Our Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Train Trip

#trains #modeltrains #modelrailroad
We usually focus on model railroading here on The Main Track, but in this episode we're featuring an awesome "real" railroad you'll definitely want to check out!
This show highlights my recent trip on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in North Carolina. The GSMR operates 53 miles of the fabled ex-Southern Railway Murphy Branch. The heritage railway operates both steam and diesel excursions. Our particular trip was hauled by EMD GP38-3 #1009. We hope to make it back sometime in the future to ride one of the steam runs!
Clarification note: While I correctly refer to the line throughout the episode as the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, there is a time or two when I call it Great Smoky Mountains Railway. However, “Railroad” is the official term in the company’s name.
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We began our trip on a rainy day at the Bryson City, North Carolina Depot….just south of the gorgeous Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Our power is GP-38-m number 1009…it's what the Great Smoky Mountains Railway- or GSMR- refers to as its All-American- First Responder engine…this colorful paint scheme honoring local emergency response agencies and our nation's military personnel and veterans was rolled out in 2021 on this unit built in 1964 for Pennsylvania Railroad.
As we wait to hop on board, we’re going to take a look inside the Great Smoky Mountains Train Museum….an awesome place with layouts and a massive O-scale collection….with 7,000 Lionel locomotives on display-of course, I model in ho scale but found a lot to appreciate on this work of art. We have a more detailed look at this layout in an upcoming episode.
It didn't take long for me to get the appeal of riding in an open passenger car. The amenities- just a wooden bench- are pretty basic. But, I discovered there is no experience like feeling the breeze on your face, poking out to watch your train thread the curves, hearing the clickety-clack of jointed rail- and the engineer blowing the horn for crossings.
Our route follows the beautiful rushing waters of the Tuckasegee River for the 16 miles between Bryson City and Dillsboro. It has been raining here in the Smokys for days- ensuring high enough water for rafters and fly fishermen.
There are two spots on this trip where we cross the Tuckaseegee River over big iron truss bridges.
One thing that’s great about this open-air experience is looking ahead- and seeing and hearing the engine up ahead grumble up the slight grades…leaving the faint smell of locomotive exhaust in the air.
This trip provided another first for me…riding in a caboose. Chessie System caboose 3753- built for Baltimore and Ohio in 1971- now serves as this train's snack bar.
I’ve been in plenty of cabooses that are on static display in parks but never rolling on the rails.
Railroaders have told me how rough riding a lot of cabooses was…and I got to experience one of those wobbling, bobbling, bumpy rides for myself.
We came upon the remains of a train that had crashed on purpose.
Millionaire KZbin celebrity Mr. Beast bought two old locomotives from the GSMR just to crash them into a brick wall *and some empty semi-trailers- just to make a fun video of it for his followers. The GP9s were already set to be scrapped.
We then entered the 836-foot-long Cowee Tunnel…it was interesting to see the carved rock of the curved bore just inches away.
About a mile up, we slipped into Dillsboro. This is where the railroad maintains its shop complex.
Passing through the yard limits we come to access the rusting remnants of another wrecked train. There is no real Illinois Southern railway. These were painted for a scene in the 1993 Harrison Ford movie "The Fugitive.
Once we got to downtown Dillsboro, the train came to a stop. It stayed put for a layover, During this time, we were able to get out and tour the retail shops and restaurants before heading back for the trip back to Bryson City.
From the scenic mountains to the beautiful rivers to the historic rails and rolling stock- the Great Smoky Mountains Railway is one train ride you won’t want to miss when you’re in North Carolina.

[@MainTrack]

Today’s question- what is your favorite heritage/tourist excursion train operation and why? I love visiting these railroads and would love to know which ones I should add to my to-do list! -Mike

[@kd5gsp]

I'm a little biased but I love the Arkansas & Missouri Railroad. They earn a profit hailing freight, but still make room for passenger excursion service. It's a genuine pleasure to ride behind some vintage ALCO C-420 locomotives in dome car, or parlor, or a vintage coach.

[@RandomTrainfan]

The Saratoga Corinth & Hudson in upstate NY they own ALCO 5 which was the shop switcher at there Schenectady shops

[@bryanmeyer-cunningham3171]

Tweetsie Railroad, it's very fun because it runs throughout the mountains, and it's where I have taken my first or second ride on a real train when I was young in my childhood, it's also in NC, Blue Ridge Mountains.

[@AndyFletcherMusic]

I am a fan of Arkansas & Missouri, The Alaska Railroad, TVRM, Strasburg Railroad and quite a few others. The Arkansas & Missouri takes you through the Ozarks, which is very scenic, a lot like the Great Smoky Mountains Railway. The Alaska Railroad takes you from Anchorage to Fairbanks and is great for seeing scenery and wildlife.

[@scotabot7826]

I LOVE calling North Carolina Home!!! God Created some beautiful lands for us!!

[@MainTrack]

Hello! It's beautiful country! I'm hoping to visit many more times. -Mike

[@AndyFletcherMusic]

Thanks for sharing your tour to Great Smoky Mountains Railway.

[@MainTrack]

Hi, Andy! You bet…I’m glad you enjoyed it. It was a lot of fun and I hope to go again sometime! -Mike

[@beefyiceman94]

Added this to the bucket list, glad you went with the open air coach even with the weather, as I've heard from many RR workers "It never rains on the railroad!" Thanks for the ride Mike!

[@MainTrack]

Hello! Yes- it was certainly a fun way to experience the ride. Granted, it might not have been *quite as enjoyable had it been extremely hot and sunny that day! Ha. Thankfully, the weather was cooperative in that sense. -Mike

[@tomsnslayout]

Excellent video. You always do such a great job!

[@MainTrack]

Thank you so much! It sure was a lot of fun! -Mike

[@d.a.dawson3090]

That's a great video. Always interested in train rides, and it appears to be a good one. Several firsts for you this time. Looks like you had fun.

[@MainTrack]

Thanks, Dan! It was a cool surprise to find out it’s run by the same folks as the Durango line! It was a pretty classy operation. Riding the steam train would have been cool. That’ll be on the agenda for the next time! -Mike

[@sptraxide]

Great video Mike! But I didn't see Alfie and Ralphie rob the train. Oops, wrong train. 😅

[@MainTrack]

Hi…thanks! It was a fun time and I hope to go back and do the steam trip. The open cars did remind me of the Silver Dollar City train…just a tad bit faster and the ability to get up and walk about! Ha. -Mike