Repair of the Norfolk Southern AS-Line - Part 1

[@DeathLetterBlues44]

Keep the videos coming. I was hoping that NS was making progress on rebuilding the AS line.

[@petestephen4922]

Thanks for this post. I travel to Asheville often. But I haven't been there since shortly after the flood to bring in supplies. It is amazing that 3 months after Helene there is still that much destruction. Given that intermodal traffic is important to NS, I expect NS will eventually salvage and repair most of those well cars. Obviously it will take some time.

[@DAL3294]

The well cars there were in storage long term, they're likely surplus and not worth recovering.

[@tomt9543]

@@DAL3294And if they’re put back in service (unlikely even before the flood) they would require roller bearing inspections and replacement of all the various brake valves and pistons. That’s federal regulations!

[@Keikdv]

If NS is clever, they fill out those empty cars wit concrete and make a "protection" against the river out of it. It wil raise again, someday... Not a single one was derailed by the force but the water did destroy heavier stuff.

[@EducationalPreparedness]

That is the first video that I have seen were rail cars were on the tracks during the flood 😢

[@EducationalPreparedness]

I wonder what they will do with all those rail cars?

[@tomt9543]

They were destined to be scrapped before the flood happened.

[@tomt9543]

I think if you compare the massive effort CSX immediately put into effect rebuilding the Nolichucky Gorge trackage, and compare it to the work, or lack thereof, on the NS AS line, it’s pretty clear that at best, Asheville will be the end of a stub end line from Knoxville. At worst………….?

[@tux_the_astronaut]

From what ive seen its looking like they will reopen the whole line as they are now saying east of ashville all the way up until the loops will be open by march while the loops they still say is being evaluated. And as for the loops still kinda in the air but NCDOT last week put out a video about future plans for NCs rail network and they still mentioned wanting to expand to Asheville

[@BrescoLtd]

Should have kept Saluda open

[@RailRoadChaserNC]

I can't even imagine what the old Saluda grade looks like now after Helene. I have not had a chance yet to drive down Pearson Falls road yet to see what shape it is in now. Granted NS had already sought a buyer for the line to become a rail trail. I'm not sure if that deal has gone through yet but if it did, whoever takes over the line is going to have their work cut out for them.

[@johnlicht9151]

Yep!

[@tux_the_astronaut]

The officially got it labeled as abandoned in November and plan to sell it and rip up the track. I doubt they have any need for it even still after the hurricane took out the AS line since traffic on the AS line was already dwindling The only thing the AS line really has going for it is NCDots interest in bringing Amtrak to Asheville unless NS starts using it for run though traffic again but the tight curves and grade of the loops makes that less than ideal to do

[@Jeff-xy9ci]

Thank you for producing this important video for Americans to see this abject devastation. Hopefully, the incoming administration will work light years faster than the outgoing administration. Unimaginable scenes; and we're sending $$ & fire fighting equipment from L. A. to where, Ukraine??!!