafollette L&N depot.
Back in the day, a lot of people came to Lafollette by passenger train and most of the business supplies come to Lafollette by train and wagons. Later trucks would go to the depot, load the supplies and haul them to the local businesses.
L&N stood for Louisville and Nashville and was nickname "old reliable". (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-09/24/2026-6AM)
