March 2017 – Blogging the Railroad Tunnels

Yeah, It’s Tweetsie

March 28, 2017Bob LawrenceLeave a comment

You know I’d post Tweetsie some time or other. So, here goes:

Built in 1957 up near Greer Branch north of Blowing Rock, Tweetsie Railroad is a popular destination (more on that later). This shows old (1917/Baldwin/9-6-0) #12, formerly of the fabled ET&WNC railroad. The card is from the early 60s.

Here’s what it enthusiastically states on the back:
“TWEETSIE’S LOCOMOTIVE #12, CROSSING DEAD HORSE TRESTLE: Tweetsie Railroad; Eastern America’s most exciting travel destination. Full size steam locomotives daily carry fun loving tourists thru three miles of scenic mountains, where trains are attacked by renegade Indians and robbed by outlaws. Authentic western town features live entertainment at Tweetsie Palace, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway at Blowing Rock, North Carolina.”

For the deltiologists:
Color-King Natural Color Cards, W. M. Cline Co., Asheville, N.C. Inventory number 14958A
Photogaphed in Natural Color by Jack W. Bowers (who was, apparently, a quite popular photographer in Asheville)

Found several of these cards in an unlikely little antique/car repair shop near Asheville.

What the…

March 20, 2017Bob LawrenceLeave a comment

Several years ago, and maybe still, this was parked behind a store in Yuma VA. I have no idea what it was used for. My buddy says that’s a flat head truck engine that powered it.
The IRR on it could mean Interstate Rail Road.

Bulls Gap Railroad Museum

March 11, 2017March 12, 2017Bob LawrenceLeave a comment

On the way to Morristown today, we decided to drop by the Bulls Gap Railroad Museum. The last time we’d visited, it was in a small building down by the rail yard. Now, it’s in a much larger and brighter building across the tracks at 153 South Main.
Bill Haskins was holding down the fort today:

On the screen behind him is a graphic representation of all the activity in the rail yard.
Here’s a long shot of the museum – the large model train layout is on the right.

No admission charge. Open seven days a week. Lots to look at and souvenirs for sale.
It’s located at 36 15 11.31N, 83 05 09.50W. Telephone is 423.393.4429.
Here’s the link to their Facebook page

N&W’s Number 375

March 10, 2017Bob LawrenceLeave a comment

This is a Mary Jayne’s Railroad Specialties card from the early 90s. It was printed in Covington VA, where Mary Jayne Rowe lived.

As with the MJRS airline cards, I’d like to know how MJR chose the pictures for this series and for her airline series. She’s passed on, so I can’t tell her how much I’ve enjoyed these cards.

The Twins, Again

March 6, 2017March 6, 2017Bob LawrenceLeave a comment

I always liked The Twins (I like Kent Junction, too. I’m irrational at times). This is looking at the North Twin, south portal, from the South Twin, north portal. South Twin is 236′ and North Twin is 308′. Faceup date on both is 1912. They’re about 5.6 miles northeast of Clinchport on Highway 65.
Up in North Carolina, on the loops, I was able to get three tunnels in one shot. To get any more than that would take tunnels like Bee Rock lined right up.

Virginian 507

March 3, 2017March 4, 2017Bob Lawrence4 Comments

I found this postcard in an antique shop a little north of Tazewell/New Tazewell TN on 25. The card’s not all that rare and it’s got some water damage, but it’s a good picture and it’s from a publisher I’d never heard of. And that would be Audio-Visual Designs of Earlton, NY. Earlton is a suburb of Coxsackie…really, Coxsackie. Although the picture was taken in 1957, I think it was printed in the 80s. That’s when this company appears to have been active.

Blogging the Railroad Tunnels

Tunnels and associated railroad pictures: Tennessee, SW Virginia, SE Kentucky

Month: March 2017