The Western Kentucky coal fields provided an abundant resource, in high demand, that needed a faster market delivery system. With this in mind, Owensboro chartered its third railway in 1882 as the Owensboro, Falls of the Rough, and Green River Railroad. The first 26-mile segment began at Owensboro’s riverfront, extended through Whitesville and stopped in Fordsville. After visiting the Fordsville Depot museum we were heading home when Benji yelled “Caboose” from the backseat. Like the others, this caboose commemorates Whitesville’s railway history. When this line was purchased by the Illinois Central Railroad, the line’s second segment was rerouted to Horse Branch to join IC’s mainline. This gave the small town of Whitesville in the 1890’s passenger service twice a day north to Owensboro and south, with connections, to Louisville and Memphis. The IC dropped passenger service on this line in 1928 and abandoned the line in 1981.
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