Momentum builds to start [passenger] train service [on Saluda]

Trains Magazine General Discussion
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Momentum builds to start train service

from The Tryon Daily Bulletin
by Chris Dailey
December 29, 2005

Despite facing a climb as steep as the Saluda Grade, regional officials appear to be building momentum to bring passenger service to the local rail line.

A group of 21 officials, including several from South Carolina, met recently at The Orchard Inn in Saluda to discuss plans for the passenger service.

Specifically, the officials are looking at ways they can work together and use the rail corridor to expand cross-border economic development and tourism-related opportunities.

Even if passenger rail service isn’t started soon, the meetings are beneficial for everyone involved, says Polk County Economic Development Director Kipp McIntyre.

“What we all come away with is a larger understanding of the regional issues we’re all working on, and if the meeting just spurs conversation about this, we’ve accomplished something,” says McIntyre. “What we’re doing is really pooling resources into a coalition.”

The recent meeting included officials from Polk, Henderson, Rutherford, and Spartanburg, S.C. counties, along with representatives from Duke Power, Palmetto Conservation and the North Carolina Department of Transportation Rail Division. Representatives for Congressmen Charles Taylor (N.C. 11th) and Bob Inglis (S.C. 4th) also attended the meeting.

The group brainstormed ideas, including tourism related excursion trains, and community and business development.

The officials agreed to create a core group which will develop a “comprehensive economic development strategy” for the rail corridor to propose to the larger group next month.

“The primary objective of the meeting was to create a sustainable working group committed to regional approaches to common economic and social opportunities in communities along the rail corridor,” says McIntyre, “and to contribute to the we

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I admire folks for trying to be creative but just hope they’re not too disappointed if it doesn’t happen.

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…That’s quite an undertaking to do such a project on a moth-balled line that owners seem to want to leave dormant until and if they have use for it…But sure sounds like a lot of people and organizations are out to support the effort…
Now…BRF…has the land slide on the ROW on the “hill” been repaired yet…?

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I always thought its potential could best be realized by turning it into an amusement park ride – as the Saluda Coaster. [:)]

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Wonder what the insurance liabilities would be for a private operator of passenger service on Saluda? Just the mere whisper of the word, “runaway”.

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…Yes, that thought entered my mind when I first read the proposal…What kind of quality control and discipline of operation , etc…if private owners were operating such a run…No place for any mistakes on that hill…and if one does, chances are not good. I realize a runaway track is in place but still…?

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Money talks,BS walks. In other words, dream on.

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One hundred dollars against a bottle of cold p–s that they won’t get past the insurers . . .

Old Timer

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Old timer, as usual your point is well taken. Regretably I feel you are also right. Railroading is not a hobby, but a buainess either small as a local or gigantic as one of the 7 large mega systems. I hope that my fellow Caorlinans will understand this.

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I think the railroads are seriously looking into passenger service in some areas of this country.I posted some remarks in a thread sometime ago,the Oct 19,2004 speech given by David Goode(then chairman/ceo of NS),that the NS was working with 5 major cities in this country on their lines to possibly launch passenger service.I don’t know how to abtain all of his speech,but it was given at the Railway Age Conference meeting on Oct.19 of 04,in Washington D.C.

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I have faith in the NCDOT. But I think that first they need to get the Old Fort Loops line ready for passenger service and ressurect the Asheville Special before they get Saluda up and running. Plus, I can’t confirm this other than seeing MOW equipment just north of Tryon back in September, but I’ve been hearing rumors that they may re-open the line for southbound traffic. Apparently, traffic on the Old Fort line is getting backed up and they’ve been sending crews down the Grade to see what it’s gonna take to get it road worthy again. Now me personally, I’d love to see the return of freight traffic to this line, as I grew up in Inman, SC and can vividly remeber the last days of Southern Green rolling down the hills and also the mid-train helpers that they would put in the trains. I have some other thoughts on this issue but I’ll post them later when I can form a coherent thought (I’ve been up way too late tonight)

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I’ve asked again recently of BRF but maybe he’s not on the site here lately…{electro soundwave}, do you know if the massive land slide that opened up a gap under the tracks on the “hill”…has that been repaired…?

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In all honesty, I couldn’t tell you. It’s been several months since I’ve had the chance to get out that way, and normally it’s only been at night so I haven’t been able to tell what’s going on in terms of track conditions except at crossings. And also, if I am out that way, I’m either haulin tail to the live portions of the line (on the SC side, Spartanburg to Landrum, of if I’m in NC Asheville to just south of Hendersonville)