Have been reading some of the “Other”[make that: other’Saluda’ Threads here], referencing the Saluda Grade. ( Last week on a fast trip to Salisbury, I was able to nick through Saluda, for a brief look around.) It seems to be a topic of on-going interest, not only to those who live in WNC but others as well.
Some time back there was a discussion as to why the NS (or nee: Southern did not just abandon or sell off the ‘W’ line. My belief is that that decision is rooted in past political actions concerning the Spartanburg& Asheville RR. see:
[ sinpped from this link: ] http://www.carolana.com/NC/Transportation/railroads/nc_rrs_spartanburg_asheville.html
“…One year later, the line finally reached Hendersonville - a distance of twenty-one (21) miles, and the money ran out. A bill was introduced to the NC State Legislature to forfeit the charter if construction did not speed up. This spurred new and increased support for the railroad on both ends, and resulted in the reorganization of the company into the Asheville & Spartanburg Railroad in 1881, managed by the Richmond & Danville Railroad, which completed the line in 1886…”
Then there was a Thread this past August (2012) that has links about the creation of an Inland Container Port in the area of Greenville/Spartanburg (GSP) @http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/111/p/209355/2291615.aspx#2291615
The above is a proposal that was intended to move truck traffic away from the congestion at Charleston and was going to utilize Gov’t funds via a ‘TIGER’ grant.
Apparently, the supposition that the line is ‘owned’ by NCDOT and leased from that public entity is partially true(?) See Statement posted by&