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• SATURDAY May 25, 2013 F

Ridin’ the Rails in the Wautauga Valley

Train excursion takes passengers to the scenic Hiwassee River Gorge

The Watauga Valley Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society will host its annual summer rail excursion through the scenic Hiwassee River Gorge on July 16. Passengers will enjoy a 50-mile, 3½-hour round-trip rail excursion along the Hiwassee River to the “Hiwassee Loop” and back.

The train will go through the Narrows, where the Hiwassee River flows through rock channels and the Bald Mountain Loo, and pass over itself during a corkscrew climb up the mountain near Farner, Tenn., over a high trestle. Tracks along this route parallel the river for most of its length, providing views of the lower gorge.

Regular scheduled passenger trains operated on the tracks until 1968, and the last freight train traveled the Old Line in 2001. The railroad was originally built to haul ore from the copper basin in Copper Hill, Tenn. The Tennessee Overhill Association took ownership of the rail line in 2004.

The train is general seating and features comfortable cushioned seats with large windows. Historic 1950s-era diesel locomotives will pull the vintage enclosed climate-controlled coaches. Passengers will be asked to move from one side of the aisle to the other before the return trip to ensure that every rider is able to view all the scenery in secluded areas along the line.

The trip will begin in downtown Johnson City at 7:15 a.m. at the State of Franklin Parking Lot, where passengers will board a motor coach to Etowah, Tenn. Passengers will also be picked up in Greeneville at 7:45 a.m. Lunch will be on your own before boarding the train at 1:15 p.m. The train will arrive back in Etowah at 4:15 p.m. The motor coach will depart Etowah at 4:30 p.m. and should arrive back in Greeneville at 7:45 p.m. and Johnson City at 8:15 p.m.

Cost is $80 per person and includes the motor coach and train ride. To order tickets, send a check or money order, along with the number of tickets requested, to Summer 2011 Rail Excursion, Watauga Valley Chapter NRHS, P.O. Box 432, Johnson City, Tenn., 37605-0432.

A printable order form is available at www.wataugavalleynrhs.org by clicking on “excursion trips.”

For more information, e-mail wataugavalley@embarqmail.com or call the chapter ticket office at (423) 753-5797.

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