Modeling Inspiration Opportunities
Western North Carolina offers many opportunities to examine railroad infrastructure and architecture. There are also inspiring historic sites very near to the Hickory Metro Convention Center that will be of interest to the modeler. No, North Carolina is not Colorado, but that is a good thing if you like trees!
Tichy Train Group Factory Tour
Arrangements are being made for a factory tour at the Tichy Train Group during the convention. This factory is located within an hour of the convention center, and this tour is popular with model railroaders. The factory gift shop will also be open. Watch this space for more information on this factory tour.
S-Line to Asheville
This line was initially begun in the years leading up to the Civil War as the Western North Carolina Railroad. Finished to Asheville in 1882, it climbed the elevation between Old Fort and Swannanoa using loops, high stone arch bridges, high fills, tunnels, and even more loops to cross the Blue Ridge. This line was heavily damaged between Old Fort and Asheville during Hurricane Helene, but has been repaired. This line is easily followed as it climbs by getting off I-40 at exit 73, turning right to go into town, then turning left after crossing the tracks. A stop at the Old Fort depot/museum will show you a model of the loops as they existed prior to the hurricane. Leaving the museum, go left on Hwy 70, but quickly turn right on Old US 70 W. The tracks will be on the left on the other side of Mill Creek. Later, a right on Mill Creek Rd will continue to follow the tracks. This will bring you into the Loops area as the track circles the famous Andrews Geyser, a fountain fed by a high spring up on the mountainside. A short drive up Graphite Rd will end at another looping section of track. Going back down to the bridge, take Mill Creek Rd to the right, which becomes a gravel road. This road follows the tracks to the top of the mountain at Ridgecrest. Following the road straight across the interstate will take you down the location of the Ridgecrest Depot and a view of the tunnel. Swannanoa Tunnel is the top of the grade and runs under I-40. One can hop on the interstate east at exit 66 and be back down the mountain in a matter of minutes.
Clinchfield Loops
The Carolina, Clinchfield & Ohio Railroad built their Appalachian Crossing 25 years later and used different methods. Using long tunnels cutting through the ridges, the railroad followed a long ridge down the side of the Blue Ridge escarpment, going through many more tunnels as the tracks went back under the same ridges. At one point the tracks are only a few hundred feet below the upper tracks but have taken miles to get there. At Camp Two, the rails turn down another ridge and gradually work their way down to the bottom of the grade at Linville Falls. It is much more difficult to follow this line, as only Peppers Creek Rd covers the distance between the top and bottom of the grade. An overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway just south of Altapass show the loops and their importance to railroading. CSX still operates trains over this route, which was also heavily damaged during Hurricane Helene. The area offers other attractions, including the Museum of North Carolina Minerals on US Hwy 226.
Murray’s Mill
Murray’s Mill is an authentic water wheel powered corn and flour mill, which made flour for generations. Twenty buildings encompass this historic district. Guided tours are $10 and self guided tours are $7. Open 10-5 most days. Murray’s Mill is located south of the community of Catawba (exit 138 on I-40 off NC Hwy 10. Turn on Murray’s Mill Road. Their website is https://www.catawbahistory.org/our-sites/murrays-mill-historic-district
Bunker Hill Covered Bridge
The Bunker Hill covered bridge is one of only two wooden covered bridges in North Carolina. It is the only remaining wooden bridge constructed using the Improved Lattice Truss design created by General Hermann Haupt during the Civil War. This historic bridge offers the modeler an excellent opportunity to examine, touch, and measure a historic bridge design, and include it on their layout. The covered bridge is located in Claremont (exit 135 on I-40). Go south on N. Oxford Street to US Hwy 70. Turn left and the entrance will be on the left. Follow the signs. Their website is https://www.catawbahistory.org/our-sites/bunker-hill-bridge