Singing in the Rain
by Debra and Dave Vanderlaan
Title
Singing in the Rain
Artist
Debra and Dave Vanderlaan
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Singing in the Rain
by Debra and Dave Vanderlaan
Hiking along
an old railroad track
in the Smoky Mountains
near Granny Squirrel, North Carolina,
the rain-slick rails and cross-ties
led into a tunnel dynamited
into the mountain.
This area is so historical
with the old railway,
an old trestle in near-by Murphy,
North Carolina, and is the beginning
of the Trail of Tears
for the Cherokee Indians
who were relocated out west.
The tracks between Andrews and Murphy are still in place but have not been in use since the late 1980s after Norfolk Southern decided to close the leg because of a lack of freight traffic. When the railroad began eying the rest of the Murphy Branch past Dillsboro for closure the state of North Carolina stepped in and purchased the tracks to keep the right-of-way alive. It later sold the tracks to the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad which had leased them from the state for a number of years. This section of the Murphy Branch has the distinction of being the first stretch of track the state ever purchased in modern times and began a long running practice for the state of North Carolina that eventually became the state's "Rails to Trails" program which maintains railroad rights-of-way for future use.
The Murphy Branch was extremely important to Southwestern North Carolina in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as it opened up the isolated and rural mountains west of Asheville to the outside world allowing easy travel and improved commerce. It can easily be said with confidence that these tracks made Western North Carolina what it is today.
www.CelebrateLifeGallery.com
Uploaded
August 25th, 2011
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Viewed 3,652 Times - Last Visitor from Cambridge, MA on 04/26/2024 at 8:01 AM
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Comments (161)
Gull G
“I try more and more to be myself, caring relatively little whether people approve or disapprove.” —Vincent Van Gogh 💖 Congratulations on your recent sale of this amazing Work!
Debra and Dave Vanderlaan
James, thanks for your congrats and compliment! Celebrate life, Debra and Dave
Debra and Dave Vanderlaan
Enzwell, thanks for your Feature in our group Mystery! Celebrate life, Debra and Dave
Debra and Dave Vanderlaan
Ian, thanks for your Favorite of our artwork! Celebrate life, Debra and Dave
Tony Lee
What a pleasant railway, and the wet wooden ties just makes it better. Hoping y'all didn't get too wet! Stay dry!!
Gary Richards
As a kid I used to hike for miles down railroad tracks...of course, my parents did not much approve of my outings. LOL Images like yours bring back many memories of those railroad hikes.
Debra and Dave Vanderlaan
Michael, thanks for your Feature in our group Moss Algae Lichen! Celebrate life, Debra and Dave
Debra and Dave Vanderlaan
Michael, thanks for your Favorite of our art! Celebrate life, Debra and Dave
Debra and Dave Vanderlaan
Christy, thanks for admiring our colors in our image! Celebrate life, Debra and Dave
Debra and Dave Vanderlaan
Christopher, thanks for your Feature in our group 1000 Views! Celebrate life, Debra and Dave
Christopher James
One of your peers nominated this image in the 1000 views Groups nominated images by your fellow artist in the Special Features #10 promotion discussion. Please visit and pass on the love to another artist.
Debra and Dave Vanderlaan
Karen, thanks for your nomination in our group 1000 views! Celebrate life, Debra and Dave
Debra and Dave Vanderlaan
Christopher, thanks for your Feature in our group 100 Views! Celebrate life, Debra and Dave
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