can anyone tell me if tourist shortlines like wisconsin great northern, mid-continent, lake whatcom, mount rainier, chehalis-centralia, whitewater valley scenic, midland, abilene & smoky valley and others besides hauling tourists also serve any freight customers? if any of them or other tourist shortlines serve any freight customer(s), what are name(s) of the customer or customers they haul freight for?
The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Western NC hauls mostly chicken feed to a farm out towards Andrews, NC.
But the GSMR also would carry rocks and dirt out of one of the mines along the route near Topton, NC.
They occasionally would also haul general goods to Andrews and Bryson City.
The railroad exchanges cars with Norfolk Southern at an interchange in Sylva, NC.
I got a cab ride once with the GSMR and we picked up 5 covered hoppers of chicken feed. Which we had to bring to the GSMR shops to replace the break shoes before heading out the next morning for Andrews.
I had a lot of fun that day. Especially since I was supposed to be in school.
Take a Ride on the Scenic Line!
COE Rail in Walled Lake Mi runs a semi-daily\as needed freight to serve a toy producer ( US Plastic Toys gets 2-4 hoppers of plastic pellets a week) and a mill/furniture plant ( not sure of the name but they get centersill lumber loads and ship boxcars about 2 each per week) and also runs the Michigan Dinner Train nightly as well as a weekend "sleeper" train for overnight stays .....the line is only 7 miles from Wixom (int with CSX) to Woodpecker Lake (which is just the end of track....)
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