Great Smoky Mountains Railroad facts for kids
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| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Bryson City, North Carolina |
| Reporting mark | GSMR |
| Locale | Western North Carolina |
| Dates of operation | 1988–present |
| Predecessor | Southern Railway |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Length | 53 miles (85 kilometers) |
The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (GSMR) is a special train line in Bryson City, North Carolina, USA. It runs both fun excursion trains for visitors and carries goods. The railroad started in 1988. Since late 1999, it has been owned by American Heritage Railways. This company also owns the famous Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in Colorado.
The GSMR uses old tracks that once belonged to the Southern Railway. These tracks run between Dillsboro and Nantahala, North Carolina. The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad is one of the most popular tourist train rides in the United States. About 200,000 people ride its trains every year.
Contents
About the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (GSMR) owns about 53 miles of the Murphy Branch railway line. This line was once part of the Southern Railway. The GSMR began running trains in 1988. This happened because of a special agreement between the NCDOT and Malcom and Joan MacNeill. They got the agreement just in time. If they hadn't, the Norfolk Southern company would have taken apart the tracks.
At first, the tourist trains went further west, all the way to Andrews and Murphy, North Carolina. But service to Murphy stopped in 1995. Regular trips between Nantahala and Andrews ended by 2001.
Changes in Ownership and Look
In late 1999, the MacNeills sold the GSMR to American Heritage Railways. This company also owns the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. After the sale, the trains changed their look. They stopped using the bright blue, yellow, and red "circus train" colors. Instead, they started using a new, more classic look with Tuscan red and a gold stripe. On March 9, 2000, the company's name also changed. It went from Great Smoky Mountain Railway to Great Smoky Mountains Railroad.
Popular Train Routes and Freight Service
The GSMR's tourist trains travel through beautiful areas. They pass through green valleys, a tunnel, and over river gorges. These areas are all part of the Great Smoky Mountains in Western North Carolina. Tourist trips run on two main parts of the line. One is 16 miles long, between Dillsboro and Bryson City. The other is 22 miles long, between Bryson City and Nantahala. The GSMR has become one of the most popular tourist railroads in the United States. It carries around 200,000 passengers each year.
The railroad also moves freight, which means it carries goods for businesses. It connects with the Blue Ridge Southern Railroad in Sylva. This helps transport goods for places like Jackson Paper Manufacturing.
The Polar Express Ride
In 2004, the GSMR started its "Polar Express" train ride. This ride is based on the popular movie and is very special. It has become a huge event every year. It brings a lot of visitors and money to the railroad and to Bryson City. In 2019, the Polar Express ride alone had over 91,000 riders. This was a record for the railroad.
Headquarters Move and Recent Events
In 2007, the GSMR moved its main office. It moved from Dillsboro to Bryson City. The Dillsboro train station also closed. This happened because of a disagreement with the Dillsboro Town Council. However, the Tuckasegee River train trips still run between Dillsboro and Bryson City. These trips now start in Bryson City and stop in Dillsboro.
In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused the GSMR to stop running trains for a while. But they started up again on June 4, 2020. They put in place new rules to keep people safe, like social distancing.
Train Equipment
Locomotives (Engines)
The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad uses different types of locomotives, also called engines. These engines pull the trains.
Diesel Locomotives
The GSMR has several diesel locomotives that are currently running. These are all 4-axle units. Larger 6-axle engines would be too big for the tunnels and tight curves on the line. All of these diesel engines were built by Electro-Motive Division (EMD) of General Motors. The GSMR has two GP9s (Nos. 1751 and 1755), an GP30 (No. 2467), two GP38-2s (Nos. 2668 and 2335), an F9A (No. 4210), and an GP35 (No. 1009). Engine No. 1009 is still working but is currently for sale.
Steam Locomotives
The GSMR also has a working steam locomotive. This is S160 No. 1702. It is a 2-8-0 "Consolidation" type engine. It was built in September 1942 for the U.S. Army during World War II. The GSMR bought it in 1991. It ran for them until 2005, when it needed major repairs.
In 2012, Swain County helped the GSMR. They gave $700,000 to build a new workshop for steam locomotives. This workshop was for fixing No. 1702. They also installed a new turntable in Bryson City. A turntable helps turn the large locomotives around. The work on No. 1702 began in mid-2014 and finished in July 2016. The engine then started pulling trains again.
The GSMR also owns another 2-8-0 steam engine, Southern Railway Ks-1 No. 722. This engine worked on the old Murphy Branch from 1904 to 1952. Later, it was part of the Southern Railway's special steam train program from 1970 to 1980. The GSMR bought it in late 2000. They plan to get it working again by 2026. This engine will be changed to burn oil, just like No. 1702.
In 2010, the GSMR bought a third steam locomotive, No. 1149. This engine was a 4-6-0 type from Sweden. It was supposed to move to the GSMR in 2011. However, it stayed with its old railroad for two more years. The GSMR decided it was too expensive to move. So, they sold it to the Discovery Park of America in Union City, Tennessee.
Retired Locomotives and MrBeast
In 2020 and 2022, the GSMR stopped using two diesel engines: GP9 No. 777 and GP7 No. 711. These two engines were bought by the famous YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast. He used No. 777 in a video where a train crashed into a tank. He used No. 711 in another video for a stunt. Both videos were put on YouTube in 2022. Engine No. 777 was taken apart after its video. Engine No. 711 was left in a field in Whittier, NC, after its stunt.
Current Locomotive Roster
| Number | Image | Type | Wheel arrangement | Builder | Built | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 722 |  |
Steam | 2-8-0 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1904 | Being restored |
| 1702 |  |
Steam | 2-8-0 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1942 | Working |
| 1009 |  |
Diesel | (B-B) | Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) | 1964 | Working, for sale |
| 1751 |  |
Diesel | (B-B) | Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) | 1955 | Working |
| 1755 |  |
Diesel | (B-B) | Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) | 1956 | Working |
| 2335 |  |
Diesel | (B-B) | Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) | 1972 | Working |
| 2467 | – | Diesel | (B-B) | Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) | 1963 | Working |
| 2668 |  |
Diesel | (B-B) | Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) | 1971 | Working |
| 4210 | – | Diesel | (B-B) | Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) | 1956 | Working |
| 1901 | – | Diesel | (B-B) | General Electric (GE) | 1973 | Wrecked, on display |
| 536 | – | Diesel | (B-B) | Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) | 1962 | Wrecked, on display |
Retired Locomotives
| Number | Image | Type | Wheel arrangement | Builder | Built | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 223 |  |
Diesel | (B-B) | Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) | 1964 | Now CBR 1916 in Oregon |
| 711 |  |
Diesel | (B-B) | Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) | 1954 | Left in a field in Whittier, North Carolina after a staged train wreck |
| 777 |  |
Diesel | (B-B) | Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) | 1954 | Destroyed in a staged train wreck; then taken apart |
Towns and Attractions Served
The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad serves several towns and attractions:
- Dillsboro
- Whittier
- Bryson City
- Fontana Lake
- The Nantahala Outdoor Center
Smoky Mountain Trains Museum
The railroad also owns the Smoky Mountain Trains Museum. It is in Bryson City, North Carolina, right across from the Bryson City Depot. The museum has a huge collection of over 7,000 Lionel model trains. It also has a large model train layout, a fun area for kids, and a gift shop.
Incidents
- On August 22, 2017, one of the GSMR's engines, No. 2467, was involved in a collision. It hit a Georgia Military College bus at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. The bus driver and eight passengers had injuries.
See also
- List of heritage railroads in the United States
