Southern Railway Saluda grade training video

Saluda railroading is a fascinating story especially during the steam era when "Slaughter Pen Gap" on Saluda experienced events related to earning its name.Thanks for the video Chris.

 

Mountain railroading in North Western N.C.[best conquered by Clinchfield along the spine of the ridges] faced even more formidable grades than in the Southwest of N.C. The photo below of the 8% grade on Wilkes Mountain west of Wilkesboro is the primary reason Southern Ry never reached Boone, N.C. and the town's Applachain University and the very popular resort communities of the High Country. The grade pictured has two safety tunrouts that are often visited by 18 wheelers and logging trucks. A half-hearted effort by Southern was made to follow the head water valley of the Yadkin River toward Blowing Rock but floods and even higher looming ranges to the west[and always impending bankruptcy] soon discouraged Southern.

The N&W had the best shot to Boone up flatlands of the East Fork of the New River Valley and through West Jefferson, but decided to terminate at Todd, N.C.

 

It was left to the Narrow Gauge East Tennessee & Western North Carolina Ry ["Tweetsie"] to enter from the west via Johnson City and Elizabethon,Tennessee to finally reach Elk Park, N.C.,the Resorts, the huge Lumber companies and Boone.

But the Great Mountain Floods of 1916 and again in 1940 mostly destroyed ET&WNC trackage from Linvillle resort to Boone and in much of East Tennessee. 

A couple of buddies who are retired railroaders sent me this link last week.  Several things I found noteworthy in the video were the absence of hearing and eye protection, no apparent safety toe shoes and the RFE mounting a moving locomotive.  Obviously the rules have changed over the years, but these things popped at me when compared to present day safety rules.

 

Curt

I noticed that as well Curt, boy things have changed.  Not to mention everyones general attire.

 Brake test is different now as far as the total reduction  ,the moving from unit to unit while moving not allowed now.

 Also on the NS, retainer valves are not allowed to be turned.

 Some other things that's changed since I hired in 91' are the radio units.I qualified on  this style but haven't seen one for a few years now.Also the calling of signals by radio only started system wide in the early to mid 90's.

 Cool video,thanks for sharing with us 

Another difference I picked up... the term "feed valve" was still in use!  Now it's a "regulating valve"...

 

Neat video, thanks for posting it!

Depends who you're talking to... I've heard it plenty of times in my short 14 years on the RR.

 

CN_Hogger

The "old heads" around here will still call it a feed valve, but the instructors/trainers push "regulating valve". That started in the mid-90's on Conrail, can't speak for other railroads.

 You said a mouth full Rich !

 

 When I first started as an Engineer I NEVER moved until someone told me to,never heard the words "In between,3 step,C-102,double check" on the radio,you just stayed put !

 And these safety vest are in my opinion more dangerous than anything.I have had them catch every conceivable latch,hook,handle you can think of and nearly fell because of it.

   The glasses on locomotives have now been changed to only having to wear them when the windows are open,better than it was.

 I am not required,thank goodness,to wear steal toes.That would be a bad idea on cold days .

 We can't even " kick " cars now,while the conductor runs along with the cut-lever.He has to pull it,then have you give him a kick hoping the cut-lever doesn't fall !

 I can't believe how much has changed,since I hired on in 91' .

 Oh it's still a feed valve around here.

 But it's their railroad,their rules and I am their employee.So I will follow their rules,stay safe and God willing retire in one piece

611 on Saluda is another good video to watch. I wasn't on that trip up the grade but 611 stalled in the curve right at the crest. But she manage to muscle her 5 car train to the top of the grade after restarting from the stall. I did make a trip down the grade with 611. NS had to use 3 C44-9W on the head end to provide dynamic braking.

Yeah sanding problems will kill a run by....  Always liked that video.