Oct 1996
Valle Crucis & Doe River
Gorge


    

It's another lazy cool October morning at the
Valle Crucis campground as we relax before lunch.
After lunch Janice and I and my long time friend David
that I went to school with hit the road heading south
from Boone to Linville to look for remains of
the ET&WNC narrow gauge railroad that
ran from Boone to Johnson city Tennessee.
Following N C 181 to Newland and then onto secondary
road 1157 we seen the remains of a trussel.
After taking a photo we traveled on to U S highway 19E to Elk Park.
Crossing into Tennessee we could clearly see the remains of
the road bed following along side of U S 19E.


    
Big Nance cut on old railroad grade rd                                ET&WNC trussel              


At old railroad grade road the old road bed leaves highway 19E.
Old railroad grade road is built on top of the old road bed
from highway 19E for several miles before coming to a dead end.
From there the old road bed enters the Doe River Gorge.
There is a gate here so we had to enter from the west side
at the Doe River Gorge Christian Camp.


    
    Entrance to the Doe River Gorge                      David walking the narrow gauge tracks

For more photos of the Doe River Gorge
Click Here


After getting permission from the Christian camp people
we walked 3 miles into the gorge passing through two tunnels.
We were hoping to reach the two trussels but were not able to
because it was starting to get dark.
The Doe River Gorge is a very beautiful place I hope to return there someday.



Evening at Doe River Gorge Tunnel #2

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