Bryson City Depot

Bryson City Depot
General information
Location	226 Everett Street Bryson City, North Carolina United States
Coordinates	35°25′49″N83°26′49″W / 35.4304°N 83.4469°W / 35.4304; -83.4469 Coordinates: 35°25′49″N83°26′49″W / 35.4304°N 83.4469°W / 35.4304; -83.4469
Owned by	Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Line(s)	Murphy Branch
Platforms	1 side platform
Tracks	3
Construction
Structure type	At-grade
Parking	Yes; paid
Accessible	Yes
Architect	J. D. Elliott
History
Opened	1895 (1895)
Rebuilt	1988
Original company	Southern Railway
Passengers
Roughly 200,000 a year [1] [2]
Former services
Preceding station Southern Railway Following station Bushnell toward Murphy Murphy Branch Whittier toward Asheville
Location

The Bryson City Depot is a train station located in Bryson City, North Carolina, United States. It serves as the only active station along the Murphy Branch , a rail line that traverses from Asheville to Murphy in Western North Carolina. Owned and operated by the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, it serves as both the begin and end point of various scenic excursion trains.

Location

Bryson City Depot is located at the intersection of Everett and Fry streets in downtown Bryson City. Adjacent to the station is MacNeill Park, dedicated to Malcolm and Joan MacNeill, who established the Great Smoky Mountains Railway. Nearby, within walking distance, is the Smoky Mountain Trains Museum, the Appalachian Rivers Aquarium, the Swain County Heritage Museum, the Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians, Riverfront Park, and Island Park. ^[3]

History

In November 1894, Southern Railway had contracted J. D. Elliott of Hickory to build a depot in Bryson City. A frame building with wooden ornament and broad eaves was completed in 1895. ^[4] Around the turn of the 20th century, four passenger trains, between Asheville and Murphy, would daily stop at the station. However, soon after the Second World War, passenger traffic had declined due to increasing popularity of the automobile. On July 16, 1948, passenger rail service was discontinued along the Murphy Branch and the station was closed. ^{[1] [5] [6]}

In 1988, the State of North Carolina purchased the Murphy Branch from Norfolk Southern, the successor of Southern Railway, after the line was abandoned for lack of freight traffic. The Great Smokey Mountains Railroad, which was formed that same year, secured a lease agreement along 53 miles (85 km) of track between Dillsboro and Andrews. The station was refurbished and began its second life serving tourists to the area. ^{[5] [7]}

Services

The train station, operated by the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, provides round-trip excursions through the Nantahala Gorge and along the Tuckasegee River. ^{[8] [9] [10]} Seasonal and themed round-trip excursions, including the Polar Express , are also available. ^{[11] [12]} Tickets and information are located in the depot, while public restrooms are located at an adjacent stand-alone building. Operating hours will vary depending on scheduled excursions planned for day.

Short-term and disability parking is available along Everett and Fry streets (free, two-hour limit). Same-day parking is located at 45 Mitchell Street, which requires a cash-only fee per vehicle (including motorcycle and RV). ^[13]

References

1. Murry, Mandy (December 4, 2020). "The Thing About Trains". Plateau Magazine. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
2. "10 Fun Facts About the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad". Watershed Cabins. December 28, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
3. "Best Things to do in Bryson City and the Great Smoky Mountains". Swain County Tourism Development Authority. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
4. "Bryson City Depot". NC State University Libraries . Retrieved February 27, 2023.
5. "History". Great Smoky Mountains Railroad . Retrieved February 27, 2023.
6. Sluder, Lan (June 9, 2014). Moving to the Mountains, Your Guide to Retiring or Relocating to Asheville and the North Carolina Mountains. Asheville, NC: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. p. 422. ISBN   9781499787740.
7. "The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad" (PDF). UNT Digital Library . Retrieved February 27, 2023.
8. "Nantahala Gorge Excursion". Great Smoky Mountains Expressway. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
9. "Tuckasegee River Excursion". Great Smoky Mountains Expressway. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
10. McCay, Tara Massouleh (January 30, 2023). "5 Stunning Train Rides To Take In North Carolina". Southern Living . Retrieved February 28, 2023.
11. "The Polar Express". Great Smoky Mountains Expressway. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
12. Harris, Phil (November 7, 2022). "'Polar Express' Train Rides Return To North Carolina". Charlotte, NC: WNKS . Retrieved February 28, 2023.
13. "Frequently Asked Questions: Where do we park?". Great Smoky Mountains Expressway. Retrieved February 28, 2023.

External links

• Media related to Bryson City Depot at Wikimedia Commons
• Great Smoky Mountains Railroad