Thats what I told the grandkids when I asked them if they wanted to go ride the Great Smoky Mountain Railway, in particular out of Bryson City, N.C. over to Nantahala Gorge. I said to them, I said… I have to do this, it’s like work… you understand. You can never do too much research when you’re building a railroad, I mean a model railroad. I didn’t add, ‘especially when you’re as green as I am’. No, I left that part out.
Anyway, a fun time was had by all! Since the loco had no markings to identify the model I asked the engineer and was told it was a GP-9
]
Which I thought was mighty strange because it certainly didn’t look like the gp9 model I have, but far be it from me to insult the man driving the thing. Good thing to because later I read in a book of mine that the nose had been lowered for better visibility.
The day started off cool and riding along with the sway and the clickty clack of the train felt good as always…
I won’t bore you with a foot by foot tale of the trip except to say I learned a little more and saw some pretty sights, like this 1800s era farm house…
the bodies of peaceful water in the early morning light…
and other folks taking other modes of transportion to get from a to b…
The youngest of the kids couldn’t fight that gentle swaying on the ride back and crashed on my shoulder for most of the return trip.
Yes, a good time was had by all. It’s hard work, all this researchin’, but somebodys gotta do it.
Jarrell
I have one word for you…NICE![:D]
What a great trip, thanks for sharing. That farmhouse is wonderful, well worth a scratch build project?
Jarrell,
Thanks for the pics! [:)] My mom only lives about a 1/2 hour from the NOC (Nantahala Outdoor Center) so I’m pretty familiar with the area. It’s nice to see the lake up again. For years, the water was very, very low. That’s a cute picture of you and your granddaughter. Thanks for the report. Did you stop by the Lionel museum while you were in Bryson City?
Tom
Great pics Jarrell, looks like someparts of New Zealand, rail winding thru mountains and past lakes.
That farm house reminds me of the movie misery with the wacked out lady who falls in love with the writer.
Ken.
Believe it or not, the movie “Nell” (with Jody Foster) was filmed about 20 miles west of there, up at Fontana Lake. Also, the scenes from “The Fugitive” - both the train wreck and the shot where Harrison Ford jumps out of the dam - were filmed in and around that area, as well. It’s a beautiful part of the country.
Tom
Thanks Cheese. Say, how is that metal benchwork coming along?
Jarrell
Simon, I thought the same thing about that farmhouse, but it is waaaaay beyound my skills. It would end up looking like the house the Beverly Hillbillys left behind!
I even looked around for an easy to put together lookalike…[:)]
Jarrell
Tom, I regret to say I didn’t get to the museum. Good excuse for a return trip [:D]
Does the excursion train go on beyound NOC? Headed west, I mean?
Jarrell
Oh yes, I remember that movie! The crazy lady was played by… hmmm… her last name is Bates and I think her first is Katherine or Kate or something like that.
Ken, you live in a beautiful part of the world!
Jarrell
Tom, you probably know why the ‘houseboats’ on Fontana are all tied up out from the bank
instead of next to it. And I didn’t see any docks coming out into the water.
I knew about the Fugitive movie but I didn’t know Nell was filmed there. It really is a very pretty area.
Jarrell
Nice pics Jerrell. I’ve got to get everyone up there and take a ride too. Glad ya’ll had fun.
And thank you for putting this tutorial together on weathering…
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=38920
It’s going to come in handy if I ever get to the place I can stop laying track!
Jarrell
What an opportunity. I envy you, Jarrell. It’s Cathy Bates (I think it’s spelled with a “C”.)
It is great, i have all of the frame work done so i will not be working with the metal much more. Now i am getting plywood and starting to lay some track. Thanks for asking!
I am happy that you had a great day. Don’t forget to write off the costs of the research come ‘tax’ time next year. Your…uh…‘revenue’ department should give you credit for that…know what I mean…wink, wink.
(think …SSShhhhaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy.)
Great pics. I’d like to take my son on that junket sometime in the Fall. How long is the trip each way and how long do you have at the 1/2 way point to look arouind?
EdW
Yep, that’s her, good actress!
Jarrell
[(-D] Its a shaaaayme I hadn’t thought of that!
Jarrell