6. New Appalachian Rail



2023, University of Tennessee              
Professors Farre Nixon + Chad Manley              
Individual Work              



Appalachia is an isolated island of economy connected only by railroad. The people and the land have been historically mistreated. But Appalachia is also hope. For the past 200 years the world has been pushing for industry, and time and time again industry has taken advantage of Appalachia. But we live in a time where everything is pushing rapidly toward a sustainable future and moving away from industry. The project I have proposed seeks to bring people into these post-coal towns and display the history and culture of these places in order to restore equity, dignity, economy, and ecology to the region. The design interventions come as a series of re-appropriated post-industrial sites connected by train. Here is one example of a project which could be replicated across the region.

Regional Map of Existing Freight Railways


Typical Corridor Sections
Trip Itinerary Diagram


Perspective Views



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