Carter County's Train History

In the late 1800s several railroad companies began expanding their tracks into the area, including the East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad (ET&WNC) and the Southern Railway. The construction of these railroads allowed for easier transportation of goods and people, leading to the growth and development of the local economy. One of the most notable events in Carter County's train history occurred in 1901 when the ET&WNC Railroad completed the construction of the famous Tweetsie Railroad which ran from Johnson City to Boone, North Carolina. The train became a popular tourist attraction and even today, a section of the railroad operates as a tourist train in nearby Blowing Rock, North Carolina. (Submitted by Anthony Von Plinsky)