Uploaded June 2021 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Over Memorial Day Weekend 2021, the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad kicked off the summer steam season with Nantahala Gorge excursions behind ex-USATC S160 1702. Despite inconsistent weather the Smokies were abuzz with activity as people flocked to the outdoors to celebrate the beginning of a more normal summer than last year's - traffic on popular scenic drives like Newfound Gap Road and the Tail of the Dragon was thick, trailhead parking overflowed, the rivers and lakes were filled with boaters, and of course the trains were running full of excited passengers. I chased 1702 from Bryson City to the end of active track at Nantahala, then continued onward to explore the now disused portion of the line over red Marble Gap to Andrews.
Over Memorial Day Weekend 2021, the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad kicked off the summer steam season with Nantahala Gorge excursions behind ex-USATC S160 1702. Despite inconsistent weather the Smokies were abuzz with activity as people flocked to the outdoors to celebrate the beginning of a more normal summer than last year's - traffic on popular scenic drives like Newfound Gap Road and the Tail of the Dragon was thick, trailhead parking overflowed, the rivers and lakes were filled with boaters, and of course the trains were running full of excited passengers. I chased 1702 from Bryson City to the end of active track at Nantahala, then continued onward to explore the now disused portion of the line over red Marble Gap to Andrews.
