Re: Depot elevations & Balsam Mtn. Inn
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David Pressley
Balsam was the highest standard guage station east of the Mississippi......but then you have the great plains.....a number of stations in eastern Colorado were at the 5,000 foot elevation already and yet they too were 'east' of the Rockies.
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Mike West <west9628@bellsouth.net> wrote: There was no RR station on top of Roan Mountain. There was a hotel on Roan Mtn at 6000 feet. The highest elevation on the ETWNC was at Linville Gap and that was 4045 feet at the Continental Divide. That point was also the highest point east of the Rockies served by a passenger train. While Linville Gap was only a flag stop with a small shelter in the 1930s, it is now the location of a gas station and fast food joint.mw
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From: Tweetsie@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Tweetsie@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of raea Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 12:25 AM To: Tweetsie@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Tweetsie] Depot elevations & Balsam Mtn. Inn My husband and I had lunch at the Balsam Mountain Inn this past weekend. It's in Balsam, N.C., along the railroad where it crosses Balsam Mountain. The hotel's literature says, Nestled at 3500 feet in the Plott Balsam mountain range, Balsam was for many years home to the highest railroad station east of the Rockies. The Asheville-to-Murphy branch of the Southern Railway was built in the mid-1880s, allowing vacationing city folk an easy journey up to take in the rejuvenating mountain air. We were wondering how that compares to the ET&WNC depot elevations. The railroad still runs in front of the hotel, although the depot has been moved a short distance away and looks like someone is trying to use it as a dwelling or possibly restore. Picture: http://tinyurl.com/2zqjly We figured the hotel is similar to the one that used to stand on top of Roan Mountain. Lunch was GREAT, so if you can't afford the rooms ($145/nt and way up), at least stop in for a weekend lunch. They let you explore the entire inn. You can even look into the rooms that are unoccupied. The hotel website is www.balsammountaininn.com. It's very easy to find, it's about half a mile off US 74 right past the Blue Ridge Parkway. It would be a good lunch or dinner spot if you ever visit the GSMRR in Dillsboro. - Rae Augenstein --------------------------------- Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.
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