Both of us woke up well rested at our Hyatt Regency Suites and after our own prepared breakfast, we went on our way...
It would be a one hour 20 minute drive to our destination.
The weather was foggy and very cloudy with some drizzle...
By 14:15 we arrived at our destination of BLUE RIDGE SCENIC RAILWAY
I'd ordered our tickets on line and we had to present proof of purchase at the ticket office...
Ticket office right around the corner.
A very small mountain village and our biggest challenge was for finding a parking space.
Luckily it was on a Sunday, so we could park behind a medical office where parking was prohibited from Monday thru Friday...
It was a little walking distance and going back, uphill it was more of a challenge for Pieter.
The 1 hour 21 minutes were correct and I was glad I selected the Interstate, not all the way but biggest part of this 129 kilometer stretch or 80 mile.
Here I stand in front of the very long BLUE RIDGE SCENIC RAILWAY
We had to walk to wagon 549... A 2 hour express train ride without a layover in Copperhill, Tennessee, due to COVID
There was no class difference in this train and for boarding we had to walk quite a stretch!
Somewhere in the middle of that stretch, they had a concession stand.
Pieter was a happy man here at 15:08 with his hot coffee!
Most Railways follow a river...
Fall colors were just starting out.
The river is again visible below.
It was a very rural area!
Crossing the river...
Across from the river we stopped in Copperhill, Tennessee but no layover due to COVID.
So sad for restaurants and shops that depend on the influx of tourists!
Yes, in times past copper was the main reason for this railway.
We started out in Blue Ridge on 241 Depot Street in the state of Georgia.
Across the river we arrived in Copperhill, Tennessee.
While using the app Relive and having my portable battery, I noticed that at times there was no signal.
But the way over was not the same route as the way back, there are different rails.
One such things that indicate that there was no signal is this weird sharp V-shape that we did not ride!
Guess due to the absence of any signal, the dots got connected a few seconds later but erroneously.
Our Relive video
The total was not more than 39.8 km or 24.7 mi and the average speed was 16.8 km/h or 10.4 mi/h.
Just outside of Copperhill, Tennesse and back on Georgia territory we passed through an extreme poor area. We got told by the guide that was in each wagon (talking loudly about what we were passing etc.) that there was a kind of a community vegetable garden.
Volunteers worked it and the actual crop would be divided among the poor families...
As from my childhood, we do recall that often a railway will pass by the back of homes and their tiny gardens or whatever. Often a lot of rubbish was visible too. The front from the street might have looked better... but not the back of those homes!
It was an okay railway experience but fell short in comparison with the previous one we took in Bryson City, North Carolina.
There is no service on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway and you get seated without any seat assignment.
Loud due to children and kind of noisy was one of the biggest differences we noticed.
But still we feel bad for that region and they MUST draw tourists for pouring in some more cash before any update or improvement can be made.
Just an oversight for Blue Ridge Scenic Railway tarifs
Before dark, we safely got back to our cozy Hyatt Regency Suites Atlanta Northwest for our supper and a good night rest. It was well chosen, for this Blue Ridge Scenic Railway adventure.
Related link:
