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Saluda Grade to reopen?

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Posted by Joe the Photog on Tuesday, October 30, 2012 2:09 AM

I've never seen CSX run on NS from Columbia to Charleston, but I don't want to say it never has happened. CSX has their own line to Chucktown from Columbia. Also, the crossing at Carlise would be somewhat hard to make a viable connection from one to the other. Again, I don't want to say it could not be done, but it would involve a good deal of work to get away from the roads in the area. 

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Posted by MP173 on Thursday, October 25, 2012 10:17 PM

Thanks for the link to the video.  Was it SOP for a road foreman to run the train downgrade?

Ed

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Posted by csxns on Thursday, October 25, 2012 4:43 PM

Rader Sidetrack
the marine boxes stacked are OK on the Clichfield

  Thank you.

Russell

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Posted by Rader Sidetrack on Thursday, October 25, 2012 4:36 PM

csxns
Yes CSX runs double stacks on the loops only the International Containers.

CSX groups their lines into 4 clearance groups for doublestack purposes. Some lines are NO doublestack, then Doublestack 1 is  18' 02" ATR, Doublestack 2 is 19' 02" ATR, and Doublestack 3 is 20' 02" ATR.  ATR means "above top of rail", so you need to add the height of the railcar platform to the height of two containers to determine what will fit.  You can check all this for yourself by viewing the map here:

http://csx.com/share/wwwcsx_mura/assets/File/Customers/Services_and_Partners/Dimensional-Clearance/11-4-11/ps98sys1111D.pdf

The former Clinchfield route is in Intermodal 1, 18' 02" ATR.  Since International (marine) containers are shorter than hi-cube domestic containers, the marine boxes stacked are OK on the Clichfield, doublestack hi-cubes domestic boxes are not, and mixed (one domestic stacked on a marine box) also are not acceptable.

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Posted by csxns on Thursday, October 25, 2012 3:56 PM

I was at boy scout road on CSX north of Bostic Yard and that location is about 30 so miles south of Marion NC the train was heading North it had K Line Hamburg-Sud and other containers stacked two high.

Russell

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Posted by rocket2go on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 10:05 PM

Yes, NS crews would definitely have to operate the CSX trains not only on Saluda but elsewhere on trackage rights.   I think NS would charge a profitable fee for this, which would not be unreasonable since all Class 1's do this in certain locations already.   However, CSX may still see the advantage.  A previous blog stated that tunnels on the loops (north of Marion, NC) could not handle stack trains.  In summary, I'll also believe CSX trains over Saluda when I see it!.  

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Posted by dubch87 on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 9:47 PM

csxns says containers go over the Clinchfield loops. I have never seen or heard this, but do not know for certain. Can anyone verify this?

Also, with all the operating rules and procedures for Saluda, I highly doubt NS will let anyone other than NS crew traverse that section of the W-Line. Perhaps they would charge CSX a hefty sum to transport intermodal trains using NS motive power and crew, but I don't think you'll ever see CSX power operating on this line.

Here is a great training video on Saluda Southern Railway produced in the early 80's.

watch?v=9IABM8UPplY

   

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 9:42 PM

If CSX could get trackage rights on the "W" line what will NS get in exchange? One route might be savannah - jacksonville ?  Other routes?.

Of course it could be haulage rights such as CSX now does for BNSF birmingham - atlanta (fairburn / -- )

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Posted by rocket2go on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 5:41 PM

If the objective is for CSX to get goods from the vast Ohio Valley region to Charleston S.C. a better way than it can now, then it does make sense to look at the possibility of applying for trackage rights over the NS W line from Asheville N.C. all the way to Spartanburg and Columbia, S.C. (it appears CSX already has trackage rights from Columbia to Charleston on NS).   Specifically, in looking at the NS and CSX maps, there appear to be NS and CSX interchanges at Johnson City and Kingsport TN, where NS goes to Asheville.  The CSX tunnel in downtown Spartanburg S.C., where CSX has a major interchange with 6 current NS lines, would block the transport of stack trains, for now, for passage to Savannah, Columbia, and Charleston.   However, if NS would allow trackage rights to CSX on the W line to Columbia, then mission accomplished for CSX from the Ohio Valley region to Charleston, S.C.  Another possibility could be to construct a CSX/NS interchange at Carlisle, S.C., where NS crosses over the CSX Charlotte, Monroe, and Atlanta line, thus giving CSX more flexibility in getting goods to and from Charleston and other regions in their system.   These are simple observations from a novice at this sort of thing and none of it may be feasible.   Only the railroads know for sure!          

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Posted by Bunn19 on Tuesday, October 23, 2012 8:53 PM

Doesn't CSX have a connection in Knoxville?  Are there other main freight corridors that could be a reason that CSX would want to connect to that would be quicker than the old Clinchfield?

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Posted by Rader Sidetrack on Tuesday, October 23, 2012 7:01 PM

Frank Ezell
 I've recently heard from a reliable source (still third hand) that CSX is in talks with NS about trackage rights on the Spartanburg - Asheville W line.  

Pardon me for being highly skeptical of this idea, but why would CSX possibly want trackage rights into Asheville?  Confused CSX has nowhere to go once they get to Asheville.  The nearest other CSX line, the former Clinchfield, does not go through Asheville.   

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Posted by rocket2go on Tuesday, October 23, 2012 6:45 PM

I've recently heard from a reliable source (still third hand) that CSX is in talks with NS about trackage rights on the Spartanburg - Asheville W line.  Kinda makes sense given your thorough assessment of tunnel limitations on other nearby lines.   As far as power going up Saluda, it is certainly available, but excess pressure on the couplers on the highest level of the grade may still limit the number of cars going up, unless a DPU unit is kept at Melrose, like the old days.  If I know NS, that line will not reopen unless the ROI is more than the accountants calculate as acceptable, given the higher up front cost of fixing the wash out east of Melrose (if they have to repair it alone) and other MOW work, plus ongoing maintenance that may be higher than what would be found on similar traveled lines.  By the way, in addition to the expansions of the Panama Canal and the Port of Charleston, the new Inland Port at Greer, S.C. (slated to open in 2014), will play a major role in the distribution of NS traffic along the Crescent and I-80 Corridors.   There will definitely be more rail traffic on the W line between Charleston and Greer, S.C.   It is estimated that 50 K trucks (published figure) a year on I-26 will be eliminated between Spartanburg and Charleston!        

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Posted by pretcho on Sunday, October 21, 2012 9:48 PM

Well guys, I decided to ride up to Landrum today to see if any work has been started. Unfortunately, the mound was still in place, and both of the crossings the Exhibit Car will travel over have not had any work done. This is discouraging, but time will soon tell as Dec. 6th is coming quicker than we know.

-Phillip

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Posted by csxns on Friday, October 19, 2012 3:19 PM

dubch87
Clinchfield Loops

Yes CSX runs double stacks on the loops only the International Containers.

Russell

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Posted by samfp1943 on Friday, October 19, 2012 11:52 AM

dubch87

I have never read or heard anything about North Carolina owning the line. Property owners along the line claim that should Norfolk Southern abandon the right-of-way, it goes to the adjoining property owners.

I have yet to find evidence that North Carolina owns the W line. Nowhere is it mentioned that they own the line (but several others across the state are mentioned), and they make it quite clear that the NCRR is public and leased to Norfolk Southern. A couple of sources I found by Googling make no mention of this.

Sixth Annual Report of the Board of Railroad Commissioners of North Carolina, for the Year Ending December 31, 1896

A History of the Legal Development of the Railroad System of Southern Railway Company (1901)

"As the property was about to come to sale the stockholders of the Spartanburg and Asheville Railroad Company, who were largely municipalities, became concerned at the threatened wiping out of their investment, and procured an Act of North Carolina entitled:

'An act for the relief of the stockholders of the Spartanburg and Asheville Railroad Company.'

Ratified March 12, 1881. Laws of North Carolina 1881, ch. 353, p. 586

by which they were authorized to purchase the property at the sale in the Tommey suit and reorganize as a corporation under the style of Charleston and Asheville Railroad Company, but as they did not purchase, this Act never became effective."

 DUBCH87:

                        In regards to the ownership of an abandoned railroad ROW by adjacent land owners.

[And as an aside:]

        I can't speak to specific conditions in North Carolina, but out here in Kansas I live near an abandoned line ( MoPac; nee: Denver, Memphis and  Atlantic RR, charted in 1878, and originally surveyed as a narrow gauge line.)  It seems that ownership reversion depends on the Type of Deed of Original Ownership by the Railroad.

       Some deeds do call for revision to adjacent landowners, BUT in some other cases the ownership remains in the hands of the owning railroad; said property can be sold by agents of the railroad, or as a product of a bankruptcy action.    Again, it is dependent on the type of original deed as registered with the County Registrar of Deeds.  [Read here: much research in old title record books! ]  

       Mud Chicken and Paul D. North can most likely fill your ear on this aspect of time consuming, interpretation and necessary research.   Do NOT assume that the adjacent landowner gets the ROW.

    There are lawyers out there who get wealthy proving this mistake by court actions; an assumption that is taken for granted by some adjacent landowners and property owners.    Not to mention folks who own facilities adjacent to railroads who find out they do not own that land those spur tracks are on by their facility.

   I am pretty certain that there are documents that relate to the trail of ownership ownership of the embargoed "W" line; documentation that most likely date back to the bankruptcy of the Spartanburg and Asheville Railroad ( its' subsequent ownership by the Richmond and Danville RR (Later Southern Rwy).

   I posted some earlier links in this Thread that aluded to "Political Shenanigans" in the late 1800's that centered on this S&A RR line over Saluda Mountain.  I think I remember that there was an addendum  issued in that context that said that the link (railroad) must be kept open between the Port of Charleston and Asheville as a key function of ownership ( or custody) [lease(?) ] of what we now refer to as the "W" line over Saluda Mountain to Asheville.

    Even thought it is common knowledge that the "W' Line is embargoed since about 2000. When you check out the NS Corp System Map it does show as a serviceable link in their system:

http://www.nscorp.com/nscportal/nscorp/map.html

as well as on the NC RR Company Network Map (NCDOT)  @  http://www.ncrr.com/nc-rail-maps/nc-rail-network/

 

 


 

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Friday, October 19, 2012 5:42 AM

It would seem that the question coould be ---  Will operating expenses and more importantly transit time from Spartanburg - Harriman Tn be less thru Asheville - Knoxville or thru Atlanta - Chatanooga ?  Can Anyone give us the track mile figures and old passenger train times for these 2 routes ? 

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Posted by dubch87 on Thursday, October 18, 2012 9:06 PM

I believe with the upcoming Panama Canal expansion and Charleston harbor deepening, Norfolk Southern is planning for intermodal stack trains from Charleston to Cincinnati. The straightest shot is Charleston-Columbia-Asheville-Knoxville-Cincinnati.

The seven(?) tunnels along the S-Line from Salisbury to Asheville probably do not meet the vertical clearance requirements of double-stacks, and would require costly upgrading. Not to mention this is a longer route. Of course, there may be vertical clearance issues with overpasses along the W-Line as well. Still, the repairs to the W-Line are likely much, much cheaper than raising tunnel ceilings. Additionally, CSX may not be able to run double-stacks over the Clinchfield Loops because of the same tunnel clearance issues. NS may see the opportunity to secure a big chunk of the intermodal market share in this region via the W-Line.

Going UP Saluda has never been an issue in the age of diesel-electric locomotives. Coming down the grade with an empty intermodal will be child's play compared to the unit coal trains to Belmont.

The return on investment for the line has been mentioned several times. Do you have any idea how many THOUSANDS of dollars NS has spent to keep this line maintained for the past eleven years, to have ZERO traffic go over it. Now that is a poor ROI. If NS never intended to use the line again, it would show. Even if it means a high initial investment to get the line back in service, their return may be seen in other forms, such as additional capacity on other lines and more direct routing for time-sensitive (intermodal) shipments.

I'd love to hear some more input from those in the industry! All my ranting is pure speculation.

   

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Posted by dubch87 on Thursday, October 18, 2012 8:35 PM

I have never read or heard anything about North Carolina owning the line. Property owners along the line claim that should Norfolk Southern abandon the right-of-way, it goes to the adjoining property owners.

I have yet to find evidence that North Carolina owns the W line. Nowhere is it mentioned that they own the line (but several others across the state are mentioned), and they make it quite clear that the NCRR is public and leased to Norfolk Southern. A couple of sources I found by Googling make no mention of this.

Sixth Annual Report of the Board of Railroad Commissioners of North Carolina, for the Year Ending December 31, 1896

A History of the Legal Development of the Railroad System of Southern Railway Company (1901)

"As the property was about to come to sale the stockholders of the Spartanburg and Asheville Railroad Company, who were largely municipalities, became concerned at the threatened wiping out of their investment, and procured an Act of North Carolina entitled:

'An act for the relief of the stockholders of the Spartanburg and Asheville Railroad Company.'

Ratified March 12, 1881. Laws of North Carolina 1881, ch. 353, p. 586

by which they were authorized to purchase the property at the sale in the Tommey suit and reorganize as a corporation under the style of Charleston and Asheville Railroad Company, but as they did not purchase, this Act never became effective."

   

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Posted by samfp1943 on Thursday, October 18, 2012 3:24 PM

     Have been reading some of the "Other"[make that: other'Saluda' Threads here], referencing the Saluda Grade. ( Last week on  a fast trip to Salisbury, I was able to nick through Saluda, for a brief look around.)  It seems to be a topic of on-going interest, not only to those who live in WNC but others as well.

Some time back there was a discussion as to why the NS (or nee: Southern did not just abandon or sell off the 'W' line.  My belief is that that decision is rooted in past political actions concerning the Spartanburg& Asheville RR.  see:

[ sinpped from this link: ]  http://www.carolana.com/NC/Transportation/railroads/nc_rrs_spartanburg_asheville.html

"...One year later, the line finally reached Hendersonville - a distance of twenty-one (21) miles, and the money ran out. A bill was introduced to the NC State Legislature to forfeit the charter if construction did not speed up. This spurred new and increased support for the railroad on both ends, and resulted in the reorganization of the company into the Asheville & Spartanburg Railroad in 1881, managed by the Richmond & Danville Railroad, which completed the line in 1886..."

Then there was a Thread this past August (2012) that has links about the creation of an Inland Container Port in the area of Greenville/Spartanburg (GSP)  @http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/111/p/209355/2291615.aspx#2291615

The above is a proposal that was intended to move truck traffic away from the congestion at Charleston and was going to utilize  Gov't funds  via a 'TIGER' grant.

Apparently, the supposition that the line is 'owned' by NCDOT and leased from that public entity is partially true(?) See Statement posted by  "...Posted by crescent20

 

 


 

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Posted by dubch87 on Wednesday, October 17, 2012 5:53 PM

TRDevlDog

I rode up to Landrum yesterday to see if they had done anything yet. Unfortunately the dirt pile was still there and the rails were still cut. Keeping my Spartanburg scanner on though cause when I hear them call that a work train is heading that way, I'm gonna head there too!

Thank you for checking, but I doubt the rails will be connected before December, and a work train shouldn't be needed.

I am still wondering about the rules and regulations regarding the status of the line and reconnecting the rails.

Instead, I would be keeping an eye on the two grade crossings in Landrum. I do not believe the current condition of the Hwy. 14 crossing will suffice for a train. It will be interesting to see if the crossings are brought back into full service (i.e., crossing arms reinstalled), or only the flangeways repaired. When that work is underway, it will also be interesting to see if the crossings/flangeways northwest of Landrum through Tryon are brought up to standard as well. The latter is doubtful, but we will see.

   

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Posted by TRDevlDog on Wednesday, October 17, 2012 11:55 AM

I rode up to Landrum yesterday to see if they had done anything yet. Unfortunately the dirt pile was still there and the rails were still cut. Keeping my Spartanburg scanner on though cause when I hear them call that a work train is heading that way, I'm gonna head there too!

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Posted by dubch87 on Sunday, October 14, 2012 9:21 AM

The Norfolk Southern Exhibit Car was in Hendersonville yesterday. Here is a link to a photo from the local paper.

I wonder if any rumors were heard . . . ?

   

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Posted by Modelcar on Monday, October 8, 2012 7:49 PM

......Interesting stuff.  Thank you.

Quentin

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Posted by dubch87 on Monday, October 8, 2012 4:54 PM

Yes, the location Norfolk Southern described in front of the Landrum Depot is on the inactive section of the W-Line. This means the dirt mound has to be removed and the rails connected to get the Exhibit Car there. It's really not that much work, but it is still $$$ out of NS's wallet just to have their Exhibit Car on display for one afternoon/evening in a very small town. The only "repair" I can think of is adding some ballast here.

Map

Luckily, the Google StreetView car went through Landrum in May 2012, shortly after the MOW work was completed on the W-Line south of Landrum. You can see one of the improved grade crossings here and some old cross-ties here. If you continue south, you can see other improved crossings. For comparison, this is what the first inactive crossing in Landrum looks like, with the dirt mound in the far distance.

Improving grade crossings is pretty standard maintenance. But, would NS do that much ballast and tie work just for what is now essentially a spur? Or is that even considered a lot of work?

I was over that way this weekend (sooner than I expected). The crossing lights are bagged, and the mound still in place. There are two months to go, and the required work would take less than a day. There are only two crossings the Exhibit Car will have to go through to get to the depot, which can easily be flagged. NS may simply move the mound a mile west and never reactivate the entire line. I do not know the regulations on active versus inactive rail lines.

I am still standing by my earlier statement that NS is reconnecting the line to do some heavy MOW. The number crunchers in NS management have likely figured that with the current damage to the ROW, if will cost x dollars to repair. If it remains neglected and worsens, then it will cost y dollars more in the future to make additional repairs. Some of those washed out sections are probably close to turning into WAY more work than NS wants to do. They would rather get it repaired now for "less" and have the line ready should the need for reactivation arise (which may be in their plans).

We have been waiting for over a decade, but this will be a long two months!

   

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Posted by Ulrich on Friday, October 5, 2012 9:06 AM

Any more news on Saluda?

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Posted by Bunn19 on Tuesday, October 2, 2012 9:26 AM

So the location that Mr. Chapman described is in fact track West of the cut rails?  It's been a month or so since I've been to Landurm, but I feel sure that the depot is a good bit (1/2mi. or so) track West of the cut in the rails.

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Posted by dubch87 on Wednesday, September 26, 2012 7:30 PM

pretcho
Hey guys! I've been following this thread for the past few months now, and just like everyone else, I have been wondering where the Exhibit Car will be located in Landrum. I decided to email Mr(s). Chapman and this is the response I recieved.

Mr. Retcho:
    The Exhibit Car will be on the section of track in front of the Landrum rail depot, north side of Highway 176, approximately 300 linear feet from Highway 14.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me directly.
 Stacey Hugo
Manager, Community Outreach
Norfolk Southern Corporation
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To: Chapman, Robin C.
Subject:Exhibit Car
 Robin,

I am aware that the NS Exhibit Car will be in Landrum, SC on December 6th, 2012 for the Christmas parade; however, I am unaware of where the Exhibit Car will exactly be located in Landrum since the tracks are cut southeast of the town. Do you have any information about where exactly it will be located? Thank you for your time.

Phillip Retcho

I wonder how they are going to get it there... Whistling

Wow! That answers that! Thanks for taking the time to ask.

Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina locals . . . keep us posted!

Here is where the rails are split in Landrum, with Mimosa trees growing everywhere in May 2012.

Google Street View

   

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Posted by pretcho on Tuesday, September 25, 2012 1:34 PM
Hey guys! I've been following this thread for the past few months now, and just like everyone else, I have been wondering where the Exhibit Car will be located in Landrum. I decided to email Mr(s). Chapman and this is the response I recieved.

Mr. Retcho:
    The Exhibit Car will be on the section of track in front of the Landrum rail depot, north side of Highway 176, approximately 300 linear feet from Highway 14.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me directly.
 Stacey Hugo
Manager, Community Outreach
Norfolk Southern Corporation
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To: Chapman, Robin C.
Subject:Exhibit Car
 Robin,

I am aware that the NS Exhibit Car will be in Landrum, SC on December 6th, 2012 for the Christmas parade; however, I am unaware of where the Exhibit Car will exactly be located in Landrum since the tracks are cut southeast of the town. Do you have any information about where exactly it will be located? Thank you for your time.

Phillip Retcho

I wonder how they are going to get it there... Whistling
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Posted by dubch87 on Thursday, September 20, 2012 5:32 PM

samfp1943

   Has there been anymore on the earlier reorts of NS MOW Crews down around the Landrum area ? The NS Display Car is still on the schedule for the NS Exhibit Car still shows a stop this Fall in Landrum.

Here is a partial list of upcoming stops in WNC:

  • Sept. 29: Old Fort, N.C., 100th Anniversary Celebration of Andrews Geyser and Old Fort Railroad
  • Oct. 13: Hendersonville, N.C., 5th Annual Bazaar
  • Oct. 20: Oliver Springs, Tenn., October Sky Fall Festival
  • Dec. 1: Hopkins, S.C., Annual Holiday Taste & Tour - Lower Richland Heritage Corridor
  • Dec. 6: Landrum, S.C., Landrum Christmas Stroll/Parade
  • Here is the website URL:@
  • http://www.nscorp.com/nscportal/nscorp/Media/News%20Releases/2012/ns_exhibit_car.html

My thought is that having "The Grade" open would solve some of their logistical movement issues for this Exhibit Car, and some other traffic...Whistling

I haven't been to the area recently and won't be for another month at the soonest.

During the summer, I looked at the MOW work around Landrum and saw no signs of major rehabilitation, just maintenance.

This late in the year, it will be impossible to have the W-Line open by the first week of December. No one knows yet if the Exhibit Car will actually be taken all the way to Landrum. We should assume so, since it'd be pointless otherwise. This means reconnecting the line. Reconnecting the line for the sake of getting an Exhibit Car to a small-town festival seems like a lot of work for NS, so they likely have an ulterior motive.

My guess is if they DO reconnect the line, they are going to perform some extensive MOW work below Saluda that requires an actual MOW train instead of MOW trucks. I have mentioned in previous posts about two smaller washouts north and south of Tryon, in addition to the large washout east of Melrose. It is possible they have decided to address that washout as well. All of this must be done before a geometry/research train can go through to determine the condition of the line after eleven years of limited maintenance and mother nature's fury.

I am assuming this can all be done without reactivating the line by flagging the few grade crossings. They may go ahead and bring those back to standard as well.

Who knows, this is all speculation. However, I think NS is planning something. As many of us saw today, NSC's 3Q outlook expects a (continued) decline in coal shipments, and an increase in intermodal. Those two shipments have been discussed frequently in this thread, from exporting coal via Charleston, to intermodal trains from Charleston to Knoxville and the Midwest.

NS likely finds the current economic outlook more favorable for reactivating the line than ever.

   

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Posted by samfp1943 on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 10:22 PM

Hendersonville Railfan

On a totally different note than the ever so depressing Saluda Grade since it's going nowhere, WNC has more rail future hopes once again with the GSMR! Steam shall return in 2-3 years with the restoration of ex US-Army 2-8-0 #1702. Here's the article. 

http://www.smokymountainnews.com/news/item/8800-swain-seals-deal-to-bring-steam-engine-to-great-smoky-mountain-railroad-lines

Just thought i'd bring some more positive views on railroad preservation to this article, plus I'm assuming everyone in this forum has some sort of ties to the area and maybe have even ridden behind steam on the GSMR. I recommend it highly, and hope everyone will support this operation.

Now, if only Saluda was open...WNC would once again be a railfan haven.. maybe someday!

Everyone have a wonderful evening. 

Thanks for the update Hendersonville Railfan!

    Nuice to see some movement on the GSMR. I was able to ride there some time past, and it was an interesting trip with their diesel power. Having a steam engine will make it that much more enjoyable. 

   Has there been anymore on the earlier reorts of NS MOW Crews down around the Landrum area ? The NS Display Car is still on the schedule for the NS Exhibit Car still shows a stop this Fall in Landrum.

Here is a partial list of upcoming stops in WNC:

  • Sept. 29: Old Fort, N.C., 100th Anniversary Celebration of Andrews Geyser and Old Fort Railroad
  • Oct. 13: Hendersonville, N.C., 5th Annual Bazaar
  • Oct. 20: Oliver Springs, Tenn., October Sky Fall Festival
  • Dec. 1: Hopkins, S.C., Annual Holiday Taste & Tour - Lower Richland Heritage Corridor
  • Dec. 6: Landrum, S.C., Landrum Christmas Stroll/Parade
  • Here is the website URL:@
  • http://www.nscorp.com/nscportal/nscorp/Media/News%20Releases/2012/ns_exhibit_car.html

My thought is that having "The Grade" open would solve some of their logistical movement issues for this Exhibit Car, and some other traffic...Whistling

 

 


 

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