Tweetsie RR

In the 1970's we spent a year and a half in Greenville NC in the eastern part of the state.  We did manage to take a long weekend out west in the mountains where we visited the Tweetsie Railroad on 14 Sep 1974.

The narrow-gauge (3') Tweetsie is operated as part of a theme-park, and thus has leaned toward the garish in painting its rolling stock and locomotives.

#12 is a 4-6-0 built by Baldwin (#45069) in 1917. It was the last locomotive on the East Tennessee and Western North Carolina, which ceased operation in 1950.

#12 was bought by Gene Autry, who later sold it to Grover C. Robbins. Mr. Robbins opened the Tweetsie RR in 1954 on a mile of track, which has been expanded to a three-mile loop.

Heading out, #12 puts out a lot of smoke.

Coach #5 is an authentic ET&WNC car.

#190, "Yukon Queen", was purchased in 1960 from the White Pass and Yukon RR.

#190 is a 2-8-2, also built by Baldwin (#69425) in 1943.

This looks more like a model than the real thing.

Heading out into the woods, #12 will be stopped by train robbers.

Lots of smoke.

#12 has completed her run and is back at the stop on "Main Street".