Kayne Switchyard and Clement Landport

Although the Gulch is now one of the most pedestrian and tourist friendly neighborhoods in Music City, the railroad industry is still active. Once named Kayne Switchyard, the plethora of tracks before you was once bustling with trainengines and cars carrying people and goods. In the late 1970s, after the end of passenger rail, it became a train graveyard of sorts.  

Nashville’s Metropolitan Transit Authority bought the site in 1995 with help from Congressman Bob Clement. There was a plan to build a transportation hub for downtown that would include bus bays, commuter rail, and light rail connections. Buses utilized the space for a few years until the main point of access, the old Demonbreun Street bridge, was declared structurally unsound. 

By 2012, the rail yard had been abandoned, which led to the sale of the property. The area was bought by Zach Liff, the owner of Cummins Station, for $7.5 million. Cummins Station LLC and MarketStreet Enterprises have planned to build a pedestrian bridge over the old Kayne Switchyard and Clement Landport sites, which will connect downtown to the Gulch. Estimated at $18 million, Metro Government agreed to pay nearly $3 million to aid in the building of the 700-foot bridge. 

Founder and CEO of MarketStreet, Chris Hyndman, opened Kayne Prime, a premier steakhouse restaurant in 2011. The restaurant’s name was inspired by the Kayne Switchyard and is located across the street.

Continue walking down Pine Street until you reach Gleaves Street. Turn LEFT and continue on Gleaves Street until you have reached the intersection at Eighth Avenue South. Directly across the street, you will see the building marked“ANTIQUES,” which was once home to Rose & Co. Manufacturers. See the side of the building to look at the faded painted brick signage. Turn LEFT on to Eighth Avenue South from Gleaves Street. You will pass many of the buildings adjacent to the Cannery buildings before arriving at Cannery Row.