Steam & Excursion > Great Smokey Mountains Railroad?

I can only assume that the flooding in western North Carolina has seriously affected the GSMR.  Has anyone had any specific confirmation?

Art House

They posted this on FB:

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the residents of Western North Carolina who have been impacted by the devastating effects of Helene. The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad has been working tirelessly to restore a sense of normalcy during this challenging time.

We are pleased to announce that passenger rail operations from Bryson City to the Nantahala Gorge will resume on Monday, September 30. Reservations are now available.

We understand that current road conditions may prevent some passengers from making their reserved trips. Therefore, we are waiving cancellation fees for excursions affected by Helene.

Please call 800-872-4681 to reserve or modify“

Posted from iPhone

Steve Gass
Linden, VA
B-LineRailfan

Art,  The two working web cams here https://www.greatsmokies.com/webcam/ show Bryson City and the Nantahala River where there trains end and both look OK.  I look on their site and they are taking reservations for trains this week.  I think the river they run along much of the route is dammed which probably saved them from the horrible destruction seen in other locations of western NC.

Yet the NCDOT is saying on national media outlets "to consider every road in western North Carolina closed" while urging motorists to stay away. Might be a really quiet weekend.

Posted from Android

The Mayor of Asheville was on CNBC this morning.  She said the county and town roads are a huge mess, but I-26 southeast to Spartanburg etc is now open. I-40 is closed in both directions.

Water, food, gasoline etc are in short supply.  She urged visitors not to plan a trip in the next few weeks.

Getting certainly an immediate issue.  Also finding a place to stay may be a challenge.  Give it some time.

Right. The whole thing seems a little tone deaf to me.

Posted from Android

ShortlinesUSA Wrote:
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> Right. The whole thing seems a little tone deaf to
> me.
>
> Posted from Android

Sure,  Are they supposed to shut down their business voluntarily?  Who would do that?   Didn't we learn anything from COVID shutdowns?  In case you didn't, it was catastrophic to small businesses - and some big ones, too.  

Not all of western NC got slammed. Tail of the Dragon Highway 129 is open we drove it as the storm was starting to hit up there. 

P Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ShortlinesUSA Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Right. The whole thing seems a little tone deaf
> to
> > me.
> >
> > Posted from Android
>
> Sure,  Are they supposed to shut down their
> business voluntarily?  Who would do that? 
>  Didn't we learn anything from COVID shutdowns? 
> In case you didn't, it was catastrophic to small
> businesses - and some big ones, too.  


I salute your resiliency. Hopefully you can make it over there this weekend to show your support.

I once visited the tourist line Craggy Mountain RR which is in the Woodfin section about five miles north of Asheville along I-26.  Hope their equipment was saved.
Hearts out to all those who are suffering.  Charitable donation being made.
jb

Got your family fun book of tickets to show your support?
Sure, they don't have to do a temporary shut down. So let's just say for shits and giggles, they are paying 12 people to work for the weekend and at most 20 people make it to ride. There may be places to stay that are open, or not, depending where someone is coming from. From a monetary standpoint, it doesn't add up when you figure in a complete day of wages, fuel, etc.
Where I worked years ago we would call those trips "Cost Us Money" trains. Get your tickets soon as it will be standing room only.

P Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ShortlinesUSA Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Right. The whole thing seems a little tone deaf
> to
> > me.
> >
> > Posted from Android
>
> Sure,  Are they supposed to shut down their
> business voluntarily?  Who would do that? 
>  Didn't we learn anything from COVID shutdowns? 
> In case you didn't, it was catastrophic to small
> businesses - and some big ones, too.  



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/30/24 21:41 by SP4360.

SP4360 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Got your family fun book of tickets to show your
> support?
> Sure, they don't have to do a temporary shut down.
> So let's just say for shits and giggles, they are
> paying 12 people to work for the weekend and at
> most 20 people make it to ride. There may be
> places to stay that are open, or not, depending
> where someone is coming from. From a monetary
> standpoint, it doesn't add up when you figure in a
> complete day of wages, fuel, etc.
> Where I worked years ago we would call those trips
> "Cost Us Money" trains. Get your tickets soon as
> it will be standing room only.
>
> P Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > ShortlinesUSA Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Right. The whole thing seems a little tone
> deaf
> > to
> > > me.
> > >
> > > Posted from Android
> >
> > Sure,  Are they supposed to shut down their
> > business voluntarily?  Who would do that? 
> >  Didn't we learn anything from COVID
> shutdowns? 
> > In case you didn't, it was catastrophic to
> small
> > businesses - and some big ones, too.  

This is a bizarre response. What is the point you are trying to make?

Odd that you would ask about my family as well. Bizarre. As a matter of fact, my family is going to the area next month and I will go to the areas that are open and available and I will NOT be going to areas that are closed or where search and rescue operations are being conducted. Is that what you goofballs are suggesting? I really don't understand why some vocal people are suggesting everyone stay away from anywhere close to where damage has occurred. That is not how life works. In fact, it would stop working.

What I find curious is that someone immediately jumps to the COVID pandemic.

I'll stop there before I say something to get kicked off the platform.

Posted from Android

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

MaryMcPherson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What I find curious is that someone immediately
> jumps to the COVID pandemic.
>
> I'll stop there before I say something to get
> kicked off the platform.
>
> Posted from Android

I agree with you. A pandemic and a natural disaster are two different things.

Posted from iPhone

In Illinois, we have politicians that want to remove 3 solid dams along the Fox River.
Friends of the Fox River state that this "is the most effective, economical, and best way to rehabilitate water quality for our Fox River."
Is this REALLY how low we have gotten?
 

redberan4449 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> In Illinois, we have politicians that want to
> remove 3 solid dams along the Fox River.
> Friends of the Fox River state that this "is the
> most effective, economical, and best way to
> rehabilitate water quality for our Fox River."
> Is this REALLY how low we have gotten?
>  

What is the purpose of the dams?  Are they still needed?

There is a whole system of dams in the US that are being removed simply because there isn't money to keep them up. Deferred maintenance always seems to catch up with you in the end.

Posted from Android

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

Several dams in western North Carolina provide hydro electric power to the region, and to the grid.  At least two are used for pumped storage (use solar / wind) to pump water uphill into a lake when solar etc is abundant. Then let it flow thrua second hydro facility when the wind doesn't blow, etc).

Many of the lakes created by TVA etc dams are now ringed by very expensive homes. They would not be happy to lose their lake.  The TVA network was originally created to electrify the rural South, and tame the occasional huge floods seen in the area.

List of hydro electric dams in NC