WASHINGTON — Norfolk Southern has filed a notice to abandon 31.3 miles of the long-inactive Saluda Grade in North and South Carolina, a prelude to previously announced plans to sell that section of the route to a consortium of groups who plan to create a biking and hiking trail.
The abandonment would be effective Dec. 20, 2024, 50 days after the notice was filed with the Surface Transportation Board on Oct. 31. The notice explains there have been no customers on the line for more than 20 years, and that the railroad has no plan to salvage the “rail and related track material,” and will make no other changes to the existing roadbed.
The notice indicates that the railroad “is currently in discussions with a local entity concerning possibly establishing a trail over the line.” The Saluda Grade Trail Conservancy announced in August that it had signed a contract with Norfolk Southern to purchase the right-of-way, and had 12 months from that point raise the funding to complete the transaction [see “Groups sign contract to purchase Saluda Grade,” Trains News Wire, Aug. 7, 2024]. Terms of the sale remain confidential at the request of Norfolk Southern.
Idle since 2001, the former Southern Railway route was once the steepest mainline grade in America, with a 4.7% incline including a brief stretch at 5.1%.
O have seen and HEARD a train on that grade was an experience never to be forgotten! Glad it will remain as a trail. Thanks NS.