Saluda Historic Depot - Keeping History Alive

4/18/2018

The Saluda Historic Depot is a must stop for rail fans and anyone who loves history. In three short years the Saluda Historic Depot & Museum has made a name for itself with train and history buffs and others who enjoy learning about the past. They are keeping Saluda railroad history on the map.

Any train enthusiast worth his or her weight in coal dust can tell you that the “Saluda Grade” is historic as the steepest mainline railway grade in the United States. The grade gains 606 feet in less than three miles. That might not be impressive when driving up nearby I-26 in your car, but for a train pulling passengers and/or freight weighing hundred of tons – it’s treacherous going up ordownhill. So treacherous that in 2001 Norfolk-Southern decided enough’s enough.

The silencing of the whistle, which was first blown in 1878, didn’t mean the silencing of the history of this famous stretch of railway.

Naturally, the museum is located inside the original Saluda Depot built in 1903. It sat adjacent to the tracks until 1984 when it was moved to its current location on Main Street. The building served off and on as retail space for years and in 2015 the building came up for sale. A group of citizens decided they needed to seize the opportunity to forever protect the history of the depot and the train life that made up such an important part of Saluda’s history.

Judy Ward is the chair of the eight member volunteer board that has been crucial in protecting and developing the Historic Depot. Judy was on hand the day I visited and provided me with volumes of information that I can only touch on here. (Check the “More to Know” section at the end of this story for web links.) The day I visited the museum was experiencing a non-stop flow of visitors which kept volunteers Mike Reeves and Evan Lazer busy answering questions and offering friendly help. Word is getting out about this foothills’ gem. The museum had over 5,000 visitors last year from around the U.S. and from several foreign countries including a woman from Sydney, Australia who was signing the guest register while I was visiting.

The Saluda Historic Depot & Museum depends on donations, grants, and hard work to keep it open. Volunteers staff the museum including next-door neighbor Mark Ray who runs a shop. He steps in on Tuesday and Wednesday helping to extend the open days. It is amazing how quickly this piece of history has transformed itself into a must-see stop for visitors and locals alike. It’s located right in the heart of downtown Saluda, a town that has itself transformed into a destination.

Since the train stopped running there has been talk of transforming the track into a “Rails-to-Trails” conversion or possibly getting an excursion train to operate. Norfolk-Southern isn’t about to abandon this track though it is now officially “out of service” from Saluda to just beyond Landrum, SC. There is a shortline railroad that is currently hauling freight from the Hendersonville area to Asheville and some talk has been circulating that the company might start an excursion train experience. A lot of rail fans would love to see that line extend to Saluda. I would definitely be among the first standing in line to buy a ticket for that. I’m guessing it would be a very long line.

Mike Reeves and Evan Lazer are two of the volunteer docents and were busy helping visitors the day I visited. Nancy Pew (third from left) is a friend of the museum and helps out at the shop next door so that owner Mark Ray can step in and open the depot on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Judy Ward on the right is the chair of the museum board. It takes a village to keep something like this running without any paid staff.

More to Know:
The Saluda Historic Depot and Museum is open every day except Monday. Times vary. Check the website at: www.saludahistoricdepot.com and their Facebook page for more info. The museum has a well-stocked gift shop along with their excellent professionally built exhibits including a “Z scale” model of the entire run down the famous Saluda Grade to Melrose Junction. To take your own trip down the grade from the safety of your laptop, check out an excellent YouTube video by Bob Keeton at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsS3fbhuJPg. The video combines original music by “The Carburetors” and Google Earth images into a fascinating “trip” that will give you a sense of the run. The Saluda Historic Depot offers tours, monthly “Train Tales” presentations, and has a couple of upcoming fundraising events including a 60s-themed party at the Party & Event Center in Saluda in July and a golf tournament in October at Kenmure. It’s a happening place!

Click on each photo in the gallery below to enlarge.