Traffic Around Old Fort NC

[ssw9662]

Does anyone know how many trains run on the Asheville District around Old Fort, NC? A friend of mine is considering a trip to that region in the summer and we're curious if it's worth seeing.

Thanks in advance.

[crazytiger]

Nick D would know, but I believe it is between 6 and 10 trains. Not many, but the scenery makes it worth it, I understand.

[Joey Bowman]

Nick D would know, but I believe it is between 6 and 10 trains. Not many, but the scenery makes it worth it, I understand.

Probably closer to the low side of that number. But there are other things to visit in the area as well to make up for it.

Old Fort is beautiful but the NS S-Line is very unpredictable, you may go 8 hours with out seeing a train and see 3 or 4 in 30 minutes.

There is also the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, a very photogenic tourist railroad about 2 hours to the west, Tweetsie Railroad about 2 hours to the north east, and Salisbury NC about 2 1/2 hours to the east which has a lot of traffic.

Also a few shortlines in the area including the Caldwell County Railroad (which most of my RP uploads feature), Alexander County Railroad, and the Thermal Belt Railway (rarely operates).


Almost forgot the CSX altapass loops as well.

[BenEPhoto]

Almost forgot the CSX altapass loops as well.\

The loops are more worth the trip, about 20 to 25 trains per day and easy to access tunnel viewing areas as well as great places to camp trackside.

[troy12n]

\

The loops are more worth the trip, about 20 to 25 trains per day and easy to access tunnel viewing areas as well as great places to camp trackside.

And if you are very careful and lucky and visit at certain times of the year, there is an apple orchard up above the ROW that you can work into a shot. I have been trying to get those shot but every time I am there, it dont work out. Everything has to be perfect, and it never is.

[SouthernRR]

Its worth mentioning that NS did re direct all of the coal trains that they had taken off the S line 2 years ago. So that means the S line has all of its coal traffic back.