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| Norwood Lumber Steam Engine |
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Norwood Engine near Clingman's Dome
Imagine even getting a steam locomotive up to an elevation of 5,300' in the Smokies. Now go back in time to the
1920's when Norwood Lumber Company was logging spruce timber from the steep old-growth slopes around Clingman's Dome.
One of their logging locomotive engines is still up there, laying on its side after being wrecked back during the 1920's.
I don't know the story behind the mishap but I have hiked to this off-trail location a couple of times to look at the wreckage.
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| Nichols and Shepard Traction Engine |
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Injun Creek wreckage near Greenbrier Cove
Just about 3 miles from the Greenbrier Ranger Station access road along
the Grapeyard Ridge trail are the remains of an old Nichols and Shepard Traction Engine that was probably manufactured
right around the year 1900. The steam engine wreckage is in the bed of Injun Creek. Reports I've read indicate
this "Traction Engine" (that is what they called these self-propelled steam engines in those days) had been used along Webb
Creek to saw timber. Apparently its driver lost control during the return trip and the remains of the iron
dragon have been in the creek ever since (the 1920's).
I've been researching the background of engines made by Nichols and
Shepard, Battle Creek, Michigan, and have learned they were best known for their Red River brand grain threshing machines.
Apparently the traction engines were a logical offshoot of that line of products since they needed some way to power and move
around the threshing machines. Thousands of steam-powered engines were made from 1880 until they started to fall out
of favor around 1911. Gasoline powered engines gradually took their place, although they were obviously still used
for many years thereafter.
Reader Input
Bill Dunn writes...
At present I live in Alberta, Canada but prior to 1987 farmed in the Red River Valley near Winnipeg,
Manitoba. In June of 1986 I had the good fortune to be asked to be the fireman on an old steam tractor at the Threshermens
Reunion in Austin, Manitoba. It was a Nichols-Shepard engine. We had to spend a number of days cleaning and scrapping
the old girl before the show. Then do some touch up painting prior to show time. We were in the parade of antique farm equipment
every afternoon and what a thrill I got to be able to blow the steam whistle as we passed the grand stand.
In recent years safety concerns have shut down the operation of a lot of the old tractors at
farm shows where crowds are around. I guess that's a good thing. I will never forget the experience of pulling the throttle
and feeling that heap of metal roll into action. We fondly called her the "Knickers and Shapeless".
Your article on wrecks is interesting, if only they could talk.
....Posted 5/23/2008
Getting there...
We've visited the Injun Creek wreckage site a few times and can tell
you it is easier and more scenic to approach from the unmaintained trail we call Injun Creek trail. This trailhead is
located right beside the Greenbrier ranger station and leads about 2 miles to the Grapeyard Ridge trail. From there
you turn left onto the trail and hike about 10 minutes up the ridge to a point where the trail crosses Injun Creek.
Look left and the steam engine will be obvious at the point where the trail makes an unbridged crossing of Injun Creek.
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