This past Friday we fired up "Rachel", an oil-burning 2-4-4, and headed up Doe River Gorge on the newly rebuilt ET&WNC narrow gauge railroad.
Rachel ran great, steamed like a "house-a-fire" (to quote Brownie Allison) and the track seems fine. We have brand new creosoted ties every 30 inches, basically every other tie, for a little over a mile up to Pardee Point. We need to run it some and then get out the level board and tamp but Rachel is light on her feet and tipee-toed up and down the 4% like a champ.
If you can come, the Doe River Gorge camp will be having an open house on Sunday afternoon, October 15. October 16 is the 50th anniversary of the ET&WNC's last trip and we will have a little rememberance at 11am that morning. Try to come if you can.
Ken Riddle