Smoky Mountain Railways

The Great Smoky Mountains were a remote and inaccessible place with no major highways or railroads until well after the Civil War. Using first enslaved and later convict labor — which was in effect legalized slavery — the WNCRR and Murphy Branch connected the mountains with the remainder of the state by 1891. The history of the line is story like no other — a tale of tragedy, heroism, brains, blood, sweat and tears, nitroglycerin and humor.

Join award winning local authors Bob and Jacob Plott as they tell the story of a line that refused to die and the resurgence of the GSMR today. Program will be followed by a book signing, and a question and answer session with the authors.