Saluda Train Tales

SPONSOR: Polk County Community Foundation

Saluda Grade: North America’s Steepest Grade by Delay In Block, Drayton Blackgrove, producer.

Spanning 2.7 miles from the bottom of the grade at Melrose to the crest at Pace’s Crossing in downtown Saluda, the “Mountain of Challenge” averages an estimated gradient of 4.7%, peaking at 5.1% while gaining an elevation of 606 feet. With the grade railbanked since 2001, the City of Saluda hasn’t seen rail traffic in nearly twenty years — but the residents of this great community still remember the trains. What was once a bustling mainline railroad between Asheville, North Carolina and Spartanburg, South Carolina, is now a lonely, idle stretch of mountainous railroad. Covered in kudzu with multiple track washouts, Saluda Grade is slowly being reclaimed by Mother Nature. Subscribers: help support us by crowdfunding through Patreon or PayPal. With your support, we can continue to produce high-quality railroad media for you to enjoy. Even just $1 per month is a huge help. Contribute via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DelayInBlock Contribute via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/delayinblock Check out our web store: http://www.delayinblock.com Thanks for watching! Please comment, rate, and Subscribe! Copyright 2019. Any illegal reproduction of this video and its content is strictly prohibited. Full legal action will take place if necessary if reproduced or licensed without expressed written permission from Delay In Block Productions. Note: Please excuse the advertisements. Through the Google Adsense program, the advertisements help me pay for the trips I take to capture the trains. Thanks, -DIB

Flight Down the Saluda Grade by Bob Keeton

The Carburetors music and mapping from google earth offers an historical trip down what was the nation's steepest, Class-1, mainline railroad grade. It ran 3...

One of the many stories about The Saluda Grade. This grade, which crests at Saluda, NC, is the steepest standard gauge railroad grade in the United States.

Saluda Train Tales July 15, 2016

Historic Saluda Videos

For the first time in decades the historic Saluda depot is for sale. The depot is vulnerable because anyone can purchase it, change it or even destroy it. Once it's gone it's gone! The citizens of Saluda should own it!

Videos courtesy of the Historic Saluda Committee in Saluda, NC. See their YouTube Channel for more videos of Saluda.

Dr. George Jones spoke at the March 15, 2015, official launch of fundraising efforts to purchase the historic depot in Saluda, NC. A group of citizens formed in 2015 to make up the Saluda Historic Depot Committee (Board). The depot sits on historic Main Street at the crest of the steepest mainline standard gauge railroad in the United States.

On September 18, 2015, a native of Asheville, Dr. Fred McConnel gave a presentation on the railroad history of the Saluda Grade at the Saluda Historic Depot. Dr. Fred McConnel has had a passion for the trains traveling through Western North Carolina since he was six years old.

"Saluda Train Tales" with Greaton Sellers and Charlene Pace. This 2016 presentation was recorded live at the historic train station on Saluda's early boarding homes, inns and hotels. Saluda Train Tales is a free monthly event to educate the community of the importance of Saluda's railroad history and the Saluda Grade.

At Train Tales (5/18/18), R. Clark Thompson recounted several stories about growing up in Saluda, NC. Some were taken from, "Whangdoodles on Diaper Hill: My Childhood in Saluda" (2018). Buying your copy at the Depot helps keep the trains runn...that is, helps keep the Saluda Historic Depot and Museum alive.

At Train Tales (5/18/18), R. Clark Thompson recounted several stories about growing up in Saluda, NC. Some were taken from, "Whangdoodles on Diaper Hill: My Childhood in Saluda", published in 2018 . Buy your copy at the Depot and help keep the trains runn...that is, help keep the Saluda Historic Depot and Museum alive.

What was the country's steepest mainline railroad grade was also known for runaways and derailments. Larry Morton, President of the Apple Valley Model RR Club in Hendersonville, presents an overview of the Saluda Grade and some of the notable train wrecks that occurred on it. More information: http://www.saludahistoricdepot.com

His grandfather designed the railway bridges in Cuba and his family had a presence in Saluda since the late 1800's. David Twiggs talked about his family's history at the Saluda Historic Depot. Here's a condensation of his presentation at Local's Night. More: http://www.SaludaHistoricDepot.com Video: http://www.LivingSuccessfully.com

Saluda Historic Depot presents Train Tales on the third Friday of each month. In this episode, Lee Atkins presents the story of the real life engineer for Southern Railroad who came up with the idea of safety tracks to prevent wrecks. Don't miss future Train Tales.

Fascinating stories of railroading and the Saluda Grade told by video producer, Bob Loehne. Recorded as part of the Depot's monthly, Train Tales - a free series that's open to the public at the Historic Saluda Depot. Info: http://www.saludahistoricdepot.com

Arriving at the Saluda Depot with Raymond 'Bo' Brown, was china and silver from Southern Railway's fleet of dining and office cars. An outstanding story-teller, Bo shares how dining at 60 mph evolved from box lunches to 5-star dining and now back to...well, 'nuff said. It's easy to cheer for Southern Railways.

Presented by author, Mike Lassister and film maker, Scott Galloway, both a coffee-table book and PBS special came of this exploration of North Carolina's small towns. Join the audience at Saluda, NC's Historic Depot for a look at what's important and what we may be losing in America.

Enjoy a fun, short summary of life in Saluda with Charles O. Hearon, III. It was Local's night at the Depot. More: http://www.SaludaHistoricDepot.com Model Southern Crescent Limited courtesy of SRCJO1481 on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/user/SRCJO1481/featured. Video by Bob Keeton: http://www.LivingSuccessfully.com

Rail Operations volunteer, Lucas R. Safrit presented an overview of steam and diesel power from the N.C. Transportation Museum, formerly home of Southern Railway's Spencer Shops. Early railroading and engines that pulled the Saluda Grade are featured in this 30-min. presentation.