Download or read book If Rails Could Talk... . Logging the North Carolina Great Smoky Mountains written by Ronald C. Sullivan Gerald J. Ledford and published by . This book was released on 2020-01-10 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The second edition of Volume 1 of "If Rails Could Talk?" is the first of a planned eight volume series about the railroad logging along the Blue Ridge and adjoining Smoky Mountains. In volume 1, there are the stories of logging the Big Creek watershed by rail. Located close to the Tennessee state line in northern Haywood County near the present day location of Waterville, NC along I 40, the village of Mt. Sterling and lumber town of Crestmont were the centers of activity for four different lumber companies. Histories of several logging companies are featured; Laurel Fork Lumber, Haddock-France Lumber, the Cataloochee Company, Pigeon River Lumber, Champion Lumber, Champion Fibre, and finally Suncrest Lumber. The book contains over 70 photographs, many published for the first time. Another feature of the book is a set of topographic maps showing the entire railroad grade on Big Creek. Author Ron Sullivan, his wife Marilyn, and hiking partner Jerry Ledford spent many days hiking the old grades, most of them off of established trails and roads. Ron used a GPS to trace the rail grades and transfer them to USGS topo maps. Also featured is the story of the building of the Tennessee and North Carolina Railroad from Newport, TN across the state line to the logging town of Crestmont, NC on Big Creek. This book contains locomotive roster information for all of the companies. These rosters were carefully researched and prepared by Thomas Lawson, one of the most knowledgeable persons in the field. Also included is a glossary of logging and railroad terms. The book is spiral bound so that readers can fully appreciate the maps and the photos. It is printed on 100 pound gloss paper, so it has the feel and look of a much more expensive book. It also features a clear cover and a plastic backing. Students and fans of early day railroad logging in the Great Smokies will want to add this volume to their libraries. 165 pages