Where does it go?
Spartanburg SC to Ashville NC I believe. I think that is also the grade that former Southern president D.W. Brosnan got a lesson in speed restrictions back in the late 50’s or early 60’s. If I’m not mistaken.
…and I thought the Summit of the Allegheneys was a steep grade. lol
…Read all about it on Google.
Pioulsion is right the famed Saluda grade is on the NS line between Asheville and Spartanburg. Saluda is famous for being the steepest mainline grade in the country with a 5.1% maximum gradient. While local trains still run between Asheville and Henderson in NC the Saluda grade itself is now, and has been, railbanked since IIRC 2003. Everything has been left in place, block signals, crossing protection, rails, etc. and could be returned to service in short order if needed to handle additional traffic.
Somebody said a while ago on here said the grade was washed out I wi***hey would put it back in service.
kevin
A while back {several months}, a near by resident and member on here provided excellent photos of a driver who had a bit too much to drink and started down the grade at Saluda {in his pick up truck}, and got to a point unknown to him that the road bed was washed out…A massive washout…but the rails and most of the ties were still in place and he got marooned with the frame of the vehicle on the rails and hanging in mid air with the washout under him…I don’t know how they ever removed it and I have wondered if NS has moved to repair that massive land slide away from the ROW…If you search on here for a Saluda post you may be able to find the photos and story I’m talking about…