Great Smoky Mountain Railroad Steam

 Visited the Bryson City, NC area in September and the first part of October. The GSMR operated their steam locomotive the last weekend we were there.

Great Smoky Mountain Railroad Locomotive 1702, a 2-8-0 Consolidation steam locomotive #1702, built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1942 for the U.S. Army during World War II, was purchased by the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (GSMR) of Bryson City, NC, in the mid-1990s for use on its scenic railway excursions. After a decade of service, no. 1702 was retired in 2004. In October 2012, a partnership formed between GSMR and Swain County to provide funding to restore the locomotive. In 2013, a complete restoration was launched and the locomotive returned to service during summer 2016.

Steam on a Country Road

DeHart Cemetery Road and US 19

Note the first car behind the tender. It looks like a converted caboose and is the generator car to supply power to the passenger and dining cars.

OOPS 

1702 is oil (diesel) fired and there was a bit of a leak one evening. We just happened to be there and saw the leak breaking out in flame. Pretty exciting for a couple of minutes. The first 2 or 3 fire extinguishers they grabbed didn't work. Double oops. 

Stop. Look and Listen

Wig Wags and more! Wigwag is the nickname given to a type of railroad grade crossing signal once common in North America, named for the pendulum-like motion it used to signal the approach of a train

Illinois Railway Museum

Some pictures from our visit to the North Carlolina Transportation Museum in September 2015.

Click to enlarge / read

H/T to Chickenmom for the idea.

TWEETSIE 2008

First visit to Tweetsie RR in Blowing Rock, NC. October 3, 2008

Tweetsie #190

Pictures from Railfan Weekend at Tweetsie Sept 12, 2010.

Edited May 25 to add a video

One of the engines, #190 Yukon Queen, at Tweetsie is from Alaska. (Baldwin #69425)

From Wikipedia:

"Tweetsie acquired another coal-fired steam locomotive, USATC S118 Class 2-8-2 #190, the “Yukon Queen” from Alaska’s White Pass and Yukon Route in 1960. Built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1943 for the US Army, the engine was part of an 11-locomotive fleet of “MacArthur” 2-8-2s originally purchased for use overseas. During World War II, the locomotives were sent to Alaska for use on the White Pass and Yukon."

Here it is double heading behind #12. Note name on tender. I have been told they only do this on Railfan Weekend. 

Edited to add Whistles for Chickenmon, 5/25

Big difference between #12 and #190

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zii8VLLR1hg

Tweetsie No. 12

Baldwin 4-6-0 No. 45069 built 2/1917. 16" X 22" Cylinders, 45" Drivers
36" Narrow Gauge
 

My all time favorite locomotive.
Photo taken on first visit to Tweetsie October 2008.
Lots more Tweetsie photos to come.

Tweetsie Coach #5

Coach #5 was built for the East Broad Top Railroad in the late 1870's. It remained in service until it was sold to the Shenandoah Central Railroad in 1952. It was then sold to Tweetsie in 1955 along with Engine #12.

Photos were taken Railfan Day at Tweetsie in September 2010 when I rode in the coach. It is beautiful.



Another view.



A couple of photos of the interior.

Coal Train

Cleaning the windshield near Spruce Pine, NC before heading south down "The Loops" from Alta Pass down the mountain to Marion, NC.

September 24, 2008 10:51 AM Canon PowerShot A430
Walnut Straight Road and Altapass Highway