In the 60’s and 70’s I worked in Western Carolina during the Summers. Each year the staff was able to take the trip from Black Mountain to Old Fort.
The fare was 40 cents. It was the steepest grade East of the Mississippi. There were 11 tunnels and the Andrews geyser would go off when the train passed. We rode in the back of a dump truck on the trip back.
We were packed in like sardines and a beautiful girl was pressed against me but that is another story.
In 1993 or 94, I took several pictures of Norfolk & Western #611 on that same grade.
You dog you