The first excursion of the National Railway Historical Society convention would be a two-day trip on the former Louisville and Nashville Railroad over their Hook and Eye Line. The railroad over which Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum trains travel on its Hiwassee River Rail Adventures was formerly part of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad’s Atlanta Division stretching between Etowah, Tennessee and Marietta, Georgia. When the line was first finished in 1890, it consisted of multiple switchbacks in the tracks in order to gain elevation while crossing the high mountains. The switchbacks proved inefficient and before long the railroad was looking for an alternative. They soon decided to loop the tracks around Bald Mountain, creating one of only three points in the United States where railroad tracks loop over themselves to gain elevation in limited space.
This loop in the tracks, completed in 1898, coupled with a double “S” curve near Jasper, Georgia gave the old line its nickname of the Hook and Eye Line. The “S” curves made up the hook and the loop made the eye.
In the first decade of the Twentieth Century, the L&N obtained a new, more efficient, right-of-way that passed to the west of the Hook and Eye. With the completion of the new line, the Hook and Eye became the old line. Traffic continued to move on the old line due to the mining operations in Copperhill but when that business ceased in 2001, the railroad (now CSX Transportation) abandoned that portion of the tracks. In 2002, the Tennessee Overhill Heritage Association, a non-profit organization, purchased the tracks for preservation and the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum became the sole operator of historic passenger trains on the old Hook and Eye Line. Passengers enjoy views of the Hiwassee River immediately alongside the train for much of the trip as well as waterfalls, wildlife, mountains and the ruins of historic settlements.
The EventEach day we would be bussed to a different starting point and dropped off at a different location. Because of the bussing, 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 boarding the bus, wich took us out via Interstate 75 north to Cleveland, using the US 64 bypass to go east to US 64, which we took to US 411 north to just before Etowah, where we turned into Gee Creek Conservation Park. Everyone had to remain on the buses as the train was not yet spotted for boarding then since only two doors were opened since the train was on a grade crossing, we were unloaded one bus at a time. By the time our Bus 6 was reached, everyone was ready to get off and onto a train and our tickets were taken before we were boarded.
Passengers boarding the train.
Making its way through the forest along the Hiwassee River.
A farm across river.
A rear-facing view as we paralleled the Hiwassee River.
The river and a mountain behind.
We came to Tennessee Highway 15, where it crossed the river.
Another view looking back at the bridge.
A mile or so later, our train crossed the Hiwassee River.
A break in the trees provided us our next view.
Rapids are prevalent.
More views of the Hiwassee River on a beautiful summer's day. There was a walking bridge across the the river just before the power plant at Appalachia, after which we arrived at Appalachia siding where we detrained for the first photo runby.
Reverse move one.
The train was ready to charge by our location.
Photo runby one, then everyone reboarded.
Louisville and Nashville Railroad milepost 360.
Back on the move again.
Crossing a bridge as the train started towards the Hiwassee Loop, the "Eye" of the "Hook and Eye" line. It is a spiral loop that crosses over itself and gains 425 feet as we climbed the three levels from along the Hiwassee River to Bald Mountain. The reason for the three levels is because it is a loop-and-a-half of track. It was, in fact, going to be two loops when built but cost was a factor, so only one was built. It is the third longest loop in the United States at 8,000 feet. The bridge that makes the loop is 197 feet long and 62 feet high.
Rounding a curve as we were at the bottom of the Loop.
A kudzu-covered location.
The Hiwassee River below.
The train went underneath the trestle that we would cross in a few minutes.
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 completed the loop. What a great experience it was to have ridden around it.
A look forward along the train.
A look back along our train.
Approaching Copperhill, Tennessee.
We were almost at Copperhill. Note the lack of trees due to the copper industry over the years, whose plant is no longer in operation.
Coming into Copperhill Yard, we dropped off two of our locomotives.
The iron ore slag heaps.
Passing through the yard.
We then paralleled the Toccoa River.
Dan Meyer, our fantastic car host for this trip, whom I sat with for most of the journey.
The Toccoa River was easily visible.
Native American fish traps in the river. The Letter V pointed downstream is 500 years old and there are five traps along our route.
Passing the Curtis Switch footbridge.
Our next photo runby was held at the Panter Farm and we detrained before the train reversed and we all crossed over to the sunny side then I led the way down a road to near the Panter farmhouse.
Photo runby two.
The Panter Family on their porch.
The beautiful Panter Farm was fantastic. Everyone reboarded for the short trip into Blue Ridge and it was announced that we would have 45 minutes there.
Georgia Northeastern GP18 8704, ex. Norfolk Southern 1491, exx. Norfolk and Western 2701, nee Nickel Plate 2701 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1960.
Georgia Northeastern GP10 7562, ex. Conrail 7562, nee Pennsylvania Railroad GP9 7098 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1956.
Louisville and Nashville Blue Ridge station built in 1906. I boarded a bus to get out of the heat before we returned to the Chattanooga Choo Choo. Chris and I ate at the buffet at the Garden Restaurant before I worked on some stories then called it a night.
