Wow. Sad to see those photos. It will take a huge investment to reopen that line. Unless there is a massive injection of money, such as Federal help, I fear that it is done.
Regarding hurricane damage to NS in western NC, NS will repair the line between Newport, TN and Asheville, NC, but the work will be completed no sooner than late January 2025. To the east, the line between Asheville and Old Fort, NC (which includes the Loops) awaits the results of an analysis to determine if it's even needed.
As seen in the railroad media, NS's food-damaged bridge at Newport, TN over the Pigeon River collapsed last week. It's on the ruined line to Asheville. NS was aware of the bridge's precarious state and it was not in use. I shot the second picture of the bridge in better times, with NKP 587 en route to Asheville on 07/21/1989.
Wow, didn't look like a big bridge, till I looked at your second pic! Middle pier must've been undermined by the water and collapsed. Mother Nature can be beautiful, and down right terrifying as well.
NS's hope is to have the Newport <=> Asheville line restored by 01/31/2025. There's been no announcement regarding the line that accesses Asheville from the east via Old Fort. It too is deeply wrecked.
