The Tweetsie Railroad, Blowing Rock, North Carolina

by Ken Humphreys

The Tweetsie Railroad is a part of a theme amusement park and really does not provide much of a prototypical ride. The Tweetise Railroad has two vintage steam locomotives, #12 ("Tweetsie") and #190 ("Yukon Queen") which take passengers on a relatively short ride around the perimeter of the park, interrupted by gun fights, indian attacks, and other diversions for children. Numerous shows and amusement rides are available. The attraction for train buff is primarily just to see vintage narrow gauge locomotives in action, even though in a rather non-prototypical way.

The Tweetsie Railroad's premier locomotive is ex-East Tennesee & Western North Carolina #12, a 4-6-0 built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1917. The other locomotive is ex-US Army Transportation Corps and ex-White Pass & Yukon Railroad #190, built by Baldwin in 1943. #190 is a 2-8-2 Mikado. #12 weighs 82.5 toms and #190 weighs 105 tons. Both locomotives are coal powered.

The first four photos below were taken in July 2011. On that day, #190 was the operating locomotive and #12 was in the shop. The remaining photos of both locomotives were taken during the September 2011 National Narrow Gauge Convention which was held in Hickory, NC.

Click on each image below to see its full sized version. Hit your back button to return and view the next group of photos.


ImageDescription
Locomotive #190
Tender of locomotive #190
#190 and the Tweetsie water tank
Tweetsie passenger cars
Locomotive #12 under full steam on the Tweetsie trestle
#12 and #190 pulling their train across the trestle
#12 ready to move out
#190 waits behind #12
The 2011 National Narrow Gauge Convention special, #12 in the lead.


Prototype Images - Page 1
Prototype Images - Page 2
Prototype Images - Page 3
Prototype Images - Page 4
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