Uploaded February 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The Murphy Branch arguably has the craziest track profile in all of North America, including the steepest continuous mainline grades over two mountain passes. While nearby Saluda gets all the fame, it's nothing to compare against the unforgiving terrain the Western North Carolina Railroad tried to lay rails over in the late 19th century to serve the lumber industry, eventually becoming part of the Southern Railway.
Today the wood industry is still alive, but for turning chips into paper and packaging products. After Norfolk Southern sold their freight operations in 2014, WATCO purchased the line and created the Blue Ridge Southern Railroad, serving the mill town of Canton, and other smaller customers deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
On a visit to the Blue Ridges in January 2020 amidst snow flurries, we'll follow BLU train T59 serving Evergreen Packaging, as well as a chemical plant in Waynesville producing a variety of Epsom Salts for personal care or agricultural use.
The Murphy Branch arguably has the craziest track profile in all of North America, including the steepest continuous mainline grades over two mountain passes. While nearby Saluda gets all the fame, it's nothing to compare against the unforgiving terrain the Western North Carolina Railroad tried to lay rails over in the late 19th century to serve the lumber industry, eventually becoming part of the Southern Railway.
Today the wood industry is still alive, but for turning chips into paper and packaging products. After Norfolk Southern sold their freight operations in 2014, WATCO purchased the line and created the Blue Ridge Southern Railroad, serving the mill town of Canton, and other smaller customers deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
On a visit to the Blue Ridges in January 2020 amidst snow flurries, we'll follow BLU train T59 serving Evergreen Packaging, as well as a chemical plant in Waynesville producing a variety of Epsom Salts for personal care or agricultural use.
