Snowy Range Pass

Snowy Range Pass

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Assistant engineer



We left the ACOE campground early, so we could find a parking spot in Blue Ridge for the train ride.  We were expecting a bit of a walk to the train station in order to find a decent spot for the motorhome.  As it turned out, we found one pretty close to the train.  That meant we had some time for coffee before the big event.



After meeting up with the rest of our group, we boarded the train for the ride to McCaysville, TN.  Our grandson Aleister wore a special tag indicating that on the return trip he was going to be the junior engineer on the return leg.  This got him a lot of attention for the train crew.  They had him stand in the aisle of the rail-car and everyone onboard sang happy birthday to  him.  It was a bit hard to tell if he actually enjoyed it. 





The train traveled alongside the Toccoa River.  While not the most scenic train ride we have been on, it was a big hit with Aleister. 









On arrival, we had two hours to spend walking around McCaysville. I could not help but compare it to a cruise port.  It seemed that the town was set up to primarily serve the regular arrival of train tourists. Also like cruise ships they made it very clear that you should not miss the return departure as there was no public transportation from town. Like the cruise ports, this day there was two trains in town at the same time.  Another one parked nose to nose with ours and must have come from north TN.  


Walking around town we found the spot where you could stand in the middle of the bridge with one foot in TN and the other GA.




There was also a nearby plaque that was a stark reminder of a time when the  relationship between TN and GA was not very good.  This was truly a border town between states, ideas and for several long years, enemies.  Maybe that is why the drug store still sells guns.




10 comments:

Jim and Sandie said...

Maybe not as scenic but a fantastic time with Aleister which is the best ever.

Wanderin' said...

Kids are all supposed to like trains. However, it's not just the kids. I think just about all of us like taking rides on the trains.

Sue and Doug said...

a great day for your grandson and good one for the two of you too! nice to make memories with the little ones..they are only little for such a short time!

Sherry said...

I'm betting that's a birthday he will recall in future years as one of the best ones ever! Grandparents are important to children. I know because I didn't have any.

where's weaver said...

What a fabulous experience for Aleister. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I can just image all the excited he must have had. What a great gift!

Paul and Marti Dahl said...

That drug store would give Bloomberg high blood pressure if he saw it. But at least he'd be able to buy medicine there to lower it... :cD

A truly memorable trip for your little guy!

Bob and Jo said...

What a great day!

Rick said...

Nothing like a great train ride no matter how young or old you are.

Drug & Gun?? Only in America!!

Erin said...

My nephew was just a couple years old when we took him on a train ride. He always had a love of trains, and the ride clinched it for him. Like Aleister, he got a lot of attention from the crew, leaving the train with an engineer's cap that he still has.

Sweet Meanderings said...

What a fun trip! It's funny how boys - big and little - just love trains. I'm glad you got to experience with Aleister.
Candy