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Murphy N.C. Real Estate-Train Eyeing Stop in Murphy-Cherokee County N.C.

October 4th, 2010 2:46 PM

Train eying stop in Murphy N.C. Passenger rail service possible for Cherokee County!

Murphy-Cherokee County is on the N.C. Department of Transportation radar screen for future rail service.

"We consider [Cherokee County rails] a valuable line and we want to get it in condition for passenger or excursion [service],"said Steve Head,coordinating supervisor with N.C. Department of Transportation's Railroad Division.We are not excluding freight."

Mayor Bill Hughes said Head "put out some feelers about having rail excursions into Murphy". possibly three atbridges need to be repaired before that can happen. Head said with state financial constraints,possibly one bridge per year can be repaired.

Steve said they,
have finished a short line in Gaston and will make Murphy a priority,Hughes said."We plan on budgeting some funds toward repair of the bridges {between Andrews and Murphy},Head said. There is no definitive timetable."

The DOT owns the rail lines between Andrews and murphy. Work needs to be done so the line can be leased to a short line operator.

In my personal opinion,I think the future for Murphy branch line lies with passenger excursion lines,Head said. Murphy,with its beautiful downtown,would lend itself to train service.

"We have accessed the bridges and determined what needs to be done. We hope to repair one bridge this year. Wr have done an engineering review and now have an engineering report that details what needs to be done. Its is not inexpensive.Now we need to move forward to make the repairs.

"Great Smoky Mountain has success in their line. We have had no discussions with them,I plan to discuss it with them. We discussed it a few years ago,and the economy went south."

A business plan and negotiations with an operator will come next,Head said.

Murphy Councilman Frank Dickey said the rail line runs directly through land wjere the eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has proposed to build a gaming facility.

Hughes said an Andrews resident knows Al Harper , owner of Great Smokey Mountain Railroad,which runss an excursion line out of Bryson City.

The owner reportedly told him he is interested in running a line from Andrews,where his line stops,to Tomotla, where the gaming facility may be located,Hughes said.Head said a gaming facility would bring jobss and could be a destination for trains. It would be another attraction for future passenger service.

"One of the bigs motivational may be a casino built in Tomotla. factors probably got their attention,"Huges said."If they come to Tomotla,why not come to Murphy?' We could make passenger excursions profitable.

'Great Smoky Mountain would be the most logical choice [for an operator].We are seeing more interest on all levels. We are looking at many possibilities. We have to get the [Murphy] depot in good shape and get the bridges fixed. This is the firet time in years I have been this optimistic [about getting rail service]'.
Head noted that the rail division is doing maintennce to Murphy on the Andrews to Murphy line every year.A few years ago,every Fifth crosstie was replaced. The rails are "in pretty good shape," he said.

Hughes said funding might be available for bridge repair for the rail line if it could be shown that it would create jobs and enhance tourism.

"We have to get the bridges repaired.I hope we can get them repaired sooner than two years," he said.Hughes said he rode on the last train to come to Murphy 17 years ago.He got to ride in the engine while holding his grangson,who was about 3 years old then.
This came out of the Cherokee Scout.
www.mountainwineandhomes.com Murphy North Carolina Your Mountain View Specialist, Jack Shingler Broker, Coldwell Banker High Country Realty 866-835-8500 or 321-279-1049 Jack Shingler.

Posted by Jack Shingler on October 4th, 2010 2:46 PMPost a Comment (0)