Ludlow in Kenton County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

The Decline

— Ludlow Station —

Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 22, 2021

1. The Decline Ludlow Station Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

(By Dave Schroeder.) In the years following World War II, railroads across the nation were in transition. Mechanization was reducing the number of workers needed on the job. The expansion of the long-haul trucking business also had a negative effect on railroads. As a result, the Ludlow yards began to shrink. Some of the old repair shops were leaded to other businesses, and the roundhouse, which dominated Davies Street between Oak and Linden Streets, was demolished. Perhaps the greatest symbol of the decline of the railroad in Ludlow was the demolition of the Ludlow Depot, which was announced for 1968. For generations, Ludlow residents had been catching trains heading south. This option was no more. The railroad had once provided employment to more than 500 workers in Ludlow. By the 1980s, that number had been reduced to a tiny fraction.

Despite the loss of much of the railroad infrastructure in the city, the bridge (extensively rebuilt in 1922), several old shop buildings and the foundation of the roundhouse still remain. The sounds of trains gliding along the tracks and an occasional whistle still remind Ludlow residents of what

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once fueled the city. Despite the loss, many still remember the glory days of the Cincinnati Southern in Ludlow. The stories keep the culture alive and well in our little river community.

Erected 2018. (Marker Number 4.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1968.

Location. 39° 5.666′ N, 84° 32.644′ W. Marker is in Ludlow, Kentucky, in Kenton County. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Covington KY 41016, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The 1894 Strike (here, next to this marker); The Development of the Railroad in Ludlow (a few steps from this marker); Ludlow Blooms (within shouting distance of this marker); Elmwood Hall (approx. ¼ mile away); Somerset Hall (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Price Hill Incline (approx. one mile away in Ohio); Cincinnati Union Terminal (approx. 1.1 miles away in Ohio); From the Farewell Address of George Washington (approx. 1.1 miles away in Ohio). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ludlow.

More about this marker. Four interpretive panels have been mounted on the railings of the Ludlow Viewing Platform for railroad fans, a covered elevated platform that includes an elevator from the parking area

Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 22, 2021

2. The Decline Ludlow Station Marker

to the platform. The platform is at the level of the tracks just south of the Ohio River railroad bridge. The platform shares the parking lot with the Ludlow Police station and the Ludlow Historic Society Heritage Museum. Parking is free and it appears that the lighted platform is open 24 hours a day.

Ludlow Kentucky Train Viewing Platform image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 22, 2021

3. Ludlow Kentucky Train Viewing Platform

This interpretive panel is just out of frame on the right.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 31, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 31, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 92 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 31, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.