Great Smoky Mountains 1702: Winter in the Smokies

As soon as Christmas was over, former United States Army S160 1702 was hard at work pulling passengers along the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. For the third year in a row, her winter operations would consist of one Tuckasegee River excursion each day between Christmas and New Years, ending with two Polar Express trips on the night of New Year's Eve. Unfortunately for most of this week the weather would be poor, but luckily the skies cleared up just enough on Saturday the 29th for me to make my final chase of 2018. The heavy rainfall of the preceding days combined with snowmelt from the Smokies combined to make the streams & rivers in the area flow much higher & faster than usual - if you look close at 10:10 you can see that part of Old River Rd is completely under water! This chase also gave me a chance to test out my new Magnus VT-4000 tripod, as my previous one literally fell apart after chasing the Rambler last week, which is why pretty much every shot is a pan.
2018 certainly had its ups and downs, Amtrak's decision to end excursions casting a dark cloud over the mainline steam operators all year, but there are some big and great things on the horizon for 2019. With the Golden Spike celebrations, potentially 3 mallets under steam, 576 finally leaving Centennial Park after 65 years, the reconnection of Cass and Durbin, and more, I think its safe to say we have a good year ahead of us. I wish you all a Happy New Year!

[@kevp9601]

This is Why I Am Still In Love With Every American Steam Locomotives the Most

[@willmcqueen5917]

Leaving for the smokies in the morning. Hopping to ride the steam train this week. So excited! Love trains especially steam!

[@msr1116]

What gorgeous scenery and so relaxing to watch. Bravo to the uploader for allowing us to absorb everything without distracting and unnecessary narration. The train horn reminded me of old Westerns---the days of outlaw bandits, Billy the Kid and lawmen with big hats, big guns and big mustaches.

[@beboboymann3823]

We traveled up to Bryson City over Memorial Day weekend and rode this beauty on the Nantahala run. I know the scenery is beautiful no matter which engine pulls the train but I waited years for the restoration to get finished on her to go to GSMR. I can see a diesel anytime along America's rails. Give me steam. It was worth the wait.

[@ScottTaipaleRail]

Nice scenes, need to get down there for a ride!

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

It's well worth the trip!

[@traintraveler5413]

Somebody needs to make 1702 in Trainz.

[@kevp9601]

Best KZbin Video In The Universe, and I Love It a Lot

[@kevp9601]

Oh, Heavens, Yes

[@rogerlollar4325]

🎵 when smokey sings i hear chime whistles when smokey sings i forget everything🎵

[@ryancord6296]

At 4:00 that's me sticking my head out of the CSX business car, I think I waved to you a couple times!

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

Neat, you got to ride in the "newest" part of the fleet! How does the interior of the CSX car compare to the rest of GSMR's coaches?

[@kevp9601]

Certified Fresh Vanilla Cakes For Very Very Awesome

[@thecarolinianrailfan8339]

Awesome! 2019 would probably be a great year for train enthusiasts.

[@maxm4375]

The Carolinian Railfan - It is with the impending return of ex. Chesapeake and Ohio 1309 and union pacific 4014

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

It's going to be an exciting year, I'm looking forward to it.

[@TrainChamber]

Very well done! I'd like to get out there next summer

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

Thanks, and Happy New Year! I hope you can make it, the Smokies are spectacular enough on their own and the sound of 1702's whistle echoing through the Nantahala Gorge is consistently one of my favorite experiences chasing steam.

[@TrainChamber]

@@SmokyMtnSteam Happy New Year!

[@edwardbenkert2618]

That is so awesome I wish that we had steam engines in Michigan

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

You do! The Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso, the Little River Railroad in Coldwater, Greenfield Village in Dearborn and the Huckleberry Railroad in Flint all run steam.

[@isaacmillerrailroadproduct1773]

Looks good!

[@jamesgeorge6367]

My cousin Eddie Morrow works for the GSMR I called him Casey Jones cause he works for the railroad

[@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks]

Is 1702 an oil burner?

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

Yes, it was converted to oil when the Army sold it to the Warren & Saline River RR in 1946.

[@TyTytheTrainGuy]

Happy New Year

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

Thanks, and a Happy New Year to you!

[@bluesmokeproductions4642]

What was the Gorge like? That was the main reason I didn't go on this chase. Reports were saying to stay away from it, and I would've had to pass through it in order to chase this train. That's why I didn't go.

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

I never went to the gorge, I came in from TN via I-40 and went home over Newfound Gap on US-441. If the Nantahala was acting anything like the Tuckasegee was then avoiding the gorge was probably a good idea.

[@paullangford8179]

A couple of diesels trailing. Was this for hotel power?

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

There is nowhere to turn the steam engine in Dillsboro so 1702 only pulls one way, diesels the other.

[@robnewman6101]

A Christmas Train?

[@BessemerLakeErie902]

Sadly, NS is getting rid of the leasers so we won’t have those for most of 2019.

[@jacksonsdrones]

Nice Video Man! 👍👍👍 What Camera do You use for Your Videos?

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

Thanks! I shoot with the Sony ZV1, AX-53 and AX-100

[@jacksonsdrones]

@@SmokyMtnSteam Okay Thanks Man! 👍 Does that AX-100 have the fast auto focus like a lot of Sony cameras do?

[@jacksonsdrones]

@@SmokyMtnSteam Are You using the AX 100 Now?

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

@@jacksonsdrones It is my primary camera yes. Generally I keep the Ax100 on my tripod, use the Ax53 for handheld filming onboard trains, and use the ZV1 for low light situations and in parks where I don't want to carry a full-size camera. I have a Rode VideoMic Stereo that I rotate between cameras as needed.

[@jacksonsdrones]

@@SmokyMtnSteam Okay Thanks Man! I am in the market for a new camera and Your railfanning footage looks the Best! It's Clear and Sharp and Crisp! I thought about the AX700 but it costs way too much. Anyway, Thanks Man! Keep Up the Great Work! 👍👍👍

[@jasonfeldman7497]

My family and I are going to be there Easter weekend. Does anyone know if they're going to run steam?

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

I can't say for certain since the 2019 schedule hasn't been announced yet, but historically they haven't run steam before Memorial Day.

[@PowerTrain611]

Boy the name of this city sure is familiar... XD

[@robkrasinski6217]

Why can’t 1702 pull the train both ways if they have a turntable and run around track at each end? And why the streamlined coaches with sealed windows closest to the locomotive? That would be no different than riding an NS 21st Century steam excursion which have now ended.

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

The only turntable is in Bryson City, there is no way to turn the engine at Dillsboro or Nantahala.

[@kellyashfordtrains2642]

What is it about American steam engines that you love?

[@paullangford8179]

They're steam engines.

[@haroldwilkes6608]

What is it about breathing you love...it's in the air you breathe, the smells you inhale, the sounds you hear, the tremor as it passes by...it's in the heart and soul for me...it's power and dignity, grace and beauty, memories never to be forgotten.

[@plymouth-hl20ton37]

Man that whistle sounds really good is that whistle off of another engine

[@BillySinnz]

I think its a copy of a Southern Ps4.

[@maxm4375]

Whistles actually off of Southern Railway 722 which is also at the great Smoky Mountains railroad and is currently under restoration

[@TrainChamber]

@@maxm4375 Im pretty sure its by Rizzoli

[@CraterFilms]

Didn’t they depart from Dillsboro?

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

Diesels pull the train from Bryson City to Dillsboro and 1702 pulls it back.

[@SouthernerFloridain2006]

Southern Railway 722 is better than 1702