The 141-mile S-line between Asheville and Salisbury is closed for as much as two weeks while crews repair washouts in the section known as the Loops between Ridgecrest, N.C., and Old Fort, N.C. This section includes 13 miles of twisting, curving track to cover three air miles. This section is flush with six tunnels, 11 bridges over Mill Creek, high fills, and grades of up to 2.7 percent.
The Biltmore Village section of Asheville, where the S-line and the line to Skyland power plant (former line to Spartanburg, S.C., via Saluda grade), join near the east end of Asheville yard was underwater. The nearby CSX loops north of Marion and south of Spruce Pine also suffered damage.
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency due to the flooding and landslides.
By the description given here, it seems like this line would be a good candidate for abandonment. Is there freight that cannot be moved to an alternate route?
It would be a good time now to rethink repairing this line and build an air-line to eliminate the many curves.
We drove there on our NC and WV trip 2 years ago and even though we did not get to see a train, it was very impressive. I know there were spots near the Geyser where the line had been reinforced. We had just missed a train, as we pulled into town of Old Fort, a NS train was just pulling into town too after coming off the Loops But at least we did get to see it and know what it looks like.
CHARLES STARK
I could be wrong but I believe “S-Line” is a CSX term for former Seaboard Coast Line routes. The line in this article is a former Southern Railway line.
Mr. Stark: You are right and you are wrong. The “S-Line” on CSX is indeed the former Seaboard Air Line route through the Carolinas (used by AMTRAK’S Silver Star).
The Norfolk Southern (nee Southern Railway) line in North Carolina between Salisbury and Paint Rock (via Asheville) is also designated “S-Line” by Norfolk Southern. This is the line referred to in the article.
I could be wrong but I believe “S-Line” is a CSX term for former Seaboard Coast Line routes. The line in this article is a former Southern Railway line.
The editors do not generally read the commentary in this section. If you want to make a point, you have to directly address them.
“Damanged” a day later without correction. Mr. Wrinn; please use spell-check.
Damanged? Is that a cross between damaged and mangled?