[%-)] I’m fascinated by the “before and after” maps that Trains has been publishing for various states. The latest one (Sept. issue) shows Tennessee in 1949 and 2007.
I was last in Tennessee about 10 years ago. At the time, I followed the ‘Rat Hole’ line from near Harriman as far south as the junction with the TVA spur, then followed that spur east to Watts Bar (I was staying in the Knoxville area at the time.)
That TVA spur climbs a noticable grade out of the valley. The rails were solidly rusted, though, and there was even a small tree that had fallen over the track at one point. Is that line really still in service? Maybe it is used only once every ten years or so, to move heavy equipment to the power plant at Watts Bar?
MP