The first NRHS Convention Trip would be a two day trip over the old Louisville and Nashville Railroad over their Hook and Eye Line. Each day we would be bused to a different starting point and be dropped off at a different location. Because of the busing it meant for early boarding times which meant you also had to be up earlier if you were going to have breakfast.
The first NRHS Convention Trip would be a two day trip over the old Louisville and Nashville Railroad over their Hook and Eye Line. Each day we would be bused to a different starting point and be dropped off at a different location. Because of the busing it meant for early boarding times which meant you also had to be up earlier if you were going to have breakfast. Chris Parker and I had the buffet at the Garden Restaurant at the Holiday Inn Chattanooga Choo Choo that first morning before we boarded the bus. The bus took us out via Interstate 75 north to Cleveland using the US 64 Bypass to head east to US 64 which we took to US 411 north to just before Etowah where we turned into Gee Creek Conservation Park. We all had to remain on the buses as the train was not spotted for boarding yet and then since they only opened two doors on a grade crossing. We were unloaded one bus at a time and by the time they got to our Bus 6 we were all ready to get off and onto a train. Tickets were taken before we were allowed to board the train this morning.
Passengers were boarding the train.
The train was heading out through the forest along the Hiwassee River.
There was a farm across the Hiwassee River.
We were running along the Hiwassee River looking back.
You could see the Hiwassee River and a mountain behind.
We came to Tennessee Highway 15 where it crossed the Hiwassee River.
Another view looking back at that bridge.
A mile or so later, our train crossed the Hiwassee River.
A break in the trees provided us our next view of the Hiwassee River.
There are rapids on the Hiwassee River.
More views of the Hiwassee River. There was a walking bridge across the Hiwassee River just before the power plant at Appalachia. The train came to the Appalachia Siding where we unloaded for the first Photo Runby of the trip today.
The train backed by our photo location.
The train is ready to charge by our location.
The train did Photo Runby 1. After a good runby we all reboarded the train.
The train ran by a L&N Milepost.
Back on the move again.
Our train crossed a bridge as it started towards the Hiwassee Loop. The Hiwassee Loop is the "Eye" of the "Hook and Eye" line. It is a spiral loop that crosses over itself. It gains 425 feet as we climb the three levels from along the Hiwassee River to Bald Mountain. It has three levels because it is a loop and a half of track. In fact it was going to be two loops when built but cost was a factor so only one loop was built. It is the third longest loop in the United States at 8,000 feet long. The bridge that makes the loop is 197 feet long and 62 feet high.
Our train took a curve as we are at the bottom of the Hiwassee Loop.
We passed by a Kudzu covered location.
You could look down towards the Hiwassee River.
The train went underneath the trestle that we will cross in a few minutes as we ride the Hiwassee Loop.
We circled Bald Mountain then looked down to where we were a few minutes ago.
Approaching the trestle to complete our trip on the Hiwassee Loop.
Crossing the trestle we completed our trip around the Hiwassee Loop. What a great experience it was to have ridden around the Hiwassee Loop.
A look forward along the train.
A look back along our train.
The train was approaching Copperhill, Tennessee.
The train was almost to Copperhill. Note the trees are gone because of the copper industry over the years. The plant is no longer in operation.
Coming into the Copperhill Yard. Here we dropped off two of our engines.
At the Copperhill Yard we saw the old Slag heaps.
The train ran through the former yard at Copperhill.
The train was running along the Toccoa River.
Dan Meyer, our fantastic NRHS Car Host for this trip, who I sat with for most of the trip.
You got plenty of views of the Toccoa River.
There are Native American Fish Traps in the Tocca River. The Letter V pointed downstream is 500 years old and there are five traps located in the Tocco River along our train's route.
The train ran under the Curtis Switch Footbridge.
Our next Photo Runby was held at the Panter Farm. We detrained before the train backed and we all crossed over to the sunny side. I led the way down a road to near the Panter Farm House
The train did Photo Runby 2.
The Panter Family on their porch.
The beautiful Panter Farm is fantastic. We all reboarded the train for the short trip into Blue Ridge. It was announced that we would have 45 minutes once we got to Blue Ridge. We arrived into Blue Ridge and I detrained after a fantastic trip around the Hiwassee Loop.
The motive power for our train into Blue Ridge was Georgia Northwestern GP-9 8704 and Georgia Northwestern 7562
The Blue Ridge Station.
Another view of the Blue Ridge Station. I boarded a bus back to get out of the heat before we made the trip back to the Chattanooga Choo Choo. We ate at the buffet at the Garden Restaurant before I worked on some stories before calling it a night.
