Maryville Model Railroad Club
On the main line...
Home
About Us
Contact and Location
Club Member Train Layouts
Links

The Great Hiwassee Loop

 An MMRC club member writes: "This is about the Hiwassee Loop just a little south of us. This is a section of track, that used to be the main line from Knoxville to Atlanta. When I was a baby, my Mom used to catch the train to Ellijay, GA to visit relatives, and we went through there. The sad thing about that is that I was too young to remember anything about it. I had heard about this many years ago, and always wanted to find it. My brother-in law and I walked in there in November of 2004 and walked around it and I have some pictures which I will send to be posted a few at a time. At that time, the tracks were run down and in pretty sad shape. Since then, this section has been fixed and they are taking excursions on it. I know it is too late to model this in our (MMRC) layout, but if we get more space, this would be a great project to model."

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

THE GREAT HIWASSEE LOOP

 

Located on the "Old Line" of the present CSX system, formerly the Louisville & Nashville, and its immediate predecessor, the Atlanta, Knoxville & Northern Railroad, is the Great Hiwassee Loop, built in 1898, and considered to be the third longest railroad loop in the world. The Loop is on the picturesque line of the railroad that winds up the Hiwassee River gorge between Etowah and Copperhill, Tennessee, an engineering feat that became the talk of the railroad world for many years. It lies between the former railroad stations of Farner and Appalachia, Tennessee, and curves around dome-shaped Bald Mountain for 8,000 feet. Its construction by an L&N official, T.A. Abner, eliminated a bottleneck, a switchback at Bald Mountain that had become a thorn in the side of efficient railroad operation, and a stumbling block that had to be rid of. Mr. Abner was equal to the task which became a monument to his ability. The Loop's construction then opened north and southbound traffic between Knoxville, Tennessee and Atlanta, Georgia, and the AK&N was given credit for many years of prosperous times for the people along the railroad.


People who lived near or in the day's journey of the loop thought nothing whatever about the strangeness of such a feat, but the many thousands who came from over the state and other states during the passenger train days of the AK&N and L&N railroads, have been very enthusiastic in their praise of it.

 

For those who ride the excursions from Etowah to Copperhill and return, are in for an exciting time. From the very top of the Loop you will secure a most impressive sight. Looking immediately on this side of the river you view Sunny Tennessee; while away in the distance you may, with good eyes watch the clouds as they slowly float over the beautiful foothills of Georgia. Strange as it may seem, a train going over the Loop will face all points of the compass although the engine is never turned around. There are many other exciting facts about the Great Hiwassee Loop.

 

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our MMRC member continues: "This is as we walked in which shows mile marker 361, & 362. You can see the tracks have not been used in quiet a while. These pics are 36mm that I scanned into the computer." 

 

(right)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Me on top on the trestle and tracks covered in kudzu vine."  (right)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The scenery all along the Hiwassee River gorge is unparalleled and stands without an equal. It has a distinctiveness all its own; is as beautiful as can be found anywhere, and along the River you may see many white water enthusiasts floating along the Hiwassee, its wild white water rushing down the mountain. These scenes will be remembered for many a day.

 

(Descriptions from C.B. Stanberry's "The Loop within the Loop," published in 1936.)

 

 

 

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Marker 363 and first view of trestle, this was a site I had wanted to see for years and it finally came true after almost a 3 mile walk."  

 

(left)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"This shows the bridge over hwy 68, which is where we parked to walk in. Second pic shows one of two pipes that come from the bottom of the Appalachian Dam. The water is diverted through these pipes down stream to the power house for power. the pic of the loop which shows the river around the back side of Bald mtn. is almost dry now. Compare the size of those pipes to my truck."

 

(left)