Hello, all, and thank you for allowing me to join this forum. To basically describe why I am here, I am an amateur historian on railroads that ran in Western North Carolina, such as the Clinchfield RR, the ET&WNC RR, but my passion lies with the Yancey Railroad. The Yancey began as the Black Mountain Railway, a subsidiary line of the Clinchfield, and ran from Kona to Pensacola, NC. By 1928, the tracks were cut back to Burnsville, NC, and in 1955, the citizens of Yancey County bought the line from the CRR to form the Yancey Railroad, which operated until 1984. This line was not far from my childhood home, and I have many fond memories of walking the abandoned tracks with my dad. I have come to lear that in the later years of operation, the YRR became quite a tourist mecca, drawing folks from all over to photograph the operations, as they were. My quest is this: I am attempting to locate any photos of the Yancey Railroad. I have quite a few, and many railroad photogs have been gracious in sharing with me their images. Let me express 100% that these images are for my personal collection and enjoyment. There will never be a publication of any photos. I am also attempting to model the Yancey, and these photos would prove invaluable in my modeling. They can be sent to me through here, message, e-mail, whatever anyone would feel comfortable in doing. Any and all help will be greatly appreciated. Thank everyone in advance for your help.
I google the Yancey and saw a few photos, like to find decals for the boxcars they ran when they stop running and the bridge that was torn down, somewhere i have a photo of it i took years ago.
Russell
I think Trains did an article about the Yancey some years ago - or maybe it was another magazine. Maybe someone more familiar with the Trains search function can check.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Yes, both Trains and Model Railroader did articles on the Yancey in August of 1973(?). I have both issues, both of which are written very well. I'm mainly interested in amateur photos that everyday folks took during its operation
tree68 I think Trains did an article about the Yancey some years ago - or maybe it was another magazine. Maybe someone more familiar with the Trains search function can check.
Johnny
csxns I google the Yancey and saw a few photos, like to find decals for the boxcars they ran when they stop running and the bridge that was torn down, somewhere i have a photo of it i took years ago.
Continuing the SEARCH:
See link @ http://www.northcarolinahistory.org/encyclopedia/629/entry
FTA:[snip]"...In the early 1900s, the railroad transformed Yancey economy from an agricultural-based town into a mining community. The Black Mountain Railroad, reaching Yancey in 1911, allowed for the convenient transportation of mica. For most of the twentieth century, the mica industry flourished in Yancey County, and the town of Micaville received its name, for it was the central mining location in the county..."[snipped]
If you ever get to Johnson City, Tn.. The archives at East Tenn State Univ might be a good resource..See Linked Item on Blackmountain RR @
http://www.etsu.edu/cass/archives/Collections/afindaid/a96_11.html and further @ http://www.etsu.edu/cass/archives/Collections/afindaid/a96_11.html#FA
First:
wanswheel (Mike) gets the credit. Here's what I found (same issue):
I thought I remembered this next one, too - looks like Kalmbach got a 'two-fer' that month (August 1974), with 2 articles about the same line, though by different authors:
"Scratchbuilding Yancy's coal dock" - by King, Ben, from Model Railroader, May 1997, pg. 78 etc. ["Magazine Index" 'keywords': benking coal HO industry scratchbuild structure ]
- Paul North.
Yes, like I mentioned, I have both of these issues, as well as one called Model Railroad International, published in Jolly ole England. I have spent countless hours on the internet researching the railroad. Most anything commercial I now own or have a copy of, including a 1958 issue of National Geographic that had an article about Yancey County that mentioned the YRR. I did not know about the 1997 issue of MR. The Yancey did have two seperate unloading trestles, so this may be something to look into. Thanks to everyone so far for the replies.
It's interesting that Yancey no. 15, formerly BEDT 15, now operates too. She was converted by Strasburg from a saddle tank to a side tank engine and cosmetically altered to resemble Thomas the Tank Engine. In all, five BEDT 0-6-0T's survive in various conditions.
Tom
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