The Clinchfield Loops, Ashford to Altapass, NC

The ex-Clinchfield, now CSX, begins its assault on the Blue Ridge escarpment with a horseshoe curve at Ashford, NC. Google Earth follows the route as it uses u-turns and multiple tunnels to reach the summit at Altapass, along the Blue Ridge Parkway. I highlighted the tracks with a red line to show how the route is laid out. It would be neat if Google Earth could go through the tunnels instead of over them, but I don't think that'll happen anytime soon. By the way, be sure to watch in high quality because standard quality looks badly out of focus.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• trains
• train
• Clinchfield
• CSX
• railroad
• tracks
• loops
• north
• carolina
• appalachian
• mountains
• railfan
• blue
• ridge
• Altapass
• Ashford

[TRUCKSANDTRAINS21]

at the 2:12 mark, that is 'Camp 2' on Peppers Creek Rd. I always go down there to get some photos every time we drive to the Apple Orchard. (I used to haul out of the Baxter plant in North Cove years ago).

[boardman49]

@TRUCKSANDTRAINS21 I think so but I can't really say for sure.

[pawpawgator]

How many tunnels total..I THINK I counted 9...anywhere close??

[boardman49]

I think that's about right.

[pawpawgator]

Thaks...that is a really cool video. I live in Buncombe, and am real familiar with the Old Fort / Black Mountain Loops on the old Southern (now Norfork Southern) line.

[boardman49]

Last Saturday (July 18th) I took a drive up to the Blue Ridge Parkway on hwy 226 which runs close to the loops going up to Altapass. Couldn't see anything because of all the trees. Got on the parkway and stopped at the Altapass overlook. Lo and behold there was a placard posted there about the building of the Clinchfield RR loops. There are 18 tunnels. About 200 men were killed during the construction. The project was a huge undertaking.

[donovanwiseman]

not many. it is actually a little community outside of Spruce Pine so in Altapass itself I would say two-hundred some odd

[boardman49]

Doesn't look like a very big place. How many people live there?

[donovanwiseman]

Cool im from Altapass

[boardman49]

I would love to see that.