For those of us who like both railroads and motorcycles

Brian Hebert · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2012 6:58 pm

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Motorcycle powered motorcars! Anybody have pictures of more?

Brian Hebert

whodom · **Posted:** Sat Jan 14, 2012 2:14 pm

This is the closest thing I could find, a 1928 Harley-powered gold mining cart:

This is in the "Wheels Through Time" museum in Maggie Valley, NC. They may have more motorcycle/railroad items, but I haven't found a photo yet.

whodom · **Posted:** Mon Jan 16, 2012 4:03 pm

Jeff Lisowski wrote:

Wheels Through Time is one place I look forward to visiting someday. Dale and the crew there do great things!

I've been a couple of times. I heard a rumor last visit (last summer) that the owner and the town council of Maggie Valley weren't getting along, and that he might move the whole shebang in the near future. Hopefully that's just a rumor.

If you ride your motorcycle to the area, you're around some of the best motorcycling roads in the U.S. The famous "Tail of the Dragon" is only about 70 miles away.

G. W. Laepple · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 5:10 pm **Posts:** 1182

The Tail of the Dragon, also known as North Carolina Route 129, passes through the town of Robbinsville, once the headquarters of the Graham County Railroad, known for its use of Shay geared steam locomotives well into the second half of the 20th century. Very little evidence remains that such a railroad ever existed.

whodom · **Posted:** Mon Jan 16, 2012 9:21 pm

G. W. Laepple wrote:

The Tail of the Dragon, also known as North Carolina Route 129, passes through the town of Robbinsville, once the headquarters of the Graham County Railroad, known for its use of Shay geared steam locomotives well into the second half of the 20th century. Very little evidence remains that such a railroad ever existed.

I rode around Robbinsville looking for any remains of the Graham County a couple of years ago. IIRC, you can still find some railroad tracks where they crossed the streets in a few places. You can also get a sense of how steep the grade must have been if you ride up 129 from Topton, where the Graham County connected with the Southern branchline that I believe is now part of the Great Smokey Mountains Railway.