The blue ridge railroad was the shortest of these but crossed the most mountainous terrain. The virginia blue ridge railway reporting mark, vbr was a small, historic short line system tucked away near the base of the blue ridge mountains. The original kincaid house was built in 1890 by a gentleman named sylvester long. Powell, a successful promoter of such systems in west virginia, along with his associate r. Come join the staff of the oconee history museum for a compelling lecture on the history of the blue ridge railroad on saturday, march 16th from 2. Lyons uses a wealth of historical documents to describe construction on what crozet called dangerous ground. Black diamond was the name given in the 1890s to col. Blue ridge adventures the hotel roanoke in vas blue ridge. In 1849, virginia began a bold railroad expansion toward the ohio river and its lucrative trade connections. Mary lyons has deftly woven together engineering, social history, and archeology in a moving account of the blue ridge tunnel and the people who built it. Watch freight trains climb 4 percent grades in western north carolina on watcos blue ridge southern. Blue ridge railroad historical trail south carolina alltrails.
The blue ridge and atlantic railroad of the united states purchased the corneliatallulah falls section of the north eastern rail road in an attempt to connect savannah, georgia to knoxville, tennessee. These settlers established roots in the region by building homes and claiming farmland in the roanoke valley and neighboring botetourt and franklin counties in the mid 1700s. New meets old taken in august 2003, on my blue ridge railroad. Slave labor on virginias blue ridge railroad was published march 30. John howard mcclellan writes about the history of the blue ridge summit region in his book, blue ridge summit.
The latest books, articles, events, and research related to the blue ridge tunnel. Feb 18, 2014 mary lyons has deftly woven together engineering, social history, and archeology in a moving account of the blue ridge tunnel and the people who built it. When and where to find the blue ridge scenic railway. The following is reprinted with permission from blue ridge china today by frances and john ruffin in 1916, the carolina, clinchfield, and ohio railroad selected erwin, a small town in northeastern tennessee, as the site for a pottery. The blackwater and blue ridge railroad is a fictional railroad line that exist only in the eccentric creative corners of my mind. Read this book and over 1 million others with a kindle unlimited membership. Railroad forums railroad photo gallery railroad bookstore railroad links directory. The railroad was continued north to clayton, the seat of rabun county, by 1904, where it joined and used the grade constructed for the nevercompleted blue ridge railroad project from that point northward. There are also 3 photos and 18 maps in this amazing volume. Lyons explored hundreds of primary documents to write the first nonfiction book about slave labor. The blue ridge southern railroad reporting mark blu is a class iii shortline railroad operating over 91.
Nov 06, 2015 an astute businessman, kelly never forgot that the state still owed him money for repayments made with bonds below par. History fannin county chamber of commerce blue ridge, georgia. Chartered in 1887, it went bankrupt in about 1892 and in 1898 its properties became part of the newly formed tallulah falls railway. Lake blue ridge is also nearby for boating and recreation. The history of the blue ridge scenic railways route can be traced well back into the 19th century. Boyd 1998, fern creek press of clayton, ga includes a summary of the blue ridge and black diamonds history, and an intriguing 1854 photo of stonework in a bridge pier off warwoman dell that dwarfed the figure of the county surveyor at its base. The title of this book is logging railroads of the blue ridge and smoky mountains and it was written by thomas t. The trail is primarily used for hiking and is accessible yearround. The story of the blue ridge railroad is a fascinating history of mechanical ingenuity, financial mismanagement, and sheer human will power. New posts new media new media comments new profile posts latest activity.
The company was incorporated in 1914, and construction was started in 1915. Mike mckinney founded the town of blue ridge in 1886 along the route of the railroad. Its just a 12 minute drive from lovely downtown blue ridge, home of the blue ridge scenic railroad. The unrest slowed progress and haunted chief engineer claudius crozet for seven years. A remarkable engineering feat in antebellum virginia and the virginia blue ridge railroad, both published by the history press. George hilton notes in his book, american narrow gauge railroads, a corridor in this region was originally conceived in 1854 by edward hulbert as the ellijay railroad. Passengers can choose to ride in either climatecontrolled, openair rail cars, or upgrade to our premier car which is available to adults 18 years and older.
The projects plan covered 423 miles and called for piercing two mountain chains with three railroads. The marietta and north georgia railroad made an economic decision to avoid fannins county seat of morganton, building the railroad through the long, relatively flat toccoa river valley. A number of schemes, involving the former blue ridge project and the north eastern railroad and its successors, to build rail connections to knoxville and beyond, continued to be floated. We have provided a cooler, camp chairs, and floats in the mud room off the laundry for you to use during your stay. History edit the company was incorporated in 1914, and construction was started in 1915.
This moderately difficult walk follows the incomplete nineteencentury rail bed of the blue ridge railroad where you can see three abandoned tunnels. The virginia blue ridge railway vbr is a historic intrastate short line railroad that. Oct 19, 2015 in 1849, virginia began a bold railroad expansion toward the ohio river and its lucrative trade connections. Ticket to ride blue ridge scenic railway brsr train. Its hills that jut up in mid air kiss the first rays of the morning sun and are fanned by an. Be sure to check out our feature story on the railroad, coming in the december 2016 issue of trains magazine. Misty mountain model railroad museum the blue ridge.
Receiving its name from the blue ridge mountains which overlook this scenic north carolina railroad, the blue ridge southern railroad blu was watcos first property located in the state of north carolina beginning in 2014. The ho scale railroad runs from marion, nc to leadvale, tn, carrying loads across the scenic blue ridge. In this first fulllength history of the blue ridge railroad, awardwinning author mary e. This charming mountain village is nestled in the lush chattahoochee national forest and is known for its pleasant and unique shopping with friendly folks and an oldtime atmosphere.
Blue ridge railroad historical trail south carolina trails. A great family adventure on the blue ridge scenic railway brsr starts at the historic depot, built in 1905, in downtown blue ridge, georgia. The misty mountain model railroad museums creative genius is credited to charles griffin and his son. After the introduction of the railroad in 1872, this area grew to become a lively and fashionable vacation community.
Blue ridge responds to coronavirus covid19 this pandemic has impacted all of us in ways we never imagined and many businesses are identifying ways to support the communities they serve during this period. Having whistled its first all aboard in 1988, the blue ridge scenic railway now. Everything you need to know about the blue ridge scenic railway. Exerting the same force of personality that saved the blue ridge tunnel, he sued the virginia board of public works in 1881. Response from tracey f, manager at blue ridge scenic railway. Start your walk with a visit to the stumphouse tunnel, which is 25 feet high, 17 feet wide, and although it was not completed, extends 1,617 feet into the mountain. The roanoke valley in virginias blue ridge began to form when settlers began to ride into the frontier behind the blue ridge mountains. Blue ridge scenic railway a familyfriendly train adventure. The virginia blue ridge railway was a fascinating operation with an interesting, if somewhat chaotic, history that began during the height of the logging railroad industry.
Call the ticket office at 877 48724 for more information and to purchase season passes. In 1898 the tallulah falls railway company acquired the twentyone mile section then in existence from cornelia to the town of tallulah falls. Blue ridge chapter, national railway historical society. Blue ridge chapter, national railway historical society, lynchburg, virginia. The story of this most amazing engineering featon a par with the eiffel tower and the panama canalwould be reason enough to pick up this book. Venture on our historic railway through the chattahoochee national forest to the sister towns of mccaysville, ga and copperhill, tn. Each child on the trip receives a special memento, a christmas activity book, and a.
Slave labor on virginias blue ridge railroad by mary e. Blue ridge stemwinder rr, charlottesville, virginia. You could ascertain by the name that the locale is appalachia but it could just as easily be located somewhere west. Logging railroads of the blue ridge and smoky mountains by. Claudius crozet and the blue ridge railroad on apple books. As a result of this decision, the town of blue ridge came into being, and was incorporated in 1887. You can visit the concession car for snacks, drinks, and souvenirs. The virginia blue ridge railway vbr is a historic intrastate short line railroad that operated in central virginia in the 20th century history.
The blue ridge railroad was the shortest of these but crossed the most. The blue ridge and atlantic railroad of the united states purchased the cornelia tallulah falls section of the north eastern rail road in an attempt to connect savannah, georgia to knoxville, tennessee. Blue ridge scenic railway 2020 all you need to know before. Blue ridge tunnel and blue ridge railroad historian mary e. The railroad is owned by watco of pittsburg, kansas, and operates three lines that connect in the asheville area that were previously owned by norfolk southern railway. Blue ridge railroad historical trail south carolina. The blue ridge stemwinder hon3 model railroad by chris jessee. The blue ridge scenic railway is a familyfriendly train adventure that takes riders up the scenic.
Venture on our historic railway through the chattahoochee national forest to the sister towns. An astute businessman, kelly never forgot that the state still owed him money for repayments made with bonds below par. Deaths along the blue ridge railroad 18501860 part i. The virginia blue ridge railway vbr is a historic intrastate short line railroad that operated in central virginia in the 20th century. Chartered in 1887, it went bankrupt in about 1892 and in 1898 its properties became part. Time frame is loosely in the first part of the 1900s, more specifically maybe 1925 to 1935. Lyons has written nineteen awardwinning books for young readers about slavery, the irish famine and the ancient american world. Wonderful book filled with photographs of the railroad history in north georgia. And so ended, in 1858, the last letter that claudius crozet wrote about the greatest challenge of his engineering careerconstruction of the blue ridge railroad.
Discover the bustling downtown and the tastes, sights, and aromas of the culinary scene as you stroll and eat your way through the star city with tour roanoke. Jim johnson, who has spent almost 20 years exploring and documenting the blue ridge railroad, will be giving the lecture. Volume 2 covers parts of north georgia, southeastern tennessee, far western north carolina, and the smoky mountain south slope region. Season passes are valid for any regularly scheduled trains during our operational season, midmarch through december. Brutal history of blue ridge tunnels construction topic of gathering. How john kelly saved the blue ridge tunnel crozet gazette. Most recently, she is the author of the blue ridge tunnel. The railroad industry was booming in the south and blue ridge was a major connecting point. With a blue ridge scenic railway season pass, you can experience the joy of riding our train throughout the year. The layout theme is mountain mining rr in east tenn.
Boones multiple proposals that all involved blue ridge structures and row in some way. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Because of this, as well as the roads secluded nature, it received little coverage and often went unnoticed by rail enthusiasts. In 2011, lyons wrote dark passage, an ebook on the laborers, who. Those who seek the rich history of americas railroad. A remarkable engineering feat in antebellum virginia as want to read. The blue ridge scenic railway is a familyfriendly train adventure that takes riders up the scenic toccoa river and into the chattahoochee national forest. History fannin county chamber of commerce blue ridge. Johnson will be selling and signing the newly revised edition of his book a history of the blue ridge rail road. Blue ridge scenic railway 2020 all you need to know. The continuing definitive history of the logging railroads of the blue ridge and smoky mountains. Blue ridge communications connecting northeastern pa. Lyons uses a wealth of historical documents to describe.