Memphis - Covington
A self-guiding railfan tour
Introduction
This is a tour with a somewhat split personality: Half of it goes thru the densely urban Memphis area, and the other half is mostly in the rural countryside. It is not a tour for wimps. The Memphis portion is for combat railfans only, and you must be properly prepared to follow the tour.
If you've not taken a Frograil tour before, you are strongly urged to visit the Frograil Tours home page, as it is packed with information and suggestions to help you enjoy your tour, maximize the effectiveness of your time, and keep you safe and comfy along the way. To navigate anywhere within Frograil, click on the navigation buttons at the top of each page.
Contents And Navigation
About This Tour:
WHAT YOU WILL FIND HERE: From a particular starting point, each segment of this coverage will allow you to follow the instructions given, drive to a railfan site, then to the next, etc. etc. Traffic levels and patterns will be given, and the photographic/ lighting considerations for each site will usually be mentioned. You'll be told about area attractions, such as tourist and historic sites, as well as hotels and restaurants which are trackside or otherwise worthy of note. In short, you'll be able to plan an entire family or railfan-only outing or even a vacation from this guide, as it is completed in the months to come.
WHAT YOU WILL NOT FIND HERE: This is a railfan guide, not a photo collection. There are already many excellent and enjoyable railroad photo sites available, and one more really wouldn't add much value to the general railfan. Besides, photos take up a lot of memory, and your humble Webmaster has to pay for memory.
You will not find fancy graphics, as this is a tour guide, not an exhibition of HTML or graphics expertise. You'll be able to load these pages quickly and print them without waiting a week for each page to print. Also, you'll conserve a lot of toner in the process.
Finally, no maps are included. Even if you cannot or will not purchase good DeLorme or other such atlases, you can print maps from MapQuest off the Net. Maps take up a great deal of memory, and I see no reason to duplicate what is readily available elsewhere.
Contributors
Major contributors to this effort include:
Tony Hill, Webmaster and content provider, entire tour -- the guy who makes it go.
Joshua Johnson, train gif repaint of the Chris Denbow SD40-2, used in the table of contents.
Help
If you'd like to contribute to this, or any other tour, please contact me at webmaster@frograil.com, and let me know what you'd like to do. We'll work together: You supply the data/info, and I'll do the HTML stuff and upload it. You'll get a chance to review the fruits of your efforts before the general public sees the finished product, so you can let me have your corrections, additions and changes.
Supplemental And Back-Up Data
The Railroad. While this railroad today is part of the Canadian National system, I'll characteristically refer to it as CN/IC, because I just can't quite yet let the IC go. That said, the railroad we'll tour runs from its major yard in southwest Memphis and arcs northeast thru the city, until it goes due north towards Chicago and the north. This lots of freight generated locally all thru Memphis, and locals seem plentiful. The major traffic, however, is intermodal and manifest trains going north and south between Chicago, St Louis/Centralia, and the Gulf South.
Solid lash-ups of IC power are becoming increasingly rare (as of Spring, 2003), but solid lash-ups of CN engines also seem to be rare. While things are mix and match today, you'd better get your pix, because forces are at work concerning CN motive power strategy: CN has been using re-builds for the past several decades, and has only recently begun to migrate towards 3rd generation DC power. With many "oldies but goldies" coming off the Wisconsin Central and Illinois Central, that pressure will probably increase. It's probable that newer, CN-painted locos will be replacing a lot of the older units still on the system, and that change will probably occur fairly rapidly.
Geographically, there are no real challenges to fanning the line, especially north of the Loosahatchie River in north Memphis. Indeed, access is pretty easy, and the line north of Memphis is a delight to fan. The Memphis portion of the tour is difficult and not for beginners. The difficulty stems from the effort needed to get trackside and from site to site, as well as the very real security concerns throughout much of the city area. From Johnson Yard East to Broad Street, this is a combat railfans' effort.
Photographic Considerations: As I've done in several Other Tours, I've attempted to rate the photo fields for all 4 quadrants of many crossings detailed in the tour. The following format is used: NE2, SE1, SW 4, NW4, where you go clockwise around the quadrants from northeast to northwest, and numerical ratings, from 1 to 4, with a 1 being excellent, and a 4 being non-existent, are assigned. Note that I'm rating only photo field availability, not the photogenic qualities of the site. I'm a picture taker, not a photographer, and you guys who are good photographers will have to make your own determinations. For areas with no crossing, I'll usually give a N3, S1 or E1, W2 sort of notation.
Mapwork: This is a difficult tour, and you absolutely MUST have a detailed map of Memphis, or you'll end up GOK where, and you'll be extremely frustrated -- and you'll miss most of the trains along the way. The Frograil Store doesn't recommend a Memphis City map -- just buy one in a Wal-Mart or drugstore. $5.00 for a city map will pay for itself before you leave the parking lot. Once out of the city, you'll want a detailed map for back country roads. I definitely recommend you get a DeLorme Atlas & Gazetteer, study it before your trip, and copy pertinent pages for your field work. You can find information here about Railfan Maps that are available.
Abbreviations. Some phrases are used repeatedly in this tour, so I've developed some standard Frograil abbreviations:
NAG. A not-at-grade crossing. Unless I mention otherwise, these are usually not worth the time and trouble to drive to them.
NARL. Not a railfan location. This is because of any number of reasons, such as lousy photo ops, dangerous, no shoulder on a NAG bridge, etc. As a general rule of thumb, it is wise to avoid NARL's.
Security. Memphis, like any other big city, has its share of some very ugly neighborhoods and people. The oldest parts of the city are generally where the rails run, and those are the places this tour traverses thru the city. It is important to remember my admonition that you should not railfan this area by yourself; have at least one adult male friend with you at all times. Also, remember that some of the bad people in town attempt to steal from, and vandalize, railroad property, and the railroads do not appreciate that. The addition of infrastructure security concerns following 9-11 has added an even more pressing need for railroad companies to be keenly interested in the security of their property. Do not be stupid. Stay out of railroad facilities.
WEBMASTER'S NOTE: I do not recommend or condone walking along the tracks, as this means trespassing and exposing yourself to danger. You will have to be creative, in some instances, to avoid trespassing while getting to the detailed locations included herein, but you will either have to be creative or not visit those sites. At no point in this tour guide, or any other tour which is part of Frograil, is it recommended that you trespass or expose yourself to danger. If you are a fool and have a leg cut off (or worse), don't come crying to me: You have been warned. Trains are big, powerful, and often surprisingly quiet. Don't end up being a statistic.
Memphis to Covington -- Railfan sites:
The Tour
Memphis -- Johnson Yard East. While the Illinois Central and its predecessor roads have had several yards in the Memphis area, this is the main one, and has been such for decades. Therefore, it makes a good place to start our tour, but in reality, it is in no way a railfan location. Still, you can't say you've done a tour of the IC in Memphis without at least seeing this place. If you have an old map, however, you'll get hopelessly lost, as many of the old roads in the area are long gone. So, from I-55 in southwest Memphis, take the Third Street exit and go south over the yard throat to Peebles Road. Take a right on Peebles, and then a right onto Old Horn Lake Road. Go on in, and you'll see the engines to your northwest, as well as a hustle and bustle characteristic of any major yard. Don't leave your car, don't even think about getting out and wandering around, just appreciate the scene and depart the way you came in to head north on our tour.
Immediately east of the Third Street overpass, the railroad encounters a significant junction. Passenger trains from north and south used to go straight thru here, by-passing the yard, but the City of New Orleans now runs on the ex-Y&MV trackage west of the yard. Some local jobs go north and south out of the yard to do their work. The southbound tracks lead to Grenada District via Winona, Grenada, Canton on to Jackson. The junction itself is "east Junction". However, the bulk of the traffic is heavy freight and intermodal, and it goes straight east, and then swings around to the north to go thru Memphis well east of downtown. This is the line we will follow on this tour. I just wish it were easier to follow!
Frank Greene corrected the original data for this location, and he also contributed supplemental information.
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Memphis -- West Alcy Road. From the Old Horn Lake Road parking area, go back to Peebles, turn left, and then take another left onto New Horn Lake, and go up and over the yard. Take a left onto Rivergate Drive, which winds its way over to the tracks. Continue straight ahead on West Alcy Road when Rivergate turns right. Park on the shoulder or the empty parking lot. The track crossing West Alcy is the entrance to the joint CSX/CN intermodal facility. Directly south of West Alcy are the tower and overlapping leads for the A and C yards. Johnson Yard is a flat switch yard, and there are always several yard engines moving around this area. From about May until September, the sun will be on the north side of the tracks in the afternoon, but everything's backlit the rest of the year.
Frograil thanks Frank Green, who contributed the data for this location.
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Memphis -- Prospect Street. Rather than go "cross country to Prospect Street, from Johnson Yard, go back east on Peebles, and take Third Street to go up and over the yard throat. Several blocks north of the yard, take a right to head east on Mallory Avenue. Turn right on Prospect Street, and follow it relentlessly. It will eventually wind thru a major milling facility, and then cross the tracks and peter out. In the middle of a major industrial area, in the middle of a major city, you are suddenly in a quiet, very nice railfan location. "Quiet" is relative here, as there is no vehicular traffic, but the mill is noisy, there are beaucoup airplanes overhead, and the city is all around you. Perhaps "peaceful" is a better adjective.
To the northeast is a "Yard Limits" sign and a single crossover. To the southwest is a defect detector and a few yard tracks supporting the industry in the area. Photo ratings are pretty decent at NE2, SE1, SW3, NW4.
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Memphis -- Menager Road. This is one of the more bizarre locations on the tour, and you had better be careful thru here, because parts of this area are really rough. When an old white guy gets propositioned (aggressively) by 2 prostitutes at 0715 on a Wednesday morning, you know you're in a rough neighborhood! However, the next location is quite peaceful, although the viewing leaves quite a bit to be desired.
Backtrack on Prospect all the way back to Mallory and take a right. Mallory will go towards I-240, but before you get there, veer off to the southeast onto Norris Road. This will lead you over I-240 and on to Bellevue Boulevard, where you want to take a left to head north. Take a right onto Menager Road, and wend your way east until Menager makes at 45° turn to the northeast. This area is an odd utility facility of some sort, and it's kind on like the Twilight Zone where time has stood still. Like the Prospect Street location, there is lots of airplane and other noise here, but the place is quite tranquil. Walk down the cut spur to the mainline, and you can have so-so viewing at best, NE3, SE2, SW4, NW3, but it is an island of calm surrounded by anything but. It always amazes me to find places like this in the midst of urban blight.
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Memphis -- Philadelphia Street. From one obscure location to another, continue on Menager as it makes another 45° turn to now head due north. Continue on to Person Street, and take a right. There are NAG/NARL's all over the place, but just understand that you cannot get to the crossing of the BNSF and the CN/IC. However, a worthwhile diversion from this tour is to follow Person Street east to the yard throat of BNSF's Yale Yards. Not on the tour, but a hoot all the same. Cross the BNSF lead on Person, and then take a left onto Castalia Road, to go north. You'll cross the CN/IC (can't remember over or under, but NAG), and then go on north to Lamar Avenue. At Lamar, turn right to go southeast, and you'll again go under the CN/IC. Almost immediately, take a left onto Park Avenue, and then another left onto Philadelphia Street, which will dead end at the tracks. Park on your left.
The viewing at the end of Philadelphia is S1, N4, so it's good for photos, but you'd better have some large, healthy male friends with you, because this not the area in which the annual debutante cotillion is held.
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Memphis -- Memorial Stadium. Between Philadelphia Street and Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium is the obviously interesting railfan area where the CN/IC tracks meet the NS at Forest Yard. However, the crossing is not at grade, and there is no viewing anywhere worthy of note (unless you have a burning desire to get arrested), so here's what we'll do: Go back down to Park Avenue and turn left to continue east. At Airways Boulevard, take another left to head north. This will become East Parkway [Webmaster's Note: Streets including the name "Parkway" are all over the in-town Memphis area. Most of them seem to be major thoroughfares, and none of them make sense to an out-of-towner. If you get on one of these and try to "go with the flow" you will end up lost -- guaranteed.] Once past the bridge at Walker Street, make a U-turn and go down the ramp to Southern Avenue and turn left (east). This will get you to the area of NS's Forrest Yard.
If you're continuing the tour without exploring Forrest Yard, continue on East Parkway to Central and take a right. At Hollywood, take another right onto Hollywood Street, which will lead you past the Mid-South Coliseum, the fairgrounds, and (looking like a giant first baseman's glove), Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Just to the southeast of the stadium, Hollywood crosses the CN/IC main at grade, and you need to find a place to park. Be careful, as there are more "No Parking" signs around here than there are Memphis residents, but there are a few places. The crossing is not bad at all: NE1, SE1, SW4, NW3, but it is very noisy. Airplanes and lots and lots of traffic on Hollywood make for a busy location, but I think it's kind of neat to see 100 cars of freight shut down one of the busiest streets in town!
Frank Greene corrected the original data for this location, and he also contributed supplemental information.
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Memphis -- Milton Avenue. This location is just a few blocks from the stadium, but is quite different in terms of photo locations. Continue up Hollywood for about 2 blocks, and then take a right onto Milton Avenue. Cross the tracks and park to the northeast. Be very careful about parking anywhere around here, as there a zillions of "no parking" signs all over the place. Not a very inspiring location, but you can get pix in a pinch here: NE3, SE4, SW4, NW1.
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Memphis -- Garden Lane. Cross the tracks and continue east on Milton, to a left on Buntyn Street after about 3 blocks. Take a left onto Garden Lane after about 4 blocks and park. Just to the north or this location, US-72/Poplar Avenue joins Union Avenue Extended, and this is a major elevated intersection, making train watching pretty much impossible for some distance to the north. Therefore, if you know something is near, especially in the afternoon, duck in here for a quickee: NE4, SE4, SW3, NW1.
Besides the elevated highway jumble mentioned in the preceding paragraph, be mindful that the area north of US-72/Poplar Avenue all the way to Sam Cooper Boulevard is very rough, and I consider the entire area to be NARL. Avoid it completely.
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Memphis -- Sam Cooper Boulevard. From Garden Lane, there is no easy way to get to Sam Cooper Boulevard, but here is one that's not too difficult. On Garden Lane, go one block and turn left onto Humes. Take Humes north thru this nice neighborhood to US-72/Poplar Avenue. There is basic life support all along Poplar. Largely out of sight, several important things are happening under the large Poplar overpass and the surrounding area:
a. The UP/CSX line from the River and UP's Sargent Yard from the west splits just before getting to the CN/IC line we're following. It comes into the junction (called "Aulon") on a mild southwest - northeast bias.
b. The UP line goes almost due north past Aulon up to its Leewood Yard.
c. CSX joins the CN/IC main we've been following, which is now also almost due north, and very closely parallels the UP line.
d. There is a remnant of the L&N line to Jackson, TN, which heads west from Aulon. It only goes out to a Shell plant a little west of Cordova.
NOTE WELL: As mentioned above, none of this area is a railfan location, and I strongly suggest you avoid it completely.
Once at Poplar Avenue from Hume as mentioned above, go left and over all the tracks, to a right onto Hollywood. Go north on Hollywood all the way to Sam Cooper Boulevard. Take a right and park in the area of the street's bridge over the tracks. This is a new bridge and has nice sidewalks. There is a chain link fence on each side of the bridge, but you'll see all the action below you. Again, this is an area where having at least one male companion with you is strongly advised.
Frograil thanks Frank Green, who contributed the data for this location.
Memphis -- Broad Street. Go back to Hollywood, take a right to go north, and then take a right on Broad and drive 2 blocks to the tracks. There is parking right in the area of the tracks, and the photo ops are quite decent: NE2, SE2, SW2, NW1. There is a defect detector just north west of the crossing, and signals for both tracks are clearly visible to both north and south. Note that the tracks we've been following now carry CSX traffic between Aulon and Leewood Yard to the north, so you'll potentially see a lot more traffic here than you would south of Aulon Junction. Be advised, however, that Broad is a major street, and is very busy and noisy.
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Memphis -- Scott Street. Go east on Broad to the first left, and turn north onto Scott Street. Go north into a major industrial area, and you'll soon see the Jackson Avenue overpass to your north. You'll also note several spur tracks heading east into some of the industries. There is a large grassy area between Scott Street and the tracks. This is probably the best train watching location since the beginning of our tour, but it is an AM location, with photo ratings of E1, W4. Avoid the spurs by setting up your lawn chairs a little south of them, and enjoy CN/IC and CSX heavy action.
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Memphis -- Chelsea Avenue. Go back down Scott Street to Summer Avenue and take a right to go west. Cross the tracks and then take a right on Bingham to go north to Jackson Avenue. Take a right onto Jackson and go up and over the tracks. Take your first left onto Warford Street. While technically not part of this tour, you'll shortly come to the CSX yard lead into Leewood Yard, CSX's main Memphis facility. The lead is at grade, and you can get good pix. Note that the UP yard somewhat to the west (and inaccessible) is also called Leewood Yard. Leewood Junction to the west and south, where CN/IC and CSX tracks diverge, is not accessible by the public.
Continue north on Warford to a left onto Chelsea Avenue. CN/IC has a yard up here to support the heavy industries and interchange with CSX and UP, and it's more of a long series of sidings than a yard, per se. As you cross the tracks on Chelsea, you get the feeling that you're pretty much in the middle of an industrial yard. This is Hollywood Yard, and it's somewhat difficult to get pix off railroad property, especially because cars are often blocking your view. That said, however, there is at least one job based here, and if you're careful and patient, you'll be rewarded by some good "railroad at work" shots.
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Memphis -- James Road. Finally, we're nearing the end of the portion of this tour that is in Memphis. When you do a tour like this, you realize how big a place like Memphis really is! Here's an interesting location in the northern part of the city. Beyond Chelsea Avenue to the north, there are no decent locations, and as you enter the Wolf River/I-40 valley, there is no access to the tracks at all. On Chelsea, go back to Warford and take a left to continue north. Cross the river and go under I-40, and take a left at the first major intersection, James Road.
As you approach the railroad, James Road does a strange thing. The road itself ducks under the tracks, but there is a spur off the street that goes up to the tracks, turns south, and then rejoins James going eastbound. The same thing happens on the west side of the tracks. The area of the spurs is quite tight, with little access except from the southeast: NE4, SE1, SW4, NW4, but the good viewing from the southeast definitely makes this a place worth visiting.
According to Mike Pendergrass, there is a park on the northwest quadrant of this area. Go under the tracks from the east via James Road, and then take a "right-handed U-turn". There is a driveway a little bit down and you can park over by the railroad tracks. If it's muddy, park on the shoulder of the turn ramp.
We are now ready to head out of the city of Memphis, and into the country. Let's go!
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Woodstock. Go back to Warford and take a left to continue north. Warford will become New Allen Road, and will take you well north and east of the tracks, eventually dead-ending at Raleigh - Millington Road. Take a left, and Raleigh - Millington will take you over the Loosahatchie River valley. Incidentally, until you cross the river, you are still in Memphis! The first real left turn will be Fite Road, an you'll take that all the way west past the Baker Airport to a jig and a jog to go over the tracks. Just south of here, the line we are following has come up thru the Loosahatchie River valley and joined the "old" main line that is now the passenger main into riverfront Memphis. The area of the Fite Road crossing is Woodstock.
Between the jig and jog mentioned above, the location looks great on the map, but it is essentially treed in, and NARL. However, the area of the crossing offers great potential, at NE2, SE1, SW1, NW4. The problem here is to be careful to avoid railroad property. If you are going to be there any amount of time, check with the railroad workers in the area as to where you can hang out to get pix.
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Lucy -- Lucy Junction. OK, at Woodstock you can put away your Memphis maps, because we're going out into the country (kind of). Get your DeLorme's out and we'll be in great shape. Continue west on Fite Road to the crossroads of Woodstock at US-51, and head north to the crossing with Millington Road. Immediately after this crossing, South Lucy Road will veer off to the east. Lucy Road will T at Chase Road, and you should take a right and drive down to the area of the tracks. Chase is a very rough, narrow road, and 10 mph is about right here. Here are the photo ratings: NE1, SE3, SW1, NW1. Just to the south of Chase, double track ends, and signals are clearly visible. Isn't it nice to be in the country again? Enjoy.
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Lucy -- Main Street. Backtrack up Chase Road, and continue north to a right on Lucy Road, which will take you into the hamlet of Lucy. Take a right on Main Road (not "Street", for some reason), and continue towards the tracks. Take a left before the tracks onto Illinois Central Road, and park. Be careful of very soft shoulders here, as it is easy to get hung up if you're not careful. Ladies and Gentlemen, you have arrived at what is easily the best railfan location on this entire tour. Here are the photo ratings: NE1, SE1, SW1, NW1. Get out your lawn chairs and coolers, fire up your scanners, and enjoy a lovely place to see the best that CN/IC have to offer.
There is a defect detector just north of the Main Road crossing.
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Lucy -- Sykes Road. Go back up Main Road to Lucy Road, and take a right. Lucy will swing around to eventually go due north, and T at Sykes. To continue the tour, we'll take a right, but there are a couple of other things in the area worthy of note. If you turn left onto Sykes, cross US-51, and then turn left onto Old Millington Road, you'll shortly come to the Old Millington Winery on your left. The owner is a level-headed, agreeable soul, and his wines are worth sampling. Don't miss this stop. Also, ask him how to get to Cattleman Jack's, a restaurant that will destroy your calorie and beef diet. Just give in and have a great meal in Tennessee.
OK, for those who have finished the winery tour and the self-indulgent meal, from the intersection of Lucy Road and Sykes Road, take a right and cross the tracks. Pretty much an afternoon location, the photo ratings are NE3, SE4, SW1, NW1. Also, there is a defect detector just north of the crossing.
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Millington -- Church Street. Between Lucy and Millington are all sorts of potential railfan diversions, but none are worth noting. Therefore, stay on Sykes, cross the tracks to the east, and take a left onto Raleigh - Millington Road. Ignore the various potential railfan gaffs along the way, and Raleigh - Millington will become Church Street as it enters Millington. Even though you're in a town here, it's pretty wide open, so park in the southeast quadrant of the Church Street crossing, and you'll be rewarded with the following photo ratings: NE1, SE3, SW1, NW2. Note that the railroad is decidedly northeast - southwest here, so take these "quadrant" ratings with a grain of salt. You need to be on the ground to appreciate the individual photo angles.
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Millington -- Navy Road. There is an old song: "What a Difference a Day Makes...", and this location might be entitled "What a difference 90° makes". Indeed, as you continue north on Church, and then go east on Navy Road, you're less than a football field from the last location, but the look and feel is completely different. The photo ops are NE2, SE2, SW1, NW2, so you'll want to make this an afternoon location. It's kind of a pick and choose between Church Street and Navy Road. As a retired military guy, of course, I've got to go with Navy Road!
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Kerrville. Once past the crossing on Navy Road in Millington, continue east on Navy all the way thru the immaculate US Naval Air Station support facility to Bethuel Road, and take a left to go north. You'll drive several miles to Mudville Road, where you need to take a left to get close to the tracks. Take a right onto Renter Road, and you'll very shortly come to Kerr-Rosemark Road, which crosses the tracks at grade. The crossing itself is a very nice NE2, SE1, SW1, NW1, and there is lots of room for you serious photographers.
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Tipton. You will now be entering Tipton County, and everything seems to be named "Tipton" something or other. Be alert. Back at Kerrville, still in Shelby County, go north from the NE quadrant of the crossing on Old Tipton Road, which will take you to US-51. Take a right and zoom rapidly along into Tipton County to a right onto Watson Road. Watson will T just before the tracks, and you want to take a right to go due south on Tipton Road. The crossing at Tipton Road is OK, with the following ratings: NE4, SE1, SW3, NW2. Note that double track begins just north of the the Tipton Road crossing.
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Atoka -- Faulkner Road. Go back north on Tipton Road to US-51, turn right, and continue northeast. You'll drive all the way to Kimbrough Avenue taking you down into Atoka, but the area of the crossing is NARL. My notes say simply: "Nothing -- Junk". Perhaps a local resident can set me straight on this location. However, all is not lost. Simply continue northeast on US-51 beyond Kimbrough Avenue, to a right on North Main Street. Once having made the turn, you'll be traveling due south. Faulkner Road will come in on your left, and you need to take that left to get trackside.
Nothing fancy here, but some very good train watching: NE1, SE2, SW1, NW1. Signals to the south give ample warning of any impending movements.
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Covington -- Mueller Brass Road. While the map indicates lots of goodies in the Brighton area and to its north, the sad reality is that the area is not imbued with railfan locations, and that lots and lots of trees obscure any possible viewing. As life support facilities begin to make themselves known southwest of Covington, Mueller Brass Road swings across the bottom of the Covington area, subsequently becoming Hastings Way past Mt. Carmel Road. Mueller Brass isn't a whole lot to write home about, but at NE3, SE3, SW1, NW4, it does offer some afternoon possibilities.
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Covington -- Station Area. If you're using mapQuest or any other outdated map, you'll probably want to continue east to TN-59, and then follow the tracks on TN-384. Save yourself some trouble: Go north on Mt Carmel Road, as TN-384 has been cut by new construction, and you don't want to try to follow the old road -- it doesn't exist anymore. Mt. Carmel Road will take you into downtown Covington and to a right onto TN-54. Follow TN-54 east to the crossing of the CN/IC, and you'll see the fine IC station on the southwest quadrant of the crossing. Photo ratings are: NE4, SE1, SW1, NW3. The area all around the south of the station is excellent, and it's nice to get a country picture in so close to the major Memphis City area. America is wonderful, indeed.