Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

he Great Smoky Mountain Railroad is a popular tourist hauler and common-carrier freight shortline operating in the scenic mountainous region of western North Carolina. The railroad owns and operates 53 miles of the former Southern Railway's famous Murphy Branch, which by the turn of the century had connected rural mountain communities to Asheville and the larger rail network. Although passenger service on the branch ended in the 1940s, Southern and successor Norfolk Southern maintained local freight service until the late 1980s. Avoiding abandonment, the state of North Carolina purchased the route and in 1988 leased tourist and freight operations to the new Great Smoky Mountains Railway. A variety of regular excursions were offered utilizing steam and first-generation diesel power. In 1999, GSMR owners sold the successful operation to American Heritage Railways, proprietors of the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in Colorado. AHR reorganized the GSMR as the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad, eventually purchasing from the state the track from Dillsboro to Andrews. In 2008, administrative and train operations were relocated from Dillsboro to Bryson City. Currently all excursions depart the latter, with roundtrips west to Nantahala and roundtrips east to Dillsboro. Holiday "Polar Express" excusions have been poplular for many years. The railroad maintains shop facilities for steam and diesel motive power outside Dillsboro, and freight interchange is maintained with shortline Blue Ridge Southern in Sylva.