Our family vacation during the Thanksgiving holiday 2008 captured at the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad excursion on the morning of Friday, November 28, 2008. Departed Bryson City Depot at 1030 EDT and traveled to the Natahala Outdoor Center (NOC) arriving around 1205 EDT then the GP9 moved along the siding for the trip back to Bryson City. Guests were allowed to walk around the NOC for about an hour then we departed at around 1310 EDT and returned to Bryson City Depot around 1430 EDT.
The run between Dillsboro and Bryson City has been discontinued and the Dillsboro depot has been shut down. GSMRR layed off about 40 employees back in September 2008 due to economic conditions. I suppose the “Fugutive” set is still there, but I did not see it from our excursion between Bryson City and the NOC.
With the discontinuance of service between Dillsboro and Bryson City riders miss the opportunity to see a view of the GSMR yard, the “Fugitive” movie set, and the tunnel. Plus Dillsboro now has a goodly number of vacant buildings. I wonder how those that complained about the traffic congestion brought on by the presence of the railroad feel now?