10/10/2026
The Southern Railway has long promoted western North Carolina as the “Land of the Sky”, dating back to the 1890s. Two well known passenger trains were the Asheville Special and Skyland Special. The latter train was originally known as the Land of the Sky Special, a night train operating from the Midwest to Asheville, then south to Jacksonville and Miami, FL. By the 1940s, the train, numbered 9 & 10, had been shortened to operate from Asheville to Jacksonville, with connections to Miami and St.
Petersburg via the FEC and SAL.
The route took the train over Saluda Grade between Asheville and Spartanburg, while the Asheville Special used the route westward from Statesville. The original Skyland Special was annulled or cancelled in 1957 due to the loss of mail contracts along the route. The Asheville Special continued as trains 4 & 5 until August 8, 1975, ending regular passenger service to western NC.
The lure of the NC mountains during the Fall season was still strong, causing the Southern to bring back the Skyland Special as special excursions during 1976 and 1977. These operated from Old Fort to Asheville through The Loops, with tickets selling for $3.50 for children and $6.00 for adults. Two FP-7 locomotives, 6133 and 6141, were painted into a modern green passenger scheme, able to pull the trains in either direction. For 1976, Spring, Summer and Fall trips were offered, as well as Fall runs in October. Both locomotives carried special Bicentennial red banners, honoring NC Declaration of Independence signers. During 1977 the trips continued, but only for Fall runs in October. These excursions were cancelled after 1977, but Southern steam
trips continued to operate into Asheville into the 1980s.
