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Stone Mountain Railroad - by Don Evans
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A visit to the Atlanta, Georgia area on business in October, resulted in a stay in the Stone Mountain Park area. While most of the week was tied up with work, I did get a Sunday to visit the Park. Stone Mountain Park is home to a large granite monolith (Stone Mountain) and the surrounding park area and attractions include many different things to do.
One of them is the Stone Mountain Railway, a five mile railway ride around the base of the "mountain". This was my second visit there, but this time I had a little more time, so a ride and an exploration was in order. The railway is connected to the nearby CSX line through the town of Stone Mountain, and operates as an attraction in the Park on a daily schedule. The line has quite a bit of equipment, with motive power in regular service being GP 9’s and F units. There were two of each noted, with motive power the day I was there being GP 9 #6661. Also
viewed was FP7A #6143 in a lovely Southern Railway scheme. Two "steam" engines are maintained, although not steamed. On special occasions they are coupled ahead of the diesel to "lead the train". (photos below, FP7A #6143 and "steam engine", below, GP9 #6661 at station)
I was there on a weekend day during the Harvest Festival (lots of pumpkins!). The trains departed every 45 minutes and were running at capacity. Although the railway has a fleet of passenger cars on the property, this day they were using their newer fleet of open cars built on fright car trucks and chassis. The ride was pleasant, but not as smooth as would have been provided aboard real passenger cars.
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