Great Smoky Moutains

Tuckasegee River Excursion

Apr 1999 / JCH

tuckasegee_inset The Tuckasegee River (variant spellings include Tuckaseegee and Tuckaseigee) flows entirely within western North Carolina. It begins its course in Jackson County above Cullowhee at the confluence of Panthertown and Greenland creeks. It flows in a northwesterly direction into Swain County, where it joins the Oconaluftee before heading northwest. Bryson City developed along both sides of the river around this area, and Bryson City Island Park was developed. The river next enters Fontana Lake and ultimately flows as a tributary into the Little Tennessee River. The name Tuckasegee may be an anglicisation of the Cherokee word daksiyi—[takhšiyi] in the local Cherokee variety, meaning 'Turtle Place.'

Wikipedia

GSM brochure / collection

1955 Official Guide / collection

In the spring of 1999, during my last year of seminary, my dad and I enjoyed one of our week-long railfan journeys — this one taking us across the state of North Carolina. By the time of our visit to Dillsboro, the Great Smoky Mountains Railway had been operating for a decade, and having watched its growth from afar we were anxious to give them a ride. We rode the Tuckasegee River Excursion, which at that time was based out of Dillsboro and ran to Bryson City and return — the opposite of how the current operation runs (and the more recent brochure clipping above). Even so, the route was then and remains a beautiful ride through the western North Carolina countryside and along the fast-flowing Tuckasegee River. We were grateful that GSMR's boxy-looking ex US Army steamer was on the point, working hard with such a large train full of heavyweights ... with Geep 9 #711 pushing on the rear and still painted in a fictitious scheme for a recent movie shooting. Indeed, confused, I remember asking the conductor about #711: "What shortline is that?" He laughed and said, "It isn't one!" and then told me about the filming of "Forces of Nature." I was struck then, and have been with every visit since, just how long and impressive GSM's trains present, especially gliding in and out of so many curves on the meandering Murphy Branch. Despite the gloomy skies that day, dad and I had a great ride and a wonderful introduction to what is arguably the prettiest tourist railroad in the eastern United States.

1993 brochure / collection

Dillsboro

GSM route map / RWH

Dillsboro was originally known as New Webster to distinguish it from the older Jackson County seat town just 3 miles to the East. In 1889, the state legislature approved the change of name to Dillsboro to honor William Allen Dills who had selected the site, locating it on his farm.

dillsboro_inset The Dills house, which was the first house in Dillsboro, is still standing and is now occupied by Riverwood Shops, located on a hill overlooking Scott's Creek and the Tuckaseigee River. Mr. Dills operated the town's first post office from his home.

The town had started to come into its own in 1883 due to the new railroad and the advent of tourism in the area. Just before the turn of the century, Dillsboro was the largest non-county seat town west of Asheville with about 750 residents.

Dillsboro grew up around the railroad, providing goods and services for those who used the Southern Railway and became an important transportation center for local industry. Two passenger trains and two freight trains operated daily between Asheville to the East and Murphy to the West. The freight for Franklin was hauled in covered wagons, which camped twice a week on Depot Square.

Dillsboro has been a tourist town since 1886 when visitors began to arrive by train and spend several weeks. Word spread about the cool summers and beautiful mountain scenery. It is often stated that the first summer visitors were the Misses Nellie and Hattie Norfleet of Edenton, North Carolina, and perhaps were the first women cigarette smokers the locals had ever seen.

Town of Dillsboro