We awoke at the Quality Inn on Ocoee and following our regular morning preparations, checked out and Elizabeth drove us to Ocoee Dam Deli and Diner for an excellent breakfast. She then drove us to Blue Ridge and we found a parking spot with very little difficulty and walked across the street to the station.
About the Blue Ridge Scenic RailwayRailroads played a vital role in the development of this area between the 1800's and the early 1900's. They determined the routes of local roads, saved an ailing mining industry, contributed to the growth of small towns as resort communities, and made it possible to log the last remaining virgin timber in the area.
The orginal tracks started in Marietta, Georgia, reaching Blue Ridge and the surrounding areas in 1886. The line ran east to Copperhill, Tennessesse and made a very sharp horseshoe curve dubbed the "Eye" via the Hiawasse Loop. The curve was so sharp that crews claimed that if a conductor's cigar went out on the caboose, he could wait for the "hook" then easily lean out and get a light from the engineer.
By 1905, the MN&G line had been purchased twice and was now called the Louisville and Nashville. Depots in the smaller towns served as places for shipping products, receiving mail and gossip. In 1905, the Blue Ridge depot was built and the railroad was in full forward motion.
The last passenger train departed Blue Ridge in 1951 but the freight trains continued to be shipped through the area until the Louisville and Nashville ceased operations in 1987. In 1990, a group of Blue Ridge citizens starting working on restoring the railroad. The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway opened for business and began operating excursion train from Blue Ridge to McCaysville, Georgia.
In the 1990's, investors looking to preserve the significant railway history in Blue Ridge, Georgia brought our iconic train to life. Since then, the train has become the heart of this small town, bringing over 70 thousand visitors to Blue Ridge and its sister towns of McCaysville, Georgia and Copperhill, Tennessee. Experienced seekers and family adventurers alike find fulfillment in the charming uniqueness of our train. The railway provides an intimate view into our foothill culture while being submerged in North Georgia's serene forestry.
Our layover in McCaysville and Copperhill allows passengers time to explore small shops, local eateries, breweries and historical landmarks. Located on the Georgia and Tennessee state line, there is a unique opportunity to have one foot in both states at the same time. After the ride, walk down East Main Street to be pleasantly surprised by the diverse mix of businesses in our small town.
Our TripWe first picked up our tickets then walked the platform to photograph the consist.
Louisville and Nashville Blue Ridge station built in 1906.
Georgia Northeastern GP9R 4631, ex. Georgia Northwestern 4631, exx. Progress Rail 4631, exxx. Grand Trunk Western 4631, nee Grand Trunk Western 4931, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1958.
Georgia Northeastern wide-vision caboose 7767, ex. Tennessee Southern 7767, exx. Tennessee Southern 1, nee Duluth Winnipeg and Pacific 53103, built in 1990.
Blue Ridge Scenic caboose 215, nee Louisiana & Northwest 215, builder and year unknown.
Blue Ridge Scenic coach 105, ex. Bangor and Aroostook 106, exx. VIA 5740, exxx. Canadian National 5740, nee Florida East Coast 10-6 sleeper "Venezuela" built by Pullman-Standard in 1949.
Louisville and Nashville caboose 241, nee Louisville and Nashville 6130, built by the railroad, year unknown.
The Gift Shop box car, builder and year unknown.
Blue Ridge Scenic first class coach 106, ex. Canadian National 106, nee Florida East Coast 10-6 sleeper "Oriente" built by Pullman-Standard in 1949.
Blue Ridge Scenic coach 332, ex. CSX 972332, exx. Louisville and Nashville 42332, nee Louisville and Nashville 32xx, built by American Car and Foundry in 1955.
Blue Ridge Scenic open air car 2929 "Scottie's Car", nee Long Island 120-seat coach 2929, built by Pullman-Standard in 1956.
Blue Ridge Scenic concession car 206, nee Northern Pacific baggage 296, built by Pullman-Standard in 1956.
Blue Ridge Scenic special assist car 405, ex. Norfolk and Western air brake instruction car 405, exx. Norfolk and Western 1831 1968, exxx. Wabash 1424 1957, nee Boston and Maine 56-seat coach, 10-seat smoker 4807 "Snowbird" built by Pullman-Standard in 1947.
Blue Ridge Scenic open air car 114, ex. Bangor & Aroostook 114, exx. VIA Rail, exxx. Canadian National 9664, nee Canadian National baggage 9293 "The Brittany", built by National Steel Company, year unknown.
Blue Ridge Scenic coach car 2975, ex. Blue Ridge Scenic 2705, nee Long Island 2597, built by Pullman-Standard in 1963.
Blue Ridge Scenic coach 2705, ex. Long Island Railroad 2705, nee Long Island Railroad MP75 coach 2527, built by Pullman-Standard in 1963.
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.
Blue Ridge Scenic open air car 867, ex. Great Smoky Mountains Railroad home-built open-air coach, nee Southern 50 foot box car, builder and year unknown.
Blue Ridge Scenic GP18 8705, ex. Norfolk Southern 1498, exx. Norfolk and Western 2708, nee Nickel Plate Road 708, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1960.
The train at rest.
Blue Ridge Scenic GP10 7529, ex. Conrail 7529, exx. Conrail 7358, exxx. Penn Central 7358, exxxx. New York Central 7358, nee New York Central 5958, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1956.
The Blue Ridge Scenic emblem on the side of this locomotive.
The rear of our train.
The Blue Ridge station. We bought T-shirts, magnets, mugs and pins form their gift shop and took the goodies to the car then met Elizabeth in the station as it was raining while we waited to board. Once the announcement was made, we walked out to our car, open-air car 2929 "Scottie's Car" and sat on the mountain side of the train.
The first location we passed was the Murphy Branch, which at one time continued onto Murphy, North Carolina.
The Panter Farm where a photo runby was held during the 2007 National Railway Historical Society convention, and I was on the family porch.
The train ran by the Milepost 393 signpost.
No trespassing sign.
A decorative switch stand.
There are not many buildings around with a railroad crossing sign on them.
Our train on a showery morning.
The rear of the train on a curve.
The Indian fish traps in the Toccoca River.
Toccoca River.
Passing the Milepost 391 milepost.
A curve where where both ends of the train could be seen.
Toccoca River.
Milepost 390.
We were running through the forest.
Milepost 389.
Toccoca River through the trees.
Rounding another curve.
Toccoca River in Georgia turns into the Ocoee River in Tennessee.
We paralleled the Toccoca River for quite a way.
Both ends of the train.
Our crossing of the river.
The river after we had crossed it.
Illinois Central wide vision caboose 9670 built by the railroad in 1966.
We arrived at Cooperhill and detrained. Today, the two of us walked over to Subway for lunch which was the closest eating establishment since it was still raining. After lunch we went to the Blue Ridge Scenic Shop, where we purchased three metal vintage advertising signs (Santa Fe, Louisville and Nashville and Northern Pacific) then returned to the train and we both walked through it.
The Georgia/Tennessee State Line.
Blue Ridge Welcomes You To McCaysville, GA/Copperhill, TN sign.
Car history 106.
Interior of Car 106.
Interior of coach 105.
Car history of car 106.
Looking at the caboose 215.
Interior of car 2929 with the author sitting on the riverside.
Interior of car 405.
Interior of concession car 296.
Car history of car 206.
Interior of car 2975.
Car history of 2975.
Interior of car 114.
Tennessee/Georgia state line sign.
Car history of 114.
Interior of car 2705.
Interior of Car 549.
Interior of 332.
Car history of 2705.
Car history of 549. All passengers changed sides upn their return after the layover.
Crossing the Toccoa River bridge.
Rounding a curve.
A sasquatch statue in someone's yard.
A metal bull statue in the same yard.
Yet another curve.
Looking toward the rear of our train.
The curve where both ends of the train can be seen.
Toccoa River.
The fish trap as the Indians used the deep "V" pointing downstream. They are common on most rivers in the Southeast.
The train took this trestle.
We next came to the wye of the Murphy Branch.
The former siding here.
The other leg of the wye. We returned to Blue Ridge and detrained after a most enjoyable excursion.
Louisville and Nashville Blue Ridge station built in 1906.
The historical plaque on the station.
The train at rest.
Blue Ridge Scenic sign in front of the station. This concludes our coverage.
Elizabeth drove us to the Circle J Family Steakhouse, after which we checked into the Comfort Inn for the night, did laundry and changed our plans as we were able to buy two last-minute tickets for the 10:00 AM Blue Ridge Rail Bikes tomorrow.
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