December 2001 was when the last train went over Saluda Grade. A good friend of mine took the last train over Saluda. Here is a list of the daily operations over Saluda. 2 Southbound Belmont coal trains a day which was coal trains 750. 1 Southbound Wateree coal train 590. Southbound manifest W78. Northbound manifest W77. 1 Northbound empty Belmont coal train. Local P89. Saluda was quite busy each and every day. Also a daily local would head to Brevard NC to switch the Ecusta Paper Mill. Sadly the daily freight to Brevard is now gone. It has been gone since 2006. There has been talk of a potential rail-trail being built on the old Brevard Line but recent news of a possibly industry being built in Penrose NC could possibly bring freight back to the line.The only revenue still left on the W-Line from Asheville is a daily local to Berkely Mills in Hendersonville NC, and a few coal trains still goes to Lake Julian's Duke Power Steam Station in Skyland NC. The coal traffic to Lake Julian could however come to an end in the near future. The W-Line from Spartanburg is still used but only once a week to take gas cars to a local plant in Inman SC. The line from Inman north is now closed because of the woodchip plant in Landrum SC is now doing their business strictly by truck now. Blue Ridge Southern (WATCO) has leased the line from Asheville to Hendersonville and from Hendersonville to Brevard, and has in the last two months taken covered hoppers to Milepost W28 which is in Zirconia NC near Lake Summit which is just outside of Saluda. The hoppers are still being stored out there as of now. Norfolk Southern still owns the line from Spartanburg to Inman SC. The future looks grim for the A&S Line but we can only hope for a miracle as of to reopen the entire route from Asheville to Spartanburg. Hope this was helpful and if you have any questions please feel free to leave a comment below. Have a great day!

Very cool video, I love exploring abandoned rail lines.

For everyone who doesn't know, first I'm the other person in the video, and second the line doesn't look this bad anywhere else. It was taken out of service late 2001 and has sat dormant since. NS still maintains the right of way but this half mile or so of track they leave untouched I guess for safety reasons. You can walk the rest of the line without trying to hike through a jungle.

This is my favorite place to go.

I agree. We already have enough rails to trails places in this nation! Prime example is the former Nickel Plate Road Indianapolid-Michigan City line! a good chunk of it is trailed over now. :(

I was there when they run N&W 611 over the grad back in 1992, wow, it so hard to believe its been over 20 years ago!!!! I helped with some of the videotapping with Saluda-611 Deux for American Alta Vista and to see the line today, so sad!!!!!

Nothing a coupla carloads of ballast won't shore up. *cough* Great job on the video.

Trains stopped running in December 2001. The line was severed and crossings bagged around 2003. The washout occurred late summer 2004 after three tropical storms in a matter of weeks. The line is NOT abandoned, which requires STB approval. It is "out of service". I believe NS has no intention to abandon OR reactivate the line. Abandonment would be an arduous and costly process dealing with adjoining property owners and rails to trails. Reactivation is too costly and there is no demand.

Interesting video, thanks for sharing. Cheers, Dan

Wow that's amazing.

And with all the rain we've had this summer, it's only going to get worse. Seems ns is keeping its options open for the line. Ten years is a long time to hold onto an unused asset. They are a well run company though and I'm sure they'll ultimately do what's best for the RR. Would make a great Rails to Trails candidate though.

Crikey that's looking rough, NS will sure have a fun time if they ever decide to re-open the grade. @Kvr3005 It's been closed since 2001 and I believe the washout occurred around 2008. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Cheers.

Did y'all park at the emergency switch and walk down? The last time I was there everything looked pretty kept up except for the broken signals and etc.. I've never felt comfortable leaving my truck at the bottom of the grade. And walking around

have you been back since? any more washouts?

DAMN DUDE!

That's just a sad sight for me ! I'm glad I got to visit saluda twice before this crap !

it be nice to clear it all out fix the wash out, and use those rail car's people use and ride the old abandoned rails just for fun. I wonder how long that abandoned stretch is.

Do the trains have a different line to go to

Is this part of the salida grade ? And is it still there ?

This the line that 611 stalled on while pulling an excursion train?

so how long has it been since NS stopped using that line ?

This is such a bummer.

not so familiar with Saluda Grade but is it where N&W 611 stalled in 92?

That's amazing that the track is still there

I can’t believe NS left the Route here

Naw, we can run one more train on these tracks!!

This washout looks so nasty, that the entire line might be irreparable. This is probably the end of the road for Saluda Grade as far as running trains goes. So sad. Norfolk Southern should just hand over the property to the State of North Carolina already, especially if they will no longer use this right of way. It would make a wonderful hiking and biking trail if the State used it for a "rails to trails" conversion. The community would greatly benefit from this type of a development.

Guess my Iphone pulled a spell check and I didnt see it. I meant that I don't think. I dont know how Iowa got there lol

So is that why they stopped using it and they should fix it and run on her again

bet NS is glad they stopped using that line.

LOL, guess I screwed up and my Iphone spell checked it to Iowa. Looks like I screwed that one up.

Shoot me a text next time you guys hike the line.

I hate rai.trails. Fix the line.