Over 15 years after the shut down of the Saluda Grade, the old signals at Melrose are lit once again, this time by a spotlight placed inside the head, not the bulbs the signal was birthed with.

The signal down along Pearsons Falls Road, about half way down the Saluda grade, stands lone on another empty night in the North Carolina mountains.

15 years and counting. The dwarf signal at the West End Saluda is dark, as it's been for the past 15 years as the grade sits silently in the North Carolina mountains.

The fall colors are in their full splendor on the famous Saluda grade, as the classic Southern Railway 28 milepost sign sees yet another season pass with no rail activity.

WORTH NO SLEEP (copyright Tj M. Murrah)

The beautifully restored Landrum, South Carolina depot is lit up nicely on a cool and windy night. The foreground tracks are on the abandoned stretch of the W-Line towards the famed Saluda grade.

There are those events to which we can look back and say "I'm glad I was there". This was such an event. "We don't need no stinking diesels!" Up the steepest mainline grade... (more)

Belmont coal train coming through Saluda, NC

They have made it to the top of the grade.

Part of a westbound train struggles up Saluda Grade. They are about halfway to the top.

Part of a westbound train approaches the west end of Saluda Siding. There they will couple with the first of their train brought up on an earlier trip.

Another section of train #171 works up Saluda Grade.

A westbound for Asheville. The power for #171 eases through downtown Saluda to get their third section at Melrose.

A Norfolk Southern Inspection train approaches Melrose at the bottom of Saluda Grade.

An eastbound cruises through Tryon after descending Saluda Grade.