CSX Transportation Historical Society

-->

Southern Ry. - Carolina Div - Asheville Yard

Rail Fan Adventure --

These are some of the better shots I made on the Southern those many years ago.

Kurt Reisweber is doing a new book on the Southern Ry., and these are shots that didn’t make the cut.

1. Southern 1113 at Asheville roundhouse. 12-22-1973.
Southern 1113 at Asheville roundhouse. 12-22-1973.

2. Southern SW-1 1008 at Asheville engine terminal. 12-22-1973.
Southern SW-1 1008 at Asheville engine terminal. 12-22-1973.

3. Southern 4214-4262-4207-2657-2663 arriving with a freight from Knoxville. 12-22-1973.
Southern 4214-4262-4207-2657-2663 arriving with a freight from Knoxville. 12-22-1973.

4. Southern 4214-4262-4207-2657-2663 pulling through the yard late on that nippy winter day.
Southern 4214-4262-4207-2657-2663 pulling through the yard late on that nippy winter day.

5. Southern SW-1 1008 working in the yard. View 2. 12-24-1973.
Southern SW-1 1008 working in the yard. View 2. 12-24-1973.
6. Southern SW-1 1008. View 3.
Southern SW-1 1008. View 3.

7. Southern SW-1 1008. View 4. I wish I had shot that hopper behind the engine!
Southern SW-1 1008. View 4. I wish I had shot that hopper behind the engine!

8. Central of Georgia SD35 213 leads three GP30s eastbound from the Tennessee Div. with a L&N coal train. 12-24-1973.
Central of Georgia SD35 213 leads three GP30s eastbound from the Tennessee Div. with a L&N coal train. 12-24-1973.

9. After cutting off from their train, they head back to the engine terminal.
After cutting off from their train, they head back to the engine terminal.

10. GP35 2681-SD24 6333-SD45-SD35 3008 head west through the yard beside the L&N coal that had just arrived. Note the ALCo trucks. Many of these GP35s were later sold by NS to the “new” Wheeling & Lake Erie.
GP35 2681-SD24 6333-SD45-SD35 3008 head west through the yard beside the L&N coal that had just arrived. Note the ALCo trucks. Many of these GP35s were later sold by NS to the “new” Wheeling & Lake Erie.
11. Southern 3008 in the lead.
Southern 3008 in the lead.

12. Southern 3020-3003-3122 wait at dawn with a westbound freight from the Salisbury line to enter the yard. 12-23-1973. The line to the right goes down Saluda grade to Spartanburg. I’m waiting to ride the Asheville Special to Greensboro and back. Originally this was the depot for Biltmore. The much larger station for Asheville to the west had been torn down.
Southern 3020-3003-3122 wait at dawn with a westbound freight from the Salisbury line to enter the yard. 12-23-1973. The line to the right goes down Saluda grade to Spartanburg. I’m waiting to ride the Asheville Special to Greensboro and back. Originally this was the depot for Biltmore. The much larger station for Asheville to the west had been torn down.
13. Southern 3020-3003-3122. View 2.
Southern 3020-3003-3122. View 2.

14. Southern 6139. No. 4 pulls out of the yard to the depot for the start of its run. 12-23-1973.
Southern 6139. No. 4 pulls out of the yard to the depot for the start of its run. 12-23-1973.

15. View from the dome car as No. 4 descends Blue Ridge Mountain at Coleman NC. 12-23-1973.
View from the dome car as No. 4 descends Blue Ridge Mountain at Coleman NC. 12-23-1973.

16. Southern Dome 1613 at Salisbury NC. From here I rode the Piedmont to Greensboro and back. Later the westbound Asheville Special was waiting to take southbound Piedmont passengers back to Asheville.
Southern Dome 1613 at Salisbury NC. From here I rode the Piedmont to Greensboro and back. Later the westbound Asheville Special was waiting to take southbound Piedmont passengers back to Asheville.

17. Southern 6139. This area looks different now, but the station still serves Amtrak’s Crescent and local North Carolina-funded trains. 12-23-73.
Southern 6139. This area looks different now, but the station still serves Amtrak’s Crescent and local North Carolina-funded trains. 12-23-73.

18. Combine #727 "Fort Mitchell".
Combine #727 "Fort Mitchell".

19. Southern 3124-3154-3208 on 1st turn. No. 187 will soon double the hill from Melrose with 23 cars. This is the start of the famed grade up to Saluda NC. Note the safety track on the right. 09-05-1976.
Southern 3124-3154-3208 on 1st turn. No. 187 will soon double the hill from Melrose with 23 cars. This is the start of the famed grade up to Saluda NC. Note the safety track on the right. 09-05-1976.

20. Eastbound local No. 88 behind Southern 2636-5053 negotiates the loops at Dendron around Andrew's Geyser. 09-04-1976.
Eastbound local No. 88 behind Southern 2636-5053 negotiates the loops at Dendron around Andrew's Geyser. 09-04-1976.

21. Eastbound local No. 88. View 2.
Eastbound local No. 88. View 2.

22. Eastbound local No. 88. View 3.
Eastbound local No. 88. View 3.

23. Southern 3251 leads a SD24 and SD35 on a 65-car “Extra West” at the foot of the Blue Ridge grade at Dendron. 09-04-1976.
Southern 3251 leads a SD24 and SD35 on a 65-car “Extra West” at the foot of the Blue Ridge grade at Dendron. 09-04-1976.

24. Andrew's Geyser.
Andrew's Geyser.

25. Here comes the “Extra West” after making one loop.
Here comes the “Extra West” after making one loop.

26. The track is well sanded!
The track is well sanded!

27. The “Extra West” has climbed to another level of the loop. Clinchfield climbs the same mountain several miles to the east via loops.
The “Extra West” has climbed to another level of the loop. Clinchfield climbs the same mountain several miles to the east via loops.

28. Famed Southern engineer Frank Clodfelter – also an author and photographer – poses beside the Skyland Special excursion after its arrival back in Asheville. 09-05-1976.
Famed Southern engineer Frank Clodfelter – also an author and photographer – poses beside the Skyland Special excursion after its arrival back in Asheville. 09-05-1976.

29. Southern 6133-6141 approach McElroy Tunnel with the Skyland Special descending Blue Ridge Mountain. 09-06-1976.
Southern 6133-6141 approach McElroy Tunnel with the Skyland Special descending Blue Ridge Mountain. 09-06-1976.

30. Southern 6133-6141. View 2. My most vivid memory of this location is that someone on the train flushed the toilet as they passed!
Southern 6133-6141. View 2. My most vivid memory of this location is that someone on the train flushed the toilet as they passed!

31. Southern 6133-6141. View 3. Shot off an overpass near Old Fort NC. The train only went down to Old Fort and back. We rode it one day.
Southern 6133-6141. View 3. Shot off an overpass near Old Fort NC. The train only went down to Old Fort and back. We rode it one day.

32. Coming back up the hill through Lick Log and McElroy Tunnels. 09-06-1976.
Coming back up the hill through Lick Log and McElroy Tunnels. 09-06-1976.

33. Coming back up the hill through Lick Log and McElroy Tunnels. View 2.
Coming back up the hill through Lick Log and McElroy Tunnels. View 2.

34. Coming back up the hill through Lick Log and McElroy Tunnels. View 3.
Coming back up the hill through Lick Log and McElroy Tunnels. View 3.

35. Coming out of McElroy Tunnel.
Coming out of McElroy Tunnel.

36. Southern 6141. This winds up the extra stuff I scanned for Kurt’s upcoming Southern book.
Southern 6141. This winds up the extra stuff I scanned for Kurt’s upcoming Southern book.

Train images used by permission of Everett N Young