June 21, 2007 issue
The East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad Historical Association Keeps High Country Railroad History Alive
Story by Ron Fitzwater
There are historical societies and groups for just about everything you can think of. Civil and Revolutionary war reenactments and Celtic heritage events are just a few of the more familiar ones to most people. There is one society however, that doesn’t seem to get a lot of notice in spite of the importance of the history they are keeping alive.
The East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad Historical Society was founded in 1989 with a handful of ET&WNC Railroad enthusiasts and designated non-profit in 1992. The society now has approximately 500 loyal followers of the little narrow gauge railroad, intent on preserving the history of the line that built industry, trade and populations in the High Country.
The society holds an annual convention in June, in the ET&WNC area, and has been instrumental in helping preserve several of the few remaining pieces of rolling stock. The society also preserves artifacts, photos and historical documents pertaining to the ET&WNC Railroad Company and subordinate entity Linville River/Tweetsie Railroad.
The 2007 convention, held last weekend, highlighted the 50th anniversary of Tweetsie Railroad amusement park and the 90th 
Birthday of engine No. 12 Tweetsie. Members spent the weekend touring sites of particular importance, including the old Linville Depot that the society in conjunction with the Avery County Historical Society is attempting to preserve and move to the Avery County Museum site in Newland.
Members of the society come from all walks of life and several states, but all share a passion for the narrow gage line that ran through the High Country from 1882 to 1941 when floods spawned by a hurricane washed out the tracks and eventually led to the abandonment of the railway by the ET&WNC.
“My interest in the society comes from the fact that I grew up in Johnson City and I moved to Banner Elk in 1981. The railroad was an important part of connecting High Country towns together. If you have ever driven on Highway 19-E, you can see a good part of it follows the railway until you get below Roan Mountain. The impact that the railroad had on the area is simply summed up; Had it not been for the ET&WNC a lot of those towns would not exist,” said Joel Shipley, member ET&WNC Railroad Historical Society.
One of the major events of the weekend was when the society spent some time with the folks at Tweetsie Railroad. The members were treated with several loops around the railway where they were able to photograph No. 12 as she moved along the line, access to the maintenance areas where the park’s staff maintains the engines and a catered dinner after the rides ended. A major highlight of the day was the reunion for the first time in 80 years, of four original number plates from ET&WNC engines 8,9,11 and 12. The plates with the exception of No.12 are currently in private collections.
The convention ended with a train ride through the remaining Doe River Gorge part of the ET&WNC line and trip to the Johnson City Depot.
Membership in the society is $15 annually and includes a subscription to the society’s bi-annual magazine called the Blue Ridge Stemwinder. The publication explores the history of the ET&WNC Railroad through photographs and historical accounts of the company.
For information about becoming a member contact John R. Waite, Secretary ET&WNC Railroad Historical Society at 573-659-9192, write to 265 Madeline’s Park Circle Jefferson City, MO 65109, or email waite.john@mchsi.com.
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