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Heavy rain is causing some issues in East Tennessee. Highway workers say the weather contributed to a sinkhole in the westbound lane of Highway 70 in Crossville.More >> Heavy rain is causing some issues in East Tennessee. Highway workers say the weather contributed to a sinkhole in the westbound lane of Highway 70 in Crossville.More >> The Chattanooga market will add hundreds of hotel rooms in the coming year, following four years of booming revenues for its hotel industry.More >> The Chattanooga market will add hundreds of hotel rooms in the coming year, following four years of booming revenues for its hotel industry.More >> A Powerball ticket sold in Tennessee barely missed winning a share of an estimated $590.5 million prize. But the ticket has a nice consolation prize worth $1 million.More >> A Powerball ticket sold in Tennessee barely missed winning a share of an estimated $590.5 million prize. But the ticket has a nice consolation prize worth $1 million.More >> A Knox County man is being charged for the murder of his brother, according to the Knox County Sheriff's Office.More >> A Knox County man is being charged for the murder of his brother, according to the Knox County Sheriff's Office.More >> A Maryville man is dead after a fiery wreck on Saturday morning, according to a Tennessee Highway Patrol accident report.More >> A Maryville man is dead after a fiery wreck on Saturday morning, according to a Tennessee Highway Patrol accident report.More >> Leaders of Nashville's convention center already are mapping out a possible future expansion of a center that spans six downtown blocks and sits on 19 acres.More >> Leaders of Nashville's convention center already are mapping out a possible future expansion of a center that spans six downtown blocks and sits on 19 acres.More >> Witnesses described a frantic scene and close calls after an elderly driver plowed into dozens of hikers marching in a small Virginia mountain town's parade.More >> An emergency official says authorities believe the driver who plowed into dozens of hikers marching in a Virginia mountain town parade suffered from a medical condition and did not cause the crash intentionally.More >> A program to help soldiers get loans to purchase homes has gotten a permanent extension.More >> A program to help soldiers get loans to purchase homes has gotten a permanent extension.More >> First lady Michelle Obama has some advice for some Tennessee high school graduates: strike your own path in college and life and work to overcome inevitable failures with determination and grit.More >> First lady Michelle Obama has some advice for some Tennessee high school graduates: strike your own path in college and life and work to overcome inevitable failures with determination and grit.More >> Prior to Saturday's $600 million Powerball jackpot drawing, people in Knoxville were talking about how they would spend that kind of money if they were to win.More >> Prior to Saturday's $600 million Powerball jackpot drawing, people in Knoxville were talking about how they would spend that kind of money if they were to win.More >>
NASHVILLE (AP) - The survival of short line railroads in the state may depend on small manufacturers and Tennessee farmers, who still use the older tracks and trains to move products in and out of rural areas.
Often less than a hundred miles, short line railroads are typically locally owned and operated and trains are smaller and move slower than on larger railroads.
Ed Harlan, of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, told WPLN-FM these lines are critical to people in smaller rural counties and he's been out meeting with farmers to drum up new customers for the short lines.
Matt Prince, manager of Tennessee Southern Railroad, which runs through Pulaski, Columbia and North Alabama, said it's been a struggle to keep the short lines open.
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