Sssssteam Engine!

They sound different.  It's not the clackedy-clack of the wheels.  It's the puffa puffa puffa. I'd forgotten it.

First, I live near train tracks going to Asheville (and beyond) from the eastern part of the state. But I can't see trains through the buildings and trees.  Usually there are a half dozen or maybe more trains going through Black Mountain carrying usually coal.

So I'm reading as I'm wont to do on Sunday afternoons, and hear a different kind of whistle.  Two longs, a short and a long as is normal... But the long just keeps on going and it sounds kind of whispery. And then a few hours later, it returns, and this time I hear the wonderful puffa puffa puffa.

I'd seen on the web by now that there was a 611 going down the tracks pulling some lucky passengers.  But I hadn't seen any pictures of it in action.

Later someone did post a still photo.

The 611 steam engine coming out of a tunnel near Black Mountain, NC

Bridge over the Swannanoa

Swannanoa River.  That's the valley in which the towns of Black Mountain, Ridge Crest, Oteen, and Swannanoa are located.

This sweet little river meanders a bit through greenery this time of year...but soon it will drop and there will only be a few bushes left with leaves still attached.

So why was I taking pictures of the Swannanoa River from this bridge?

One thing small towns have in abundance around here are railroad crossings.  So I was lined up with lots of other motorists waiting for the train to pass (which it had for this picture) and then the light to turn green at US Highway 70.

My new apartment is right up hill above the tracks, and therefore the river.  As the trees lose the leaves I am able to look across the Swannanoa valley and see the other ridge of mountains to the south.

Today's quote:

Even in a world that's being shipwrecked, remain brave and strong.  Hildegard von Bingen

Train at Bryson City, NC

The Depot

It's been a couple of months since I had lunch here in Bryson City, NC.
An active train community, which attracts tourists by rail still...

The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad rides into town once a day

With a little help from another engine in front of the older one...

This train ride is between Bryson City and some scenic locations, where it just stops and goes back.  I don't know the details of cost, but there were several kinds of cars, which gave me a pretty good idea of first class vs. tourist open-air car.

The dining car was well populated

An open air car for the comfort of fresh mountain air

Many passengers went into the Nantahala brewery, others to the pizza place we'd just left, and others to the shop and museum.

I would have liked to tour a train museum, but not at $9 a ticket.  I dare say a few folks do keep it in business.

Here's info about the route the train takes.