Jackson & Burke Railroad

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Eastern RR Trip


In June 2008, Doug Matheson, Gaetan Charette, and I went on a trip of Eastern Railroads.

Wow - what a trip!  A week of trains:  from Virginia, through North Carolina, to Tennessee, to West Virginia, finally ending up in Pennsylvania.  

Doug Matheson had started planning this trip over two years ago and it finally came together.

Great weather, great friends, and great times!

June 21, Saturday, Doug and Gaetan Charette drove down to my place where we had a chance to operate a bit on the J&B.  

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Of course the first stop for me was here in Burke, VA. Gaetan and Doug inspect my turntable and yard at Green Springs.
Of course the first stop for me was here in Burke, VA. Gaetan and Doug inspect my turntable and yard at Green Springs.
We do a little bit of operations.
We do a little bit of operations.
There was also time to relax; each of us enjoyed our favorite beverage.
There was also time to relax; each of us enjoyed our favorite beverage.
Matheson Textiles on the Jackson & Burke Railroad.
Matheson Textiles on the Jackson & Burke Railroad.
Miracle Chair Company
Miracle Chair Company
Smith Pond Mill.
Smith Pond Mill.
Farmers Bank in downtown Burke.
Farmers Bank in downtown Burke.
Green Springs Yard.
Green Springs Yard.
A view of the layout.
A view of the layout.

     


Sunday, June 22 - the road trip begins!

Sunday dawned and we were off to North Carolina.

We stopped over at Matt Brown's and ran a bit on his Slate Creek railroad.


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We get ready to leave Burke, Virginia, headed for North Carolina.
We get ready to leave Burke, Virginia, headed for North Carolina.
First stop is Matt Brown's indoor layout in North Carolina.
First stop is Matt Brown's indoor layout in North Carolina.
Gaetan checks out the locomotives.
Gaetan checks out the locomotives.
Matt and his Consolidation.
Matt and his Consolidation.
Gaetan shoots a close up.
Gaetan shoots a close up.
I get to operate while Matt looks on.
I get to operate while Matt looks on.
L-R: Matt, me, Doug.
L-R: Matt, me, Doug.

Monday, June 23 - Spencer Shops

On Monday we went over to the North Carolina Transportation Museum, home of the Spencer Shops.

They have a nice collection there, but the highlight of our visit was being able to crawl over ET&WNC Combine #15.  

We spent well over an hour inside and out.  

The combine is in very rough condition, but it is being restored; we really enjoyed viewing this historical treasure.


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First stop is the North Carolina Transportation Museum.
First stop is the North Carolina Transportation Museum.
Lots of older locomotives.
Lots of older locomotives.
Wandering among the locomotives.
Wandering among the locomotives.
Older freight cars...
Older freight cars...
Old motive power as well...
Old motive power as well...
We meet up with Ric & Jan Golding at the Spencer Shops.
We meet up with Ric & Jan Golding at the Spencer Shops.
They have an operating diesel locomotive.
They have an operating diesel locomotive.
Jan climbs down from her ride on the diesel.
Jan climbs down from her ride on the diesel.
There's lots of old buildings...
There's lots of old buildings...
Inside the shops, ET&WNC Combine #15 is being restored.
Inside the shops, ET&WNC Combine #15 is being restored.
Although NOBODY appears to be working on it today. I wonder how often it was painted and what the original color scheme was like.
Although NOBODY appears to be working on it today. I wonder how often it was painted and what the original color scheme was like.
It's interesting to see the layers of construction...
It's interesting to see the layers of construction...
There's a LOT left to be done...
There's a LOT left to be done...
I'm sure there's rhyme and reason to the madness, as there seems to be LOTS of pieces just laying around...
I'm sure there's rhyme and reason to the madness, as there seems to be LOTS of pieces just laying around...
The ceiling seems to be in pretty bad shape...
The ceiling seems to be in pretty bad shape...
Doug poses next to a pipe...
Doug poses next to a pipe...
Gaetan, me, and Doug in front of combine #15.
Gaetan, me, and Doug in front of combine #15.
Time for a meal. L-R: Gaetan, Ric, Jan, and Doug.
Time for a meal. L-R: Gaetan, Ric, Jan, and Doug.
I liked the depot and took lots of pictures, thinking that I might model it someday...
I liked the depot and took lots of pictures, thinking that I might model it someday...
The original depot...
The original depot...

     



Tuesday, June 24 - Cradle of Forestry and ET&WNC Right of way.

We first visited the Cradle of Forestry; an unlikely spot for a railroad itinerary.  

Here we first found a portable sawmill and an old Climax.

Then we toured some of the original right of way of the ET&WNC.


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We start at the Cradle of Forestry Visitor Center.
We start at the Cradle of Forestry Visitor Center.
There's a nice paved path to steer us in the right direction.
There's a nice paved path to steer us in the right direction.
Our first view of the portable sawmill.
Our first view of the portable sawmill.
A neat little steam engine powered the sawmill.
A neat little steam engine powered the sawmill.
Examining the sawmill, we can climb over everything!
Examining the sawmill, we can climb over everything!
I try to imagine this machine rolling through the woods to get in place...
I try to imagine this machine rolling through the woods to get in place...
Imagine the crew that worked on this!
Imagine the crew that worked on this!
I take lots of pictures, thinking that one day I might model something like this.
I take lots of pictures, thinking that one day I might model something like this.
A bit further down the path and we see this old Climax.
A bit further down the path and we see this old Climax.
This is supposedly the prototype that the large scale Bachmann Climax is based upon.
This is supposedly the prototype that the large scale Bachmann Climax is based upon.
Gaetan poses...
Gaetan poses...
Ric demonstrates that there are no restrictions at all here...
Ric demonstrates that there are no restrictions at all here...
Ric checks out the running gear.
Ric checks out the running gear.
One of the logging cars.
One of the logging cars.
A steam operated log loader.
A steam operated log loader.
An old horse-drawn road grader.
An old horse-drawn road grader.
Next we met Matt over at the Doe River Gorge, along the original route of the ET&WNC.
Next we met Matt over at the Doe River Gorge, along the original route of the ET&WNC.
Matt had arranged a speeder ride for us along the original right of way and we started at tunnel #2 and traveled past tunnel #3. We stopped at historic Pardee Point and took lots of pictures.
Matt had arranged a speeder ride for us along the original right of way and we started at tunnel #2 and traveled past tunnel #3. We stopped at historic Pardee Point and took lots of pictures.
Just about to enter a tunnel...
Just about to enter a tunnel...
Ric, Jan, & Doug on the speeder.
Ric, Jan, & Doug on the speeder.
It's just a short tunnel...
It's just a short tunnel...
It's a lot of rock...
It's a lot of rock...
It's a great view along the way...
It's a great view along the way...
We make frequent stops to check everything out.
We make frequent stops to check everything out.
Here the roadbed is in pretty good shape. Imagine putting this track down back in the day...
Here the roadbed is in pretty good shape. Imagine putting this track down back in the day...
It IS rugged country.
It IS rugged country.
Pardee point.
Pardee point.
The roadbed doesn't look as good out here.
The roadbed doesn't look as good out here.
The track is rough in spots, but it was quite a ride. The speeder was electric, so it was fairly quiet and our guide provided lots of historical background. But, there came a time when we had to leave the speeder and go on foot. Rocks cover the track and they really don't have the funds to clear them.
The track is rough in spots, but it was quite a ride. The speeder was electric, so it was fairly quiet and our guide provided lots of historical background. But, there came a time when we had to leave the speeder and go on foot. Rocks cover the track and they really don't have the funds to clear them.
But, our foot travel was stopped by a bridge that sure didn't look safe enough to walk on.
But, our foot travel was stopped by a bridge that sure didn't look safe enough to walk on.

Wednesday, June 25 - Tweetsie

Before we left Boone, NC on Wednesday, we went over to see Tweetsie.  

Tim Smith was the engineer for the day and we got lots of pictures of #12.

Then it was on to Durbin to view some old trains.


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Locomotive #12.
Locomotive #12.
Our engineer - Tim Smith.
Our engineer - Tim Smith.
After visiting Tweetsie, we get back on the road again headed to Cass, West Virginia.
After visiting Tweetsie, we get back on the road again headed to Cass, West Virginia.
Along the way, we stop at the radio telescopes.
Along the way, we stop at the radio telescopes.
We stay near Durbin, West Virginia.
We stay near Durbin, West Virginia.
A railtruck.
A railtruck.
A little switcher.
A little switcher.
Local color...
Local color...
Lots of old rolling stock.
Lots of old rolling stock.
Time to relax in the motel room. (The Hermitage in Bartow, WV - now permanently closed!)
Time to relax in the motel room. (The Hermitage in Bartow, WV - now permanently closed!)

Thursday, June 26 - Cass, West Virginia


We spent two nights near Cass, WV and visit Cass on Thursday, June 26.


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Cass Scenic Railroad.
Cass Scenic Railroad.
Cass was built in 1901 as a company town for the loggers who worked in the nearby mountains.
Cass was built in 1901 as a company town for the loggers who worked in the nearby mountains.
The old railroad station.
The old railroad station.
There's still a LOT left from the original railroad.
There's still a LOT left from the original railroad.
Of course, a lot has fallen into disrepair.
Of course, a lot has fallen into disrepair.
They have a number of standard gauge logging locomotives.
They have a number of standard gauge logging locomotives.
One of their Shay locomotives.
One of their Shay locomotives.
There's some the are not yet ready to run.
There's some the are not yet ready to run.
A Climax - another geared logging locomotive.
A Climax - another geared logging locomotive.
The shop still operates.
The shop still operates.
Gaetan gets a good picture!
Gaetan gets a good picture!
We find a covered car to ride in.
We find a covered car to ride in.
It's a great ride through the woods.
It's a great ride through the woods.
Scenic vistas along the way...
Scenic vistas along the way...
They refill water at a spring along the way...
They refill water at a spring along the way...
We get a chance to get off the train at the top of the hill.
We get a chance to get off the train at the top of the hill.
The covered car keeps the cinders and steam off of us.
The covered car keeps the cinders and steam off of us.
This particular locomotive has been around for more than a few years.
This particular locomotive has been around for more than a few years.
We "meet" another train along the switchback.
We "meet" another train along the switchback.
Back in Cass.
Back in Cass.
Back at the Hermitage Motel, Doug checks his email.
Back at the Hermitage Motel, Doug checks his email.

Friday, June 27.

We drive from Bartow, West Virginia to Altoona, Pennsylvania to visit Horseshoe Curve.

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Back on the road again.
Back on the road again.
There's a train at Horseshoe Curve.
There's a train at Horseshoe Curve.
It's quite the park. Gaetan takes it all in.
It's quite the park. Gaetan takes it all in.
The train climbs up the grade.
The train climbs up the grade.
A pusher helps.
A pusher helps.
It's pretty busy here and we see a maintenance vehicle in addition the the many trains.
It's pretty busy here and we see a maintenance vehicle in addition the the many trains.

Saturday, June 28.

The day was spent in Orbisonia, PA visiting the East Broad Top Railroad.


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There's also a trolley here!
There's also a trolley here!
Lots of old rolling stock.
Lots of old rolling stock.
The original #181 steel boxcar.
The original #181 steel boxcar.
Many of the original buildings are still here.
Many of the original buildings are still here.
The old steam locomotives still operate.
The old steam locomotives still operate.
It's been a great trip, but now it's time to head back to Burke, Virginia.
It's been a great trip, but now it's time to head back to Burke, Virginia.