This letter to the editor is in response to the article “Saluda Grade rail trail may be closer than ever to reality,” published in the August 5 edition of the Greenville Journal.
With the recent news about the potential conversion of the abandoned “Saluda Grade” right of way (ROW) of the N-S Railroad into a “Rails to Trails” venue, I’m late to the party in sharing a vision I’d formed some years ago on an alternative (or more likely co-located) use of that ROW as a unique national tourist attraction.
I submit this concept to the Journal since the number of affected decision makers and influencers is simply too broad to approach individually.
The 31-mile “Saluda Grade” trackage, having not only natural beauty, a unique history and proximity to several small towns with existing tourist appeal, offers the best venue in the nation for an eight- to 10-car Doodlebug circuit, utilizing day passes for unlimited on/off privileges, such that visitors can combine the unique enjoyment of the entire 31-mile stretch at their leisure, without requiring those less physically enabled (including handicapped and disabled folks!) to peddle or walk up/down a 1,000-foot grade.
A “Bug” would pass continuously in each direction every 30 minutes (eight bugs at eight mpr equals a two-hour transit of the length per bug, thus four bugs at any time in each direction achieves the 30-minute interval), and the system might be designed for slight enlargement by rating the power Bugs to pull up to two additional cars.
Obviously, the vertical grade requires a robust Bug design, which entails significant engineering, as there are no known (to me) current Bug manufacturing operations. While the overall scenario would by no means be cheap relative to a trail conversion, it does have the distinct advantage of utilizing most all existing trackage (the slip can be fixed!), the removal of which is known by all to be very expensive.
With the very low speed of the Bugs, a rail trail alongside the line should be safe and workable, and the ability of the Bugs themselves to stop for traffic simplifies, and in many cases eliminates, crossing signaling. Passing trackage for Bugs going opposite directions are mostly in place. Numerous options are beyond the scope of this brief introduction — for example, should Bugs be electric, with overhead power on the 31 miles of track? Could the Bugs catch a five-minute rapid charge at each stop in the towns and operate entirely on batteries?
The system would be one of a kind, with no competing setup anywhere in the country, offering a throwback to a simpler time, while simultaneously affording visitors a practical means of exploring both the economic and natural landscape of the entire length.
If during peak tourism season, 80 passenger Bugs were 100% full (the on/off privileges translate to an ability to sell maybe 300% of the available instantaneous seat capacity), and 25% of the Bug passenger load exited at each town stop, each community on the line could have a massive inflow of visitors (I can’t bring myself to publish the number, as it would be laughed at).
Folks would see this as a destination visit. Somewhat parallel to the public relations benefit that the Union Pacific “steam” operation yields for the Union Pacific Railroad, it might be possible to approach Norfolk Southern from a similar perspective, wherein N-S would maintain the ROW as a charitable endeavor. I’m certain I’ve overrun my space allocation. A dream can’t become reality unless it’s shared!
(Note: While I have no financial interest in whether my dream becomes reality, I do own a small stretch of land in Landrum that fronts the ROW, although I envision no commercial benefit from my land from this endeavor.)
– Jeff Ferguson
