Nostalgia & History > Walking with Grandfather on Saluda

Back in October of 1980 I rode a nifty collage of Amtrak varnish from Emporia, KS to Chicago, IL to Washington, DC to Spartanburg, SC where my good friend Mr. Daniel J. Codespoti lived. For 3 days I was escorted all over his local ‘turf,, which included a very memorable visit to Saluda Grade in North Carolina. We got lucky and caught a train ascending this massive grade at Melrose, a tiny speck on the North Carolina map about halfway up to Saluda.

I always thought I would revisit Saluda some day. That day did come last March on a 25-day swing through the eastern part of the US. But I was saddened to learn the grade had been out of use since 2001. I was still able to take a handful of photographs that would culminate in a 'then & now' thread: ( https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?2,4265530,4265530#msg-4265530 ). Below are 4 more shots from my sojourn back to Saluda. I was completely unaware of the human content when I took image #1. Probably because they were motionless, maybe looking at something they had just found along the right-of-way. I became so enchanted with the scene I added some vignette effect around the corners. I’m a bit jealous of this little girl, though. Did you ever take a walk with Grandfather along a RR track somewhere? My only living, wheel chair-bound, ex-Rock Island employee Grandfather died when I was 10. So I never got that chance…

1. Looking ESE from the Greenville St crossing. Even at 140mm this telephoto shot doesn’t do justice to the visual impact of the grade as you drive down the mountain with it! Look closer: When I took this shot I didn’t realize I was also shooting an elderly man with a young girl taking a stroll along the tracks.

2. & 3. Looking the opposite direction with a close-up of the Saluda Grade historic info sign. That’s the W Main St/US hwy 176 overpass in the background.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/08/17 06:29 by santafe199.

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One more:

4. Here’s the grandfather & granddaughter (?) pair I didn’t spot when I shot image #1. Although these shots were taken this year, I thought I would honor that special grandfather ~ granddaughter relationship by posting in Nostalgia. I certainly had my late Grandfather & career Rock Island man F. C. Needham in my mind as I wrote up this thread…
(4 photos taken in Saluda, NC on March 1, 2017)

Thanks for looking!
Lance Garrels
santafe199



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/18/22 00:32 by santafe199.

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Precious images.
Bob

Sir L, I apologize for piggybacking this thread. Image #2 is a verbatim shot of Cobden Illinois looking northbound, minus the apple on the bridge abutment prior to the single tracking of the IC in the early 1990's. I hope Mary or bodkin6071 have a comparison shot handy. Thank you for continuing to share your very enjoyable spring fling 2017 trip!!

ic1038west.

Will Saluda ever see trains again, or is it another Tennessee Pass??  What prompted NS to close it?

Neat photos and thoughts. I would have really enjoyed hearing first generation diesel or steam lifting a train over this mountain.
Brian Stevens

coach Wrote:
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> Will Saluda ever see trains again, or is it
> another Tennessee Pass??  What prompted NS to
> close it?

Expense, safety, low traffic density. Freight traffic has dropped even more in recent years. A very low probability of it returning to service.