Been watching allot of those older RR videos and came across this one on Youtube.. This is one video with really terrific shots and sounds inside and out, dealing with the famous and very dangerous Saluda grade. If you too had not seen it before, put it on. It's really chocked full of shear reality RR procedures even if it is an SR promo film.
Very interesting video. I appreciate the detailed instruction as well as the scenery; trackside and from the cab.
Thanks! I've seen this video before and it remains fun to watch. I used to visit Saluda quite often, but with nothing to see, I haven't returned in nearly 15 Years. My wife and I plan to hike the grade sometime soon (walking downgrade from Saluda to Melrose of course!) so that I can see all of it. I shot these videos over 30 Years ago. They're of poor quality, but I posted them anyway:
Thank you. They often tripled the hill, reassembling the train at Pace's Crossing upgrade just west of Saluda. It was a very expensive operation, but the alternate route used today is highly circuitous, with routing now via Linwood, NC (near Salisbury and Spencer) in central NC and a long 150 Mile reach west to Asheville where it climbs the Blue Ridge on the famous Loops. Here's an empty coal train negotiating the loops. Here's a loaded eastbound: And here's the same train, having worked its way down to the lower track: It's an amusing area to railfan because the train sounds reverberate in the hills and you can't tell the direction of the train!
