Georgia Northeastern Rail Road (GNRR)

[Anonymous]

Anyone modeling this shortline that runs from Marietta, Ga. (nw of Atlanta) north to Blue RIdge, Ga.? It used to be part of the Louisville and Nashville branch known as the' Hook & Eye Line' that connected Atlanta with Knoxville, Tenn. and had a Blue Ridge - Murphy, NC branch interchanging with the Southern line from Murphy, NC to Asheville, NC. Prior to the L&N acquiring this trackage in 1902, it was known as the Marietta & North Georgia Railroad Although I plan to model it as it was in the late40's/early 50's and still part of the L&N, it still is a fascinating shortline with a great variety of on-line industries - especially large marble quarries, agricultural, building products, etc.and it 'connects' with a tourist line at Blue Ridge (Blue Ridge Scenic Railway) which continues north through the Ga mountains to the Ga/Tenn border. The original trackage was briefly 3' narrow gauge but was soon converted to standard gauge between 1889 and 1897. There are many remnants of the "old days"-mill buildings, line-side industry,company town type housing, sharp curves, spindly bridges, narrow cuts, reasonably steep grades, restored and unrestored/still functioning century old wooden L&N depots, a very backwoods -type engine servicing facility, an interesting yard/interchange in Marietta with CSX, etc. I am photographing many of the more interesting modeling subjects along this railroad. I am new to this area and have not yet been able to get any mid-century info. pertaining to this route,however. The entire line from Marietta to Knoxville and/or Blue Ridge to Murphy (and on to Asheville via the Southern's Murphy Branch) deserves the attention of model railroaders. I'd be grateful for any information on this route, and would be glad to assist with any 2004 details since this short -line is one of the most 'modelable' (George W. Bush gave me that word. . .) short- lines I have come across in my travels. Thanks.

[jrbarney]

Bill,
Although short lines are my flavor, I'm not modeling the GNE/GNRR. You'll find three articles at the Index of Magazines using GNE as the road name, and several photos at the fallen flags site:
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/misc-g/misc-g.html
under GNRR. Those sources may not be the era you want, but have you tried historical societies along the route for any info they have ?
Bob
NMRA Life 0543

[jrbarney]

Bill,
Thank you for the nice Email note. For the benefit of you and others, here's another lead:
http://peachstaterails.railfan.net/Gallery/GeorgiaNortheastern/gnrr.html
I followed it by following a thread at:
http://www.railfan.net
which was mentioned in another response on the forum.
Bob
NMRA Life 0543

[Anonymous]

Bob, Thanks for you quick response! I have found the Fallen Flags website, and especially the Peachstaterails website, helpful for info pertaining to the GNE/GNRR and other shortlines in north Georgia including a mile-by-mile accounting with some photos of the present-day route. The local regional library system in Cherokee County where I live and through which the GNE/GNRR traverses north and south hasn't turned up much; perhaps local historical societies, as you suggested, will be more fruitful. I am rejoining the NMRA (since I've been away from the hobby for approx. 10 years) and will research this topic when I visit the NMRA headquarters next month. I'll post my results here. Thanks again. . . Bill

[tomwatkins]

Bill,
I'm not modeling the GNE or it's L&N predecessor, but I am modeling the western end of the Southern's Murphy Branch in the late 1940's-early 1950's. I agree that these are wonderful railroads to model. I'll admit that I'm taking some liberties with both geography and history, but room layout and a few other things dictate that. One excellent reference on the L&N in this area is Michael George's book on the L&N's Atlanta Division. It has very good coverage on the hook and eye including the Hiwassee loop and the branch from Blue Ridge to Murphy. His book on the Southern's Murphy Branch is also excellent. Both books are available direct from him as well as through other sources. If you need the address let me know. I'm on vacation right now and don't have it with me but I'll be glad to send it later this week. He also has cast resin kits for the L&N's little woody and big woody cabooses.
Hope this helps,
Tom Watkins

[Anonymous]

Tom Watkins, Thanks for the tip re: Michael George's books. Yes, it would be very helpful to get his address (or that of a source that sells his books). I found an article pertaining to his HO layout for the "Atlanta-Knoxville" division of the L&N set in 1953 (Railmodel Journal 2/96). Very nice work. You probably are aware of a Model Railroader article (MR 10/84) re: Southern's Murphy Branch. . . Bill

[tomwatkins]

Bill, Michael George's address is: Blue Ridge Historics, PO Box 246, Apison Tn, 37302.
Two other good sources I've found for books, detail parts, decals etc. Are Kennesaw Trains and Hobbies,2844 S. Main St, Kennesaw, Ga, (770-528-0990). They are right next door to the railroad museum in Kennesaw. The other is The Little Choo-Choo Shop in Spencer, NC. Their address is 500 S. Salisbury Ave. The phone is 800-334-2466 or 704-637-8717. They are right across the street from the Southern's Spencer shops which is now the NC Transportation Museum. Both are excellent Model railroad hobby shops. By the way, are you from Cherokee County Ga. or Cherokee County NC? The reason I ask is that I'm in Towns County, Ga.
Hope this helps,
Tom Watkins

[Anonymous]

Tom, Again thanks for the info. I'm familiar with both hobby shops and concur with your comments regarding them. FYI, I'm from Cherokee County, Ga and moved here from NC a couple of months ago. Also, I just realized that the Georgia Northeastern should not have an '&' in the middle! I'm in the planning stages for a walk-in, approx 24' x 32', DCC layout set in late 40's/early 50's that will be heavy on scenery and will strive to capture the spirit of the L&N from Canton,Ga to McCaysville Ga. (Ga/Tn border) portion of the line and possibly the Murphy Jct.,Ga to Murphy, NC interchange with the Southern. . . As you are taking liberties with the geography, so will I need to, because I don't want a spaghetti bowl trackplan and will have to revert to some serious selective compression as well as some free- lancing re: motive power such as Baldwin 'Sharks' and Heislers which I can't part with. Your information has been a great help; again thanks! Bill Mathewson

[tomwatkins]

Bill,
Glad to help.
Tom