Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

Bryson City, NC
Wooden railroad trestle spans a shallow creek, its angled timber supports crisscrossing beneath a track deck, set amid bare trees and brown, leaf-strewn banks in a quiet forest.
Project Info
  • Client: Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
  • Owner: American Heritage Railways
Services
Sectors

The railroad, originally constructed in 1880, was a freight line to connect to Atlanta. Situated close to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it has since been designated as a historical monument and is now solely a scenic rail line for tourism.

Martin/Martin investigated and assessed 25 bridge structures and two tunnels. The bridges (steel truss, timber truss, steel girder, and timber stringer) were investigated and repaired, as needed, to enhance load capacity, while preserving their aesthetics and historic character. Annual assessments are ongoing.

Rusty steel railway trestle stretches across a calm reservoir toward tree-covered hills with autumn foliage, its lattice reflected in the water beneath a pale sky.

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