My ears start to pop when we pass Hickory on 321N headed to Blowing Rock. All of a sudden, I notice that we're definately in the mountains. And it's easy to see why they call them the Blue Ridge! A soft, bluish haze fades acoss the rolling hills. Fog dances along the peaks. I have to keep my eyes on the curving road and call out for my little passenger to look over there! We notice the giant wall of rocks behind a fence on one side matched with the depth of the forest valley on the other. Cars pull off the road at local produce stands. The Tweetsie billboard appears ahead. We're almost there.
Around the curve we spot the entrance. As we pull into the parking lot, the little man is wiggling with excitement. Climbing the concrete stairs, I can see the building on a hilltop. As he gets unbuckled, I grap our travel pack and slather on the sunscreen, give him his hat, and throw the camera in my bag.
We scurry up the walkway. Puffs of smoke rise toward the sky. The sound of the train's bell matches the rhythm of our steps. If we hurry, we can make the first train of the day! We look for a window seat on the right side of the last car. The conductor rides in the last car, and you can look behind you to see where you've been!
Two views are important from the train at TWEETSIE. If you sit on the left, you get a good view of the cowboy antics in town before the train leaves the station. They have mics so everyone on the train can hear clearly. If you sit on the right, you'll be able to see better the show at the outpost and Fort Boone.
Casey Jones informs the passengers about the history of TWEETSIE and the E.T. & W.N.C. Railroad. (To help you remember the name, think EAT TATERS and WEAR NO CLOTHES!) Cowboards hop on the train cars. ALL ABOARD! The conductor gives the OK signal. TWEETSIE chugs smoke and everyone in town waves.
The best place to listen for the famous TWEETSIE whistle is right before the trestle at the beginning of the ride. I keep my camera video running to capture the same sound folks heard way back in the early 1900's when the train provided lots more than transportation, and TWEETSIE was the icon of mountain culture.
