The railroad and Crossing the highway

Stop for a minute to hear this complete narrative.

In 1861, steam locomotives made their inaugural entry into the town of Cornelius. The railway line passed through Cornelius, connecting Statesville and Charlotte. However, the train service was short-lived, lasting only three years. In 1864, during the midst of the Civil War, the tracks were dismantled and repurposed by the Confederate government for more strategically significant routes. It took ten years for the tracks to be restored, and for the rail line to resume operation.

The true significance of the railroad's arrival in Cornelius lay in the newfound ability of residents and businesses to import goods and export cotton and manufactured products, free from reliance on the inadequate dirt roads of that era. However, with the rise in automobile usage in the early 1900s, passenger utilization of the rail line gradually declined. As of today, this particular section of the railway remains unused.

Carefully cross the highway with the light. Walk your bike across.

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