Customer Reviews

The Tallulah Falls Railroad

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An apt description of the Tallulah Falls railroad might be that it went nowhere, carried nothing, but my, wasn't it lovely. That the railroad spent much of its history in receivership is little surprise given the lack of long-lived revenue-producing industry or interchanges on the line.

I first became interested in the T.F.Rwy as a young man on family vacation trips through the area. The abandoned right of way of the railroad was still visible in many places, and even without the rails one could get a clear sense of this railroad's scenic beauty. One could feel nostalgic over its demise even having never seen it in operation. A testament to its beauty is that a couple of major movies were filmed on the railroad. "I'd Climb the Highest Mountain" with Susan Hayward featured the T.F.Rwy in opening scenes, and Disney's "The Great Locomotive Chase" was almost entirely filmed on the line. (There was a rumor that Walt Disney himself was so taken with the beauty of the line he made inquiries into purchasing it for development as a scenic tourist railroad. No doubt the large debt load carried by the railroad was a discouraging factor, but ah, what might have been!)

This book is the best single compilation of photos of the old T. F. I have seen. The text is informative, but it's the pictures (all in glorious black and white of course) that make this book a great find. And at the price it's offered, I consider it a steal! Anyone interested in Appalachian style mountain railroads, spectacular scenery (some forty-plus breathtaking rickety wooden trestles in fifty-eight miles!), rural life, or rural Americana in general should grab this book! And modelers take note: there are plenty of good photos and information on the T.F.'s rolling stock, trackside structures and much more.

Highly recommended!