Uploaded December 2020 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
In November and December 2020, the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad ran a series of unusual winter excursions into the Nantahala Gorge. In most years winter trains exclusively run east along the Tuckasegee River, but with the ongoing pandemic making it unadvisable to flood the small town of Dillsboro with a trainload of tourists, 2020's winter excursions ran west into the gorge. This allowed railfans and passengers the rare opportunity to see 1702 run along the Nantahala route through bare trees, which while not the prettiest greatly increase visibility. While some snow would have been nice, it was great as always to get to experience 1702 thundering through the gorge once more.
In November and December 2020, the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad ran a series of unusual winter excursions into the Nantahala Gorge. In most years winter trains exclusively run east along the Tuckasegee River, but with the ongoing pandemic making it unadvisable to flood the small town of Dillsboro with a trainload of tourists, 2020's winter excursions ran west into the gorge. This allowed railfans and passengers the rare opportunity to see 1702 run along the Nantahala route through bare trees, which while not the prettiest greatly increase visibility. While some snow would have been nice, it was great as always to get to experience 1702 thundering through the gorge once more.
