Graham County Railroad steam operations circa 1963

Рет қаралды 11,684

12 жыл бұрын

This picturesque 12-mile shortline in North Carolina employed a pair of Shay steam locomotives into the early 1960s to haul freight between Topton and Robbinsville. Vintage movies and vintage railroading come together in these 8-millimeter films shot around 1963. The Graham County Railroad became a legendary holdout of steam long after most lines had converted to diesels -- or abandoned service. It's just a memory now, although the Shays survived the end of the line. Please give this video a Thumbs Up, and subscribe to the Airailimages Channel. It helps, and we appreciate it. And here's a link to an Airailimages video showing Union Pacific steam locomotive No. 844: • Union Pacific Steam! 8...

Пікірлер: 39

@jennymillsaps5402 Жыл бұрын

My papaw Collins, I got to ride with him many times, loved this train and the memories!

@airailimages Жыл бұрын

That's neat! So glad you found our video.

@robertstone8921 11 жыл бұрын

My sister informed me that she found this video. Brings back memories of stories told over the years by family members who were around back in the early days of this train. Our grandfather, Park Stone ran the 1925 Shay for around 30 years prior to Ed Collins. The first time the 1925 rolled into Graham county, my grandfather was on board.

@eam33380 3 жыл бұрын

Great footage! Love the lady's reaction when the whistle blows!

@airailimages 3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

@rickdavis9112 8 жыл бұрын

My Dad, George Posey Davis, Sr. was the fireman with Ed Collins for many years. After Ed retired Dad became the Engineer and later the Train Master when the Shay hauled tourists from Bear Creek Junction. Many memories of riding that train with Dad and Ed.

@airailimages 8 жыл бұрын

+Rick Davis Thanks for your message. Glad to give some credit to George Posey Davis, Sr. The men who ran the Graham County Shays were good to me and my family on our trips there in the early 1960s. Wonderful times.

@dovercastbrandon9637 7 жыл бұрын

airailimages it's so great that this bit of mountain railroading was preserved for us youngsters. I grew up in the shadow of the Old Tallulah Falls Railroad's memory and have had an obsession with trains ever since. It's sad that railroads such as the Graham County and TF don't still exist, but this gives us an idea of what it once looked like, thank you.

@KG-xt4oq 3 жыл бұрын

Taking a shot in the dark here, since I'm replying to a comment made 5 years ago... I have many questions about the operations of this RR and would love the opportunity to pose them to your father. I'll wait for a reply....thanks.

@rickdavis9112 3 жыл бұрын

@@KG-xt4oq I would love to talk with him also! My Dad passed in 1970.

@KG-xt4oq 3 жыл бұрын

@@rickdavis9112 Yeah, that thought came to me several minutes after I posted my reply...my condolences. Thanks for replying and if you know of anyone I could get in contact with that has first-hand knowledge of GCRR operations like your father did, please let me know. I've done quite a bit of researching both online/offline, even bought a book about WNC RRs at the turn of the century, but still have a few things I'd like to know that the book/internet did not provide information for. Take care...

@tbateman9902 6 жыл бұрын

I rode it as a child...at the time it was the Bear Creek Junction... 1926 was in a Railroad magazine where it won the great shay race!

@jennymillsaps5402 Жыл бұрын

I have wonderful memories of riding the train and caboose at Bear Creek Junction. Papaw Collins drove the train. My cousin Dana, Papaw Collins' daughter Betty Sue's daughter would come down from Massachusetts for a few weeks in the summer. We would go with Papaw up to Bear Creek and ride in the cars and the caboose all day long. Great memories!

@17nhvrailroader 5 жыл бұрын

This is truly a gem! I had the pleasure of talking to one of the lines former engineers once while he rode on a New Hope Valley Railway train I was crewing. What a conversation!

@vincentberkan605 6 жыл бұрын

Both my grandparents and whole family (on my moms side of the family) grew up in Robbinsville. My Great Aunt Pauline remembers the old shays because it went past her house back in the day.

@airailimages 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching and commenting. I probably rode past her house on the Shay when I was a kid!

@2666loco 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing

@airailimages 5 жыл бұрын

You are welcome. Thanks for watching and commenting.

@kawasakiz76 5 жыл бұрын

Great Video!! I've always loved this little railroad!!

@airailimages 5 жыл бұрын

Glad you found our channel. Thanks for watching and commenting.

@thehamelsduck1600 7 жыл бұрын

Awesome video thanks for sharing.

@hellsbellspapa 11 жыл бұрын

Awesome opening photo (first couple of seconds, train silhouetted by sunset). Had read about the Graham County RR and, searching the name, found this. Even remember Ed Collins' name. AWESOME music! Thanks!

@sarsouelle 10 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the vid !

@jennymillsaps1062 9 жыл бұрын

That's my "Papaw"...rode the train many times with him!

@armagonarmagon3980 9 жыл бұрын

As far as I know, Shay #1925 is currently being restored to operation at the North Carolina Transportation Museum. Shay #1926 is no longer considered a Shay survivor, as it has been essentially broken up to be used as parts for Cass Scenic Railroad Shay #7.

@williambryant5946 5 жыл бұрын

restored when funds become available. just static display now.

@devinsmih3397 10 жыл бұрын

that engines sitting in the north carolina transportation museums roundhouse and work there so i see it alot cleaning windows its only the 1925 though

@Waldbahner 10 жыл бұрын

Many thanks for sharing this video footage with us. I dedicated one part of my N-scale layout to the Graham County Railroad, featuring Shay 1925. Search for "A day at the Graham County Railroad" here on KZfaq or visit by website gerds-modellbahn.de/SOU/Haupt_e.htm

@Strasburg1991 11 жыл бұрын

RIP 1925 and 1926

@tbateman9902 6 жыл бұрын

Strasburg1991. No.....one of them is still alive. I don't know which one but I saw in a magazine where it won the great shay race....Google it. I remember riding it when I was a kid....in the early 70s . I live Andrews ....actually I'm closer to Tipton NC....but I remember riding it at the Bear Creek Junction, at the time it was an excursion, my class went on a field trip and I fell in love. But anyways one still lives!

@vincentberkan605 6 жыл бұрын

Acutally both are still alive. 1925 is at Spencer and the 1926 is at Cass, WV

@legorailroader844 4 жыл бұрын

@@vincentberkan605 considering 1926 was bought as a parts source for the Cass scenic you can't really say it's "alive".

@vincentberkan605 4 жыл бұрын

@@legorailroader844 Well, it still exists so it techinecally is still alive..........in a way.

@phantomj7921 Жыл бұрын

Thats shay #1926... What ever happened to that one?

@airailimages Жыл бұрын

I think it exists as a hulk, possibly a parts source, at Cass Scenic Railroad in West Virginia.

@Chris9017 10 жыл бұрын

Sadly the 1926 is no more, but the 1925 will run again someday.

@tbateman9902 6 жыл бұрын

Chris9017 It runs now....I saw it in a Railroad magazine where it won the great shay race!

@ncrailfan 6 жыл бұрын

Yes at rail fair 1999. Sadly now it sits on display at NCTM.

@rayshuler7293 3 жыл бұрын

Thank GOD for JESUS. Remember that Blessed Hope of a Brighter Day through our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. -- Ray Shuler & The Doors -- 72 yr. old 24/7 Locksmith . 4/14/21