Railroad Goat Line

[K4IHS]

Does anyone know what the term "goat line" means when it comes to railroads?

 

[QDP2012]

A quick Internet-search suggests possibly this:

Chattanooga Railroad Series: Cowan And The Mountain Goat Train

Sewanee-to-Cowan "Mountain Goat" RR


Edit: An external link with some pictures...

RailroadForums.com: The Cowan Tunnel


Hope this helps,

 

[MFD4305]

Alternatively . . .

It may be a reference to the Great Northern RR, whose logo featured a goat:

 

[DJ11DLN]

I've heard switchers referred to as "yard goats," there could be some connotation there...or else maybe I've just had too much coffee.:roll:

 

[Kitn1mcc]

The name of the New Hartford Minor leauge team

 

[K4IHS]

Not any of the above. I've read this term in a magazine and also in a railroad forum... and the term "goatline" was being used referring to different rail lines (usually small) by different people. Any other ideas?

 

[QDP2012]

Not any of the above. I've read this term in a magazine and also in a railroad forum... and the term "goatline" was being used referring to different rail lines (usually small) by different people. Any other ideas?

Were there any common factors as a whole between the magazine article(s) and other forum-post(s)? For example, did they refer to the same geographical region, or to a specific class or type of railroad-equipment or railroad-service?

Can you provide a link or links to some of the items you reference? Maybe the examples will help others here help answer your initial question.

Just a thought,

 

[K4IHS]

Here is one link. <snip> The Toledo, Angola and Western Railroad, also called "the goatline", had over 8 miles of track which linked the stone quarries of Sylvania with the rest of the world. The trains also carried other freight and passengers. Pictured above is a Toledo,Angola, and Western caboose built in 1924.<end>

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Toledo-Ango...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

[K4IHS]

Here is another reference. <snip> A train comes through the Cumberland Mountain Tunnel at the exact moment that a train heads up the "mountain goat line" to Sewanee.<end>

Tennessee History for Kids