Saluda Grade
Encyclopedia
Saluda Grade is the steepest standard-gauge mainline
railway grade in the United States
. Owned by the Norfolk Southern Railway
as part of its W Line
, the Saluda Grade in Polk County, North Carolina
consists of a three-mile section of track that rises over 600 feet (182.9 m) in elevation with a highest official grade of 4.7% but reaching 5.1% at one point between the towns of Melrose and Saluda
.
Captain Charles W. Pearson was assigned in with the task of selecting a route for the Spartanburg and Asheville Railroad
to ascend the Blue Ridge
front; the area of land where the rolling hills of the piedmont come to an abrupt end at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Despite numerous surveys of the area, no suitable land was available for a railroad to ascend the mountains at a tolerable grade, and the best route found followed the Pacolet River
valley and gorge. The line begins its climb at the bottom of Melrose Mountain, where the town of Tryon
can be found today at 1081 feet (329.5 m), and continues on the southern side of the Pacolet valley. At Melrose, what is known as the Saluda Grade begins and climbs to the town of Saluda, cresting from the steepest ruling grade of 5.1% right in the center of town at an elevation of 2097 feet (639.2 m).
Because of numerous accidents involving downgrade runaway trains in the late 1880s, the then Southern Railway (the line's original owner) built special safety spur tracks along the route. These are manned junctions, which, for safety reasons, are always switched
to a 60 feet (18.3 m) pile of solid earth, which is capable of stopping downgrade runaway trains. Only upon hearing a special whistle signal from the downgrade train will the signalman manning the spur junction throw the switch to keep the train safely on the main line. Special elaborate rules were made by Southern, and later Norfolk Southern, in dealing with operations on this route.
Norfolk Southern suspended freight traffic between Landrum, South Carolina
and Flat Rock, North Carolina
in December 2001, thus ceasing operations on the Saluda Grade. The rails remain in place; however, they are cut and out of service. Talks of a passenger train excursion and a Rails-to-trails conversion have not made any headway in recent years.
Main line (railway)
The Mainline or Main line of a railway is a track that is used for through trains or is the principal artery of the system from which branch lines, yards, sidings and spurs are connected....
railway grade in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Owned by the Norfolk Southern Railway
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
as part of its W Line
W Line (Norfolk Southern)
The W Line is a railroad line owned and operated by the Norfolk Southern Railway in the U.S. states of North Carolina and South Carolina. It runs from Asheville, North Carolina southeasterly via Spartanburg, South Carolina to Columbia, South Carolina, but the portion northwest of Landrum, South...
, the Saluda Grade in Polk County, North Carolina
Polk County, North Carolina
Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2010, the population was 20,510. Its county seat is Columbus.-History:The county was formed in 1855 from parts of Henderson County and Rutherford County...
consists of a three-mile section of track that rises over 600 feet (182.9 m) in elevation with a highest official grade of 4.7% but reaching 5.1% at one point between the towns of Melrose and Saluda
Saluda, North Carolina
The City of Saluda is located in both Henderson and Polk counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 713 at the 2010 census. Saluda is famous for sitting at the top of the Norfolk Southern Railway's Saluda Grade, the steepest main line standard gauge railroad line east of the...
.
Captain Charles W. Pearson was assigned in with the task of selecting a route for the Spartanburg and Asheville Railroad
Spartanburg and Asheville Railroad
The Spartanburg and Asheville Railroad was a Southern United States railroad that served South Carolina and North Carolina in the years after the American Civil War....
to ascend the Blue Ridge
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
front; the area of land where the rolling hills of the piedmont come to an abrupt end at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Despite numerous surveys of the area, no suitable land was available for a railroad to ascend the mountains at a tolerable grade, and the best route found followed the Pacolet River
Pacolet River
The Pacolet River is a tributary of the Broad River, about 50 miles long, in northwestern South Carolina in the United States . One of its principal headwaters tributaries also drains a small portion of western North Carolina. Via the Broad and Congaree Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the...
valley and gorge. The line begins its climb at the bottom of Melrose Mountain, where the town of Tryon
Tryon, North Carolina
Tryon is a town in Polk County, North Carolina, United States. According to the 2000 Census the population of Tryon was 1,760. The area is a center for equestrian activity and fine arts....
can be found today at 1081 feet (329.5 m), and continues on the southern side of the Pacolet valley. At Melrose, what is known as the Saluda Grade begins and climbs to the town of Saluda, cresting from the steepest ruling grade of 5.1% right in the center of town at an elevation of 2097 feet (639.2 m).
Because of numerous accidents involving downgrade runaway trains in the late 1880s, the then Southern Railway (the line's original owner) built special safety spur tracks along the route. These are manned junctions, which, for safety reasons, are always switched
Railroad switch
A railroad switch, turnout or [set of] points is a mechanical installation enabling railway trains to be guided from one track to another at a railway junction....
to a 60 feet (18.3 m) pile of solid earth, which is capable of stopping downgrade runaway trains. Only upon hearing a special whistle signal from the downgrade train will the signalman manning the spur junction throw the switch to keep the train safely on the main line. Special elaborate rules were made by Southern, and later Norfolk Southern, in dealing with operations on this route.
Norfolk Southern suspended freight traffic between Landrum, South Carolina
Landrum, South Carolina
Landrum is a city in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 2,376 at the 2010 census.It was founded in 1880 and incorporated in 1912...
and Flat Rock, North Carolina
Flat Rock, North Carolina
Flat Rock is the name of some places in the U.S. state of North Carolina:*Flat Rock, Henderson County, North Carolina *Flat Rock, Stokes County, North Carolina...
in December 2001, thus ceasing operations on the Saluda Grade. The rails remain in place; however, they are cut and out of service. Talks of a passenger train excursion and a Rails-to-trails conversion have not made any headway in recent years.