Saluda Welcomes First Passenger Train
The sun shone and there was
an air of subdued enthusiasm
along Main Street, Saluda, on
Sat., March 21.
Besides the usual pickup
trucks parked along the road
side, there was a larger group of
automobiles with out-of-state
plates and strangers with cam
eras at the ready wearing funny
looking hats. The locals tried to
look indifferent about the major
event that was about to happen.
Then we all heard it.. The
whistle and a rumbling noise, it
was on its way, the first passen
ger train to arrive in 20 years.
As it crested the rise into Sal
uda, locals and visitors alike
moved closer to the tracks.
Click/click/click, the cameras
would catch its every move, the
Norfolk Southern Railroad
diesel locomotive and four pas
senger cars had arrived.
As the 90-odd paying pas
sengers alighted for a barbecue
lunch in the park, the locals
mingled with the visitors and
reminisced about the past.
"Did you know that we had
four trains each way daily,
remember going to Henderson
ville for less than 50 cents.
The Carolina Special used to
leave Charleston and bring up
the visitors for the summer
months." Seventy-nine year
old Margaret Hart of Saluda
remembers taking the train
many times; also, her father,
Daddy Hart, cut down the first
trees to start building the town.
Later, he was the town's first
postmaster.
Edwin Leland, 86 years old,
who until recently owned and
ran the Saluda Mountain Tele
phone Co., was a bit more
philosophical: "It's not the same
as having a steam locomotive."
Mr. Leland appeared to have
spent most of his time climbing
telegraph poles and not riding
the train.
But perhaps the most enthu
siastic member of the trio was
Robert Majors, who was one of
two "Pullman Conductors" rid
ing the train. Robert has been a
member of the East Carolina
Chapter N.R.H.S. since 1970.
In the real world. Dr. Majors is
a Ear Nose & Throat specialist
from Raleigh.
The photograph above shows
Conductor Majors, Margaret
Hart, and Edwin Leland talking
about old times. (Come back in
October, Mr. Leland, a steam
locomotive is scheduled to
climb the grade on Sunday, the
25th.)
A second photo shows the
"Caritas" passenger car leaving
Saluda.
-Community Reporter
Fabulous Fourth
T-Shirt Competition
NationsBank and the organiz
ers of this year's annual Fabu
lous Fourth of July Metric Cen
tury Bicycle Tour announce an
open competition for a design to
be used on the T-shirts that will
be given to each participant in
the Tour.
There will be three prizes:
First - S 100 US Savings bond;
Second - $ 75 US Savings
Bond: Third - $ 50 US Sav
ings Bond.
The contest is open to every
one: professionals, amateurs
and students; and competitors
may submit more than one
design. Designs may be sub
mitted at any time prior to 15
May 1992, and should be sent
to: Fabulous 4th of July
Metric Century Tour,
224 Hogback Mountain Road
Tryon, NC 28782-2929.
Tire winning design is to be
used on the front of T-shirts.
The color scheme should be red
and blue on a white back
ground. The theme of the
design should be appropriate for
both the Fourth of July celebra
tion, and for the sport of bicyc-
!in ^'
Separate overlays for the two
colors should be provided, or
will be expected to be made
available by the artist if the
work is chosen. Winning
designs become the property of
Vintage ^shuranj, dime.
Tryon, M.C.
Dinner Jilt S4.95 plus tas and gratuity
Petite Prime Rib
Chicken Fingers
Chicken Breast
Roast Pork
Orange Roughy
Catfish
includes potato and salad
Thurs.-Frl.-Sat. 5 to 8 p.m.
fllso serving from our regular menu
Phone 859-5516
Tryon Dally Bulletin, Wed., Apr. 1,1992
the Fabulous Fourth of July
Metric Century Tour, and may
be used at the discretion of that
organization.
Appropriate publicity will be
given to the winners. Non-
winning designs cannot be
returned, but contestants may
pick them up at the Tryon
branch of NationsBank in
Pacolet Street of that town,
weekdays, Sept. 1. If not, they
become the property of the
organizers to be used at their
discretion. For further informa
tion please contact Louis
Buzek, 859-5570.
Clay Hardin
Top Performer
Fifteen-year-old Clay Hardin
was selected as one of the top
performers at the 4-H Enter
tains Talent Show. He will be
singing a country-western
song, "Unanswered Prayers," at
4-H District Activity Day June
25. Clay is a member of the
Polk Central Chorus.
Community Reporter
FOR SALE 1980 Ford Van, and
1968 Ford mustang, completely
restored. 863-2216. adv.31,apr.l,
2,3,p.