Two weeks to Alaska.

 Two weeks from today I will be on the Ferry heading to Skagway. A lot of necessary supplies have been purchased, but it still doesn't feel quite real yet. 

Thursday afternoon I was standing in the middle of the new wye leading into a new yard and shop facility for the ET&WNC Railroad in Hampton. Standing there looking around at new track being laid on a fresh grade, and looking behind me to see the new shops facility being erected. Knowing exactly what all of this looked like ten years ago when all of this was just an idea. I reflected on everything that has developed over the last several years. All of the hard work, literal blood, sweat, and tears. 

I Sit here and ponder that this has got to be a "God thing". There is simply no other explanation for all of this. I know I will be missing home, missing my friends, my family, and the little railroad through the gorge. However I also have the full knowledge that I will be returning to Doe River Gorge this fall, and be helping further with the rebirth of this narrow mountain railroad. Taking children and families on exciting new adventures. While also teaching them about life's greatest adventure, I cannot imagine anything on this planet that would be more fulfilling. 

So here I sit with two more weeks to go until I leave for the wilds of Alaska, with everything seeming to come together in Miraculous fashion.

Last run......for now....

 Yesterday was my last trip as a Conductor on the ET&WNC before I head north to Alaska. It was certainly an interesting day, after we completed the trip to Pardee myself and the engineer returned to the engine shed to continue work on upcoming projects. We talked about the weather, my coming journey to Alaska, and we may have held up progress on restoration work to discuss big theological concepts. I truly love my work on the ET&WNC and Doe River Gorge more generally. 

I practically grew up here, this is where I got my first taste of working in the heritage railroad business. This is where I keep returning to, my life seems for whatever reason to hinge on this one place in this hidden treasure of East Tennessee. The ET&WNC has become just as much a part of who I am as a person, as it has part of my resume. 

I am beyond excited to begin this six-month journey to Alaska, and to work on one of the most famous railroads in the world. However, I am already looking forward to the day when I can shout, "Cheated death again!" as we slowly shove the little two car excursion train back into her station after a short three mile (round trip) run up the "Beautiful and Rugged Doe River Gorge."

The queen of Lake Erie

In 2020 I was a fireman on the Cedar Point and Lake Erie Railroad located at Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky Ohio. This amusement park is located on a 300 acre island in the Sandusky bay. The CP&LE Railroad was the park's three foot narrow gauge steam train that transported guests from the Main Midway station to Frontiertown. I had the opportunity to fire three of the park's four operable steam locomotives of the three #22 "Myron H" was my favorite. 
 

 One of the most famous sections of the ET&WNC RR is the "High wall" During the winter of 1900 there was a massive flood that came through the gorge, wiping out several sections of railroad track. The Railroad needed to get trains running again, and QUICKLY. So they decided to build temporary wooden trestles, and fill them in with iron mine debris from Cranberry and then cap those off with stone/concrete walls. These original walls still remain supporting the tracks through the gorge this one in particular is the largest, and most dramatic. 

The Ghost of 1702

Who doesn't like a good ghost story? 

While I was working at GSMRR in 2022 I had the opportunity to be a member of the steam locomotive crew, along with my best friend/roommate. One night while I was still in training as a Steam Locomotive Hostler I was greasing the rods on 1702 when I had the feeling of being watched. I looked over my shoulder, and didn't see anyone (or anything). Shrugging my shoulders I went back to my work greasing the rods. I then felt the feeling of being watched again, and again I turned around to find nothing standing behind me. In the Shack was my coworker filling out some paperwork, I stepped into the shack and asked: "When you're alone with 02 do you ever have the feeling of being watched?" He responded: "all the time, the next time you have that feeling take a look up in the cab." 

So I went back to the locomotive to continue preparing her for a busy day ahead. I once more got the feeling of being watched, I turned my head up to the cab, and saw a figure standing clearly outlined in the locomotive's cab. Not knowing who for sure the figure was, I decided to not ask any questions. The rest of my time working at GSMR I would refer to the ghost of 1702 as "Private Malone" in reference to the country song about a haunted corvette. Being that the locomotive was originally built for the United States Army, I figured the name was appropriate, this was not my only "paranormal" experience stay tuned for more haints, haunts, and spooks! 

 

 

In the 1870s it was decided that a railroad would be needed to haul iron out of the small isolated community of Cranberry North Carolina. The original ET&WNC Railroad would go bankrupt shortly after beginning construction. The remnants of the railroad grade, and equipment would then be acquired by the management of the East Broad Top Railroad, Located in Orbisonia Pennsylvania and financed by their primary financier Mr Ario Pardee. Construction on the ET&WNC Railroad would restart in 1880 with the first trains arriving in Cranberry in 1882. 

Today this railroad can still be seen and ridden as part of the Doe River Gorge Ministries summer camp. This is where my life of working with 100+ year old railroads first got started. As a high school senior needing an outlet, who was also a fan of old steam trains working as a volunteer on the ET&WNC was a natural choice. I have been working with this old railroad ever since. Starting out with the track maintenance crew, eventually working my way to Conductor, and helping restore their three historic steam locomotives! I look forward to sharing many stories and updates as work continues. However my next stop on my Historic railroad journey will be The White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad of Skagway Alaska where I will be working as a Brakeman on their world class excursion trains! 

 Welcome all! This blog was created as just another creative outlet, as well as a place to share what is happening in my life. As a friend of mine once said "Your life is a lot of things, boring is NOT one of them!"