ET&WNC | Locomotives

East Tennessee & Western North Carolina Railroad Locomotives

The ET&WNC’s locomotive history is a rare example of a railroad that maintained “dual-gauge” operations for decades, keeping a foot in both the nineteenth-century world of narrow-gauge steam and the twentieth-century world of heavy industrial diesel.

The Narrow-Gauge Era (1881–1950)

The railroad’s identity was forged in 1881 with the completion of its narrow-gauge (3-foot) line. To navigate the tight curves of the Doe River Gorge, the ET&WNC relied on small, agile steam locomotives.

• Early Power: The first engines were primarily 2-8-0 Consolidations, built by Baldwin Locomotive Works. These were workhorses designed to haul iron ore and timber through steep grades.
• The Golden Age: Between 1904 and 1919, the railroad acquired its most famous engines: three 4-6-0 “Ten-Wheelers” (Numbers 10, 11, and 12). These locomotives were the backbone of the line, capable of handling both heavy freight and the “Linville River” passenger service.
• The Legend of No. 12: Built in 1917, No. 12 is the only surviving narrow-gauge ET&WNC steam engine. It served the line until the narrow-gauge operations were abandoned in 1950 and eventually became the star of the Tweetsie Railroad theme park.

The Standard-Gauge Transition (1900s–1950s)

While the narrow-gauge tracks went deep into the mountains, the ET&WNC also maintained standard-gauge operations between Johnson City and Elizabethton to interchange with major railroads.

• Switching and Freight: The standard-gauge roster included smaller 0-6-0 switchers and larger 2-8-0 Consolidations.
• The “Southern” Influence: In the early 1950s, after the narrow-gauge tracks were pulled up, the railroad purchased two heavy 2-8-0s from the Southern Railway (#207 and #208). These became local celebrities, as they were among the last steam locomotives in regular commercial service in the United States, operating well into the diesel era.

The Rise of Diesel (1960s–1980s)

By the late 1960s, the charm of steam could no longer compete with the efficiency of internal combustion for the ET&WNC.

• ALCO Power: The ET&WNC modernized its standard-gauge operations with ALCO RS-3 and RS-32 diesel locomotives. These rugged engines handled the remaining industrial switching chores in the Johnson City area.
• The End of the Line: Through the 1970s and early 1980s, these diesels maintained the railroad’s presence until the company was eventually sold. Some of the Johnson trackage is still operated today.

Standard Gauge

The passing of an era, the last day of steam in Fall of 1967.

Steam Engines: Narrow and standard gauge

Photo: Standard gauge engine #828 on the left, narrow gauge locomotive #7 on the right. Cy Crumley Collection at StateOfFranklin.net

Locomotive Roster

Across a span of one-hundred years, the locomotive roster for ET&WNC includes both narrow-gauge and standard-gauge steam engines and standard-gauge diesels. The narrow-gauge ceased operation in 1950. The standard-gauge that ran from Johnson City to Elizabethton was sold to the East Tennessee Railway in 1983.

Number	Type	Builder	Year	Retired/Sold
Narrow Gauge Steam
1 (Watauga)	2-6-0	Baldwin	1880	1912
2 (Cranberry)	2-6-0	Baldwin	1881	1910
3 (Unaka)	2-8-0	Baldwin	1882	1911
4	2-8-0	Baldwin	1902	?
5	2-8-0	Baldwin	1903	1940
6	2-8-0	Baldwin	1904	1935
7	0-8-0	Alco-Brooks	1906	1940
8 (First #8)	4-6-0	Baldwin	1907	1920
8 (Second #8)	4-6-0	Baldwin	1926	1939
9	4-6-0	Baldwin	1911	1950
10	4-6-0	Baldwin	1916	1942
11	4-6-0	Baldwin	1916	1950
12 (Tweetsie RR)	4-6-0	Baldwin	1917	1949
14	4-6-0	Baldwin	1919	1942
28	2-6-0	Baldwin	1913	1936
Standard-Gauge Steam
204	2-8-0	Lima	1922	1955
205	0-6-0	Baldwin	1906	1952
206	2-6-0	Brooks	1900	1956
207	2-8-0	Alco Richmond	1904	1967
208	2-8-0	Baldwin	1904	1967
828	2-8-0	Baldwin	1899	1937
Diesel
209	RS-3	Alco	1950	1983
210	RS-3	Alco	1950	1983
211	RS-32	Alco	1962	1999

ET&WNC Sources & Resources

The following are excellent resources for those of you wanting to explore and learn more about the ET&WNC Railroad. These sources of information also serve as reference and historical materials for Appalachian-Railroads.org. Much of the content on the website is verified across multiple sources.

• Archives:
  • Archives of Appalachia
• Associations:
  • ET&WNC Railroad Historical Society and their Facebook Page
  • George L. Carter Railroad Historical Society (Johnson City Railroad Experience)
• Personal Maps & Memorabilia: Documents, maps, timetables, and track charts
• Books:
  • Ferrell: ‘Tweetsie Country’
  • Graybeal: ‘The Railroads of Johnson City’
  • Graybeal: ‘Along the ET&WNC’ Volumes 1-6
  • Poole: ‘History of Railroading in Western North Carolina’
  • Scheer & Black: ‘Tweetsie: The Blue Ridge Steamwinder’
  • Sulzer: ‘Ghost Railroads of Tennessee’
• Newspaper Articles: Newspapers.com
• Magazines/Online: ‘Trains‘, ‘Classic Trains‘
• Websites:
  • Carolana.com
  • CarterCountyHistory.com
  • StateOfFranklin.net which hosts Johnson’s Depot
  • SteamLocomotive.com

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