Johnson City will begin its yearlong celebration of the 150th anniversary of its founding by focusing on its railroad history, specifically the East Tennessee & Western North Carolina (ET&WNC) Railroad, popularly known as the “Tweetsie” due to the sound of its steam whistles in the region’s gorges.
Citizens will have two chances to enjoy “A Day with Tweetsie Trains” through both a museum exhibit and film presentation on Jan. 12 and 19.
Train-lovers will have the opportunity to glimpse the colorful past of the Tweetsie rail line, beginning with a tour of the Tweetsie model train exhibit room at the George L. Carter Railroad Museum at East Tennessee State University, Room 108, Campus Center Building. The museum is open from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. There is no admission charge, but donations are welcome.
At 1 p.m., historic films about the Tweetsie from the early half of the 20th century will be presented at Memorial Park Community Center, 510 Bert St. These films, narrated by local railroad historian Ken Riddle, feature footage along the narrow-gauge rail line from Tennessee through North Carolina. This is also a free event.
“We’re excited to host these film showings in conjunction with the exhibit at the George L. Carter Museum,” said Chuck Mohler, chairman of the History and Railroad Committee. “This is a great way for train enthusiasts to learn more about our rich heritage with the Tweetsie and to share that with others. We hope parents and grandparents will bring younger generations to join us for either of these weekends.”
Volunteers from the Mountain Empire Model Railroader club operate the George L. Carter Railroad Museum’s model railroads. These volunteers also provide information about local historic railroads and knowledgeable tips on the basics of model railroading. Also affiliated with the museum are two railroad historical societies: the George L. Carter Chapter National Railway Historical Society and the East Tennessee & Western North Carolina Railroad Historical Society.
For more information about the yearlong sesquicentennial celebration, visit www.jctn150.com or follow @jctn150 (Johnson City 150 — Sesquicentennial Celebration) on Facebook. Cancelations due to inclement weather will be posted on these sites.
CONTACT: Chuck Mohler, chairman
Sesquicentennial History and Railroad Committee
423-833-3912
chuckmohler330@gmail.com
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