Norfolk Southern's Saluda Grade

I had an opportunity to see N & W 611 go up and down the famous Saluda Grade back in 1993....American Alta Vista has 2 videos for sale with the famous 611

do you know where they have rerouted the trains now instead of the grade

Since Saluda is closed, trains going to Asheville have to travel all the way from Greenville, SC to Salisbury, NC, take a left at the wye, go through Hickory and Morganton and up the loops at Old Fort to get to Asheville.

thats totaly rediculous. they shoud have a contracting crew go up there and level out the grade so the trains can go directly through

It's a long way around, no doubt about that.

It might suck that the line is closed but it gives me more trains to see in the Hickory/Conover area.

I just read NS is reopening Saluda with upgraded safety features and track stabilizers. Late 2009.

I heard about that!

this is the southeastern approach to go over the Appalachain Mountains. THis isn't just some litte hill. a tunnel would not be feasible. Like he stated, this is a 2000 foot climb from the Atlantic seaboard over the mountains. THis is the same thing faced by western roads over the rockies, just the approaches are flatter than this location. even the tunnels out there are only at the pass, trains climb several thousand feet of elevation to get there.

Oh. You are aware of the costs of engaging in such a project and therefore you know it would be so profitable that not doing so would be ridiculous?

How did you come to such knowledge as it pertains to the operational profitablility of the tonnage moving over this district?