Hunnewell in Greenup County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

E. K. Railway – Hunnewell

Photographed By J. J. Prats, September 29, 2018

1. E. K. Railway – Hunnewell Marker

Inscription. Development of Greenup’s iron resources in the mid-1800s relied heavily on the E. K. Railway and its extension near the Greenup furnace. The furnace and the new town that developed near it were renamed Hunnewell in honor of businessman Walter Hunnewell. The furnace closed in 1889, ending the brief Iron Age of Hunnewell.

Erected 2004 by Kentucky Historical Society, Kentucky Department of Highways, and E. K. Railway Historical Society. (Marker Number 2163.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Kentucky Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1850.

Location. 38° 24.888′ N, 82° 50.732′ W. Marker is in Hunnewell, Kentucky, in Greenup County. Marker is on Kentucky Route 207 north of Tunnel Branch Road (Kentucky Route 3306), on the left when traveling south. Hunnewell is now just this crossroads. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Argillite KY 41121, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Oldtown Covered Bridge (approx. 2.9 miles away); Hopewell Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky (approx. 2.9 miles away); Grave of Lucy Virgin Downs

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(approx. 3 miles away); a different marker also named Grave of Lucy Virgin Downs (approx. 3.4 miles away); Laurel Furnace / Iron Made In Kentucky (approx. 3.4 miles away); Greenup Association of Baptists (approx. 3.4 miles away); Buena Vista Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky (approx. 4.7 miles away); Star Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky (approx. 4.9 miles away).

Regarding E. K. Railway – Hunnewell. Full name is the Eastern Kentucky Railway. It ceased operations in 1933 and the tracks were removed soon thereafter.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . . Wikipedia Entry. “The old alignment parallels KY 1 north of Argillite. From Argillite south to Hunnewell, the alignment except the tunnels has been used for KY 207. KY 3306 mostly follows the path west to Hopewell, and from there south to Grayson it runs along KY 1. From Grayson to Hitchins, the alignment was used for KY 773, including two old truss bridges now used as one-lane road bridges. (Part of the old grade of the Elizabethtown, Lexington and Big Sandy Railroad west of the EK is erroneously named EK Railroad

Photographed By J. J. Prats, September 29, 2018

2. E. K. Railway – Hunnewell Marker

Drive.) Finally, from Hitchins to Webbville, the railroad once again followed KY 1; an old alignment includes another remaining truss bridge, that one with no floor.

The railroad had eight tunnels; all but the Argillite Tunnel, south of Argillite, have been flooded. The north end of Argillite Tunnel can be seen from KY 207 where it curves to avoid the hill that the tunnel passes through.” (Submitted on November 13, 2018, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.)

Passenger Train Timetable, December 1925 image. Click for full size.

3. Passenger Train Timetable, December 1925

From the December 1925 edition of The Official Guide of the Railways page 1244. Riverton is now part of the town of Greenup.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 14, 2018. It was originally submitted on November 13, 2018, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 396 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 13, 2018, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.