This day started like the previous with an early breakfast before boarding the bus for Blue Ridge, Georgia over the same route on which we came back yesterday. Since I knew the lighting would be better, I took more pictures today.
In the canyon that the highway was built through, afforded one this view of the narrow gauge tracks that once were used between the dam and power house.
In Copperhill, the Tennessee State Line sign which meant that I was in Georgia before we reached Blue Ridge. Once the train arrived, Chris and I boarded the same car as yesterday for our trip to Tate and departed on time.
Just to the south was the top of the grade before we started downgrade.
Our conductor in the baggage-concession car informing Chris Parker that he had won the raffle for a cab ride between Ellijay and Whitestone this morning. He was very excited that he had won.
Running through the beautiful Georgia countryside.
Passing two unique homes.
A Louisville and Nashville Railroad milepost sign.
Looking down the side of our train.
Crossing Cherry Log Creek.
More views along our route. It was announced a photo runby would occur at Ellijay so we arrived and detrained.
The Louisville and Nashville Ellijay station built in 1912.
Our train awaiting the runby.
I picked the view from the hill for my pictures.
Georgia Northeastern GP10 7562, ex. Conrail 7562, nee Pennsylvania Railroad GP9 7098 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1956.
The reverse move.
The station as seen from my vantage point.
Everyone was ready but not in a good photo line.
Photo runby one.
The going-away view showed both our locomotives on the point.
My coach for today was Blue Ridge Scenic coach 549, ex. Greensboro Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society who converted it into a 55-seat coach, exx. New Jersey Transit 2409, exxx. Santa Fe coach in 1959, nee Santa Fe round end 32-seat parlour car, built by Budd Company in 1948.
The rear of our train during the runby.
One last view of the station before the train reversed and we all reboarded.
We crossed the Talona Creek crossing just south of Ellijay where a stop was made to pick up boxed lunches.
Travelling through more of the beautiful Georgia countryside.
The interior of my coach.
There is always something interesting along the tracks.
Passing the smallest crossbuck I had ever seen.
Scenic views abounded on our journey to the next photo runby location at Whitestone.
We detrained along a road.
The reverse move.
Photo runby three.
Reverse move.
Photo runby three.
Our staff was picking up the rope that made the photo line and we all reboarded.
The Whitestone concrete plant.
A hot and humid Southern afternoon. We were now near where the old Hook once was on the Hook and Eye Line. The Hook was a 15 degree double reverse curve which took four miles to gain the two miles of our present-day route. Its location was between here and Talking Rock.
The crossing of this bridge started the trackage that was built to replace the "Hook".
A more gentle routing than via the old Hook along a peaceful stream.
A pretty rural setting.
We reached the point where the track for the Hook used to join the mainline.
The former siding at Talking Rock.
Fields of rolled hay.
We ran through many miles of Southern forest during the last two days.
Passing underneath a wooden bridge as we approached Jasper.
Jasper Louisville and Nashville station built in 1920. The restored long white gabled combination wood depot contains offices. Jasper, the county seat of Pickens County, was incorporated as a town in 1857 and as a city a hundred years later. It was named for William Jasper, a Revolutionary War hero.
Curving into Tate.
Georgia Northeastern SW1 77, ex. Georgia Marble 77, nee Southern built by Electro-Motive Division, year unknown.
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Georgia Northeastern GP9 6576 and Georgia Northeastern GP38 9708.
The Tate station and our excursion train from the last two days as we departed Tate en route to Chattanooga.
The buses drove together back to the Chattanooga Choo Choo. Chris and I then went to Beas Restaurant in Rossville which my good friend Jim Nowell told me about and encouraged me to visit. We were seated with two strangers who would not remain strangers for long. You sit at a round table with a Lazy Susan on top which contains has all the food for your meal. The food is changed out so it is always fresh. It was all good old homemade Southern food and is all-you- can-eat. The Chicken Wish Bone meat was some of the best chicken I had ever had. We learned a lot from our new friends and we all had a very fulfilling meal at a great price. After a fantastic dinner, we returned to the Chattanooga Choo Choo where I relaxed for the rest of that evening.
