On the way to Spencer back in July, Carmon and myself took a quick detour off the interstate for I could show her Saluda. I had not been there since the last time 611 ran up and down the mountain, and not a lot had changes except for the rusty rail. The town seemed to be a bit busier than I remembered it, but the drive down to Melrose the back way (Parsons Falls Road) brought back a lot of memories of chasing a few coal trains and manifest with Trio's of screaming SD40-'s.
Down at the bottom of the famous hill, Melrose seemed to be frozen in time. The tree's had grown up some, but the RofW seemed in pretty good shape, and a lot less weedy that I had figured it would be..even to old concrete phone booth was still there. The little bridge over the road looks like it may have taken a hit from something to tall (you can see a slight shift in the rails and walkway), the signals where dark and the switch for the runaway track was lined for the main. We didnt have much time to linger, but as I stood there I could almost hear the whine of dynamics as a loaded Belmont coal train crept down the hill, with the RFE ready to swing off and let the road crew take it from there. Carm seemed impressed by the steepness of the hill, but I told her that unless you have stood there and seen a train on it, it just wasn't the same.
We have all been hearing rumors of this line being opened up back at some point. That might happen (or maybe not)...but it was nice to stop by and remember the show I had seen there several times, years ago...
Standing in Downtown Saluda, looking down the mountain at the crest. 07/03/12
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fjreb.org%2Fv-web%2Fgallery%2Falbums%2Falbum51%2FSaludaNC_2_070312.sized.jpg&hash=90ee0c73157656d4854aef04957d11e821670650)
Standing in almost the same place as above, with a set of SD40-2's dropping back down the mountain after bringing the first of Three cuts of a train up. 1990
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fjreb.org%2Fv-web%2Fgallery%2Falbums%2Falbum27%2FNS3291saluda90.sized.jpg&hash=81254422ca85013f33e19ed5eebb8c3c740e7140)
Bottom of the mountain..Melrose NC 2012
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fjreb.org%2Fv-web%2Fgallery%2Falbums%2Falbum51%2FMelrosenc_070312_1.sized.jpg&hash=f2ca660dccaa55bc2414a93ca2d84b14f129e26a)
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fjreb.org%2Fv-web%2Fgallery%2Falbums%2Falbum51%2FMelrosenc_070312_2.sized.jpg&hash=c90876e162d34bfd588a5faaa9034ce72783a1d5)
Bottom of the mountain, 1990 and 1991
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fjreb.org%2Fv-web%2Fgallery%2Falbums%2Falbum51%2Fns3291melrose91.sized.jpg&hash=da3be6c0325fea85e6988862dd6da8c78dc6e8b8)
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fjreb.org%2Fv-web%2Fgallery%2Falbums%2Falbum51%2FNS3289melrose90.sized.jpg&hash=49b5a1da0a9a2c578d206976077beb2f17f1a02e)
such a fascinating history there, love the Carolina mountains and if the NS ever owned a better looking locomotive( besides the sw1) I've certainly never seen it! I'm sure if they reopened it the trio of sd40's wouldn't be there but it would still be neat, that's the exact unit our local had here earlier in the year btw, I think we talked about that. Give me a brick on a skateboard any day. Wonder if they had special rules for the grade like the pennsy and Conrail did in Madison? Even if they didn't that would be some grade to conquer as a hogger, makes the hills I run on look like speed bumps! Love these pics buddy!
Wonderful stuff, EM. Even though I never saw it, it's so cool to see anything on Saluda. I really hope the grade opens again someday! I'll be one of the first there once it does.
KIT, the speed limit downhill was 8mph, and if it took less than a specified amount of time within a timing section of track, then the switch at Melrose would remain lined for the safety switch, which leads up a 10-15% grade that acts much like a truck runaway ramp. Just the operations on this line amaze me.
-Chip :)
8) They liked the SD40's because you could trainline the air from all three units, something an SD60 won't do.
Thanks for posting your thoughts on Saluda Grade!
There's a pic in the Norfolk Southern Book from Richard C Borkowski Jr with My friend Ken standing and I was a little behind him and I was blocked from a big stack of ties go figure right .... I've tried to reach Mr. Borkowski to see if he had more pics of that day but to no avail oh well missed my lil bit of fame by "that much"
Great shots EM. I have heard alot about Saluda Grade from you guys on here, and I hope that if it ever gets reopened I can go and see this place. It seems to be a very interesting place. If it ever does reopen I am sure that we will see GE junk instead of good old EMD war horses.
Paul