The line that is used by the BSFSR was originally laid down by the Stearns Coal & Lumber Company, beginning in 1901. In order to move lumber from the Cumberland National Forest, Stearns Company built the Kentucky & Tennessee Railroad. Shortly after opening up the lumber business, coal was discovered, and the company became Stearns Coal & Lumber. The first mine, at Barthell, was opened in 1902. In 1904, the K&T changed their corporate charter name to the Kentucky & Tennessee Railway Company, in order to finance the extension of the line to Worley, White Oak Junction, Cooperative, and Bell Farm. Little K&T touched the Kentucky/Tennessee state line just south of Bell Farm. The line had graded roadbed to near Jamestown, Tennessee. In 1937, Blue Heron Mining Camp was opened; K&T built a one-mile spur to the camp, crossing Roaring Paunch Creek. The bridge that was used to cross the creek was bought from New York Central Railroad in 1936. K&T line builders needed a bridge to curve around to the right to meet the spur. The steel trestle was found in Upstate New York, shipped to Stearns, and installed upside down to meet the requirements. It is in use today, hauling passengers to Mine 18. K&T had big plans to become a through trunk line railway. The Tennessee Central Railroad had a spur that ran into Monterrey, Tennessee, where K&T hoped to meet them. Plans called for K&T and TC to meet in Monterrey, Cookeville, Crab Orchard, and Harriman. They had intentions of using Southern Railway tracks into Chattanooga, but negotiations stalled with SR in 1951. In 1974. Stearns opened up Justus Mine, which would technically be Mine 19. It was named in honor of the town's founder, Justus S. Stearns, and operated from 1974 until its closure by Blue Diamond Coal in October 1987. The Big South Fork Scenic Railway started operating on July 1, 1982. The railway had 7 open air passenger cars, all home built, and two Alco S2 diesel switchers, Nos. 102 and 105. Number 102 was the second of four Alco switchers K&T purchased from Denver & Rio Grande Western Railway in 1963. Each unit spent two months in East St. Louis, Illinois, getting multiple unit controls installed. Today, BSFSR is a thriving railway, pleasing tourists and railfans alike. Trains Magazine has said that the K&/BSFSR is a “spectacular trip back in time, when life was simple. The scenery is second to none and the hospitality of the citizens and staff is unmatched.” Despite reports to the contrary, the BSFSR will be operating for the 2017 tourist season.
