Interesting find Nick. Im curious as well if anyone knows the story behind this old line. Anything on any maps?
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| Posted by on March 7, 2007 | |
The bridge was part of the Black Mountain Railroad. It originally ran from Eskota to Kona where it connected with the Clinchfield.
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Thanks for the info Scott.
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The Yancey Railroad ran over this bridge to connect with the outside world at Kona. Heavy flooding from a hurricane knocked out this bridge in 1977, and the Yancey R.R. became history.
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Looks like a typical CSX mountain mainline!
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Too bad! I recall passing this spot on a Clinchfield excursion in 1976.
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HA!! good one Bart. I like seeing old relics like these. I'm surprised they haven't they torn it down. One would think it would be a liability risk.
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| Posted by on March 8, 2007 | |
Great shot, Nick. Interestingly, the Carolinas got both Top Shots on 3/8. This one from North Carolina was #1 while one of mine from Columbia, SC was #2. Neat to see the Carolinas getting some props! -- Joe H.
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| Posted by CalMike415 on March 11, 2007 | |
Interestingly enough, this bridge was not damaged to this extent from the hurricane alone. It seems that there was some interest in re-establishing rail-service on this line by a new owner. Apparently the bridge was vanadalized by a party (parties) that may not have wanted the railroad running through here. I came upon this article that indicates the matter may be in court.
http://abandonedrailroads.homestead.com/nc_yancey.html
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| Posted by Martin K. O'Toole on March 13, 2007 | |
A similar thing happened on the Georgia Northeastern RR (L&N Old Line, former M&NG, AK&N). A wooden trestle very isolated was set on fire when the GNRR began to open up the line all the way to McCaysville after a 20 year hiatus. Last I heard, no one had been charged with the crime.
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| Posted by Tony King on March 26, 2007 | |
On the morning of March 21, 2007, the end of the bridge nearest the photographer was set on fire by an unknown source. The entire steel structure of this bridge is now laying in the river below. We were southbound on a coal train and stopped at Kona to meet a northbounder and watched the timbers and ties blaze along side members of the North Carolina Forestry Service, civilian spectators, and a CSX signal maintainer.
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| Posted by on April 1, 2007 | |
The Yancey Railroad was the last owner of this bridge. Itwas sold to a new operator who renamed it the Toe River Railroad and hoped to re-open the line. But a contractor damaged the bridge while grading to build a nearby resort.
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