Frankfort to Georgetown to Paris
Franklin, Scott, and Bourbon Counties
40 miles
The line of the Frankfort and Cincinnati Railroad ran from Frankfort to Paris, where it connected with the mainline of the Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific RR. It was nicknamed "The Whiskey Route" because of the number of distilleries it served along the way. Built in 1889-90, most of the route was abandoned in 1967 and the early 1970s. A small section of the line in Frankfort remained in service until the mid 1980s, serving one remaining distillery there.
Sections of this line have been
obliterated by road and urban development, especially near Georgetown, but
other sections remain completely intact. Except for a few sections that
have been built over, the line from downtown Paris to Centerville is
intact. It is a tree-lined embankment that passes through the small
villages 
of
Elizabeth Station and Centerville and travels through some of Kentucky's
most picturesque horse farms. A railroad building, most likely the depot,
remains in Elizabeth Station and the depot in Centerville is being used as
a private residence. A section of the line is intact east of Georgetown
and a metal bridge remains in place, but closer to Georgetown sections of
the line have been built over or reused as private driveways.
West of Georgetown, much of the line remains intact, again lined thickly with trees. This portion of the line passes through Stamping Ground, which has interesting distillery building ruins, and through Switzer, home to the Switzer covered bridge.
East of Frankfort, some of the line has
been obliterated from development, but most of it remains intact. This
line passes near shopping areas, schools, a county recreation park, and
residential neighborhoods and connects to downtown Frankfort near the
tunnel (still in use). It is cut into the side of a steep bank as it makes
its 
descent
into downtown and is surrounded by thick wooded areas. The road bed in
this area is mostly free from thick brush -- the main barrier is a missing
bridge over a deep creek valley. This line has great potential for local
commuters, school children, recreational use, and for tourists wishing to
visit Frankfort, other towns, Switzer Bridge, and the horse farms.