After a twelve-year absense, steam is back in the Smokies! Great Smoky Mountains Railroad consolidation #1702 made its first test run along the mainline on Friday, July 22 (7/22-coincidentally the number of their other steam engine). Seen here crossing Connelly Creek in Whittier, NC, the 2-8-0 developed a technical challenge that would result in a few more days of fine-tuning in the shop before pulling revenue trains. The official return to service occurred on the Tuckasegee River excursion train, which departed Bryson City at 1:00pm on Tuesday, July 26, 2016. Visit http://www.gsmr.com/ for more information.
