OLD FORT, N.C. (828newsNOW) — On a winding stretch of track carved into the Blue Ridge Mountains, a long-absent sound returns this weekend — the low rumble of a freight train climbing the Old Fort Loops.

For the first time since Tropical Storm Helene tore through Western North Carolina in 2024, Norfolk Southern will run a through freight train east of Asheville on Saturday, restoring a critical rail link that for months sat broken and uncertain.

The train is expected to leave Asheville early Saturday morning and pass through Old Fort around midmorning, drawing residents, rail enthusiasts and local leaders who see it as more than a routine freight run.

A local rail advocate wrote ahead of the event, “This moment is more than just a train. It’s a symbol of resilience, recovery and progress.”

Rail line restored

The roughly 13-mile section of railroad between Old Fort and Swannanoa, known as the Old Fort Loops, is one of the most challenging pieces of track in the Southeast. The line climbs more than 1,000 feet through the mountains and has long served as a vital freight corridor linking Western North Carolina to the rest of the state and beyond.

When Tropical Storm Helene struck, the damage was extensive. Portions of track were washed out, infrastructure was destabilized and service halted. For months, it remained unclear whether the line would be rebuilt.

Construction began last spring, with crews driving more than 51,000 linear feet of support piles and using roughly 140,000 tons of stone and aggregate to stabilize and rebuild the route.

Since then, Norfolk Southern has operated limited local service on portions of the line to support industries west of Hickory, but full through-service across the mountains has remained offline — until now.

A community milestone

In Old Fort, anticipation has been building all week.

Residents plan to gather near the historic depot, where a “Welcome Back” rally is expected as the train rolls through around 10 a.m. Norfolk Southern representatives will be on hand, along with community members marking the return of an economically important presence.

Along the route, from Black Mountain to Hickory, spectators are expected to line crossings and rail overlooks as the first full freight train since the storm makes its way east.

Economic and symbolic impact

The reopening of the corridor carries practical and symbolic weight.

For businesses, it restores a more efficient freight route, replacing slower, piecemeal service used after the storm.

For many in Western North Carolina, the train represents something less tangible but equally important: another sign of recovery.

After months of rebuilding roads, infrastructure and communities in Helene’s aftermath, the return of rail service offers a visible marker of progress.

On Saturday morning, as the train rounds the loops above Old Fort, that progress will be unmistakable.

Top viewing locations

• Andrews Geyser, 2111 Mill Creek Road — A popular viewing area where the track loops above the park, allowing spectators to see the train at multiple elevations. The site includes picnic tables and historical markers.
• Point Lookout Trail — A 3.6-mile paved trail along a former section of Old U.S. 70, offering views of several tunnels and the steep grade of the loops.
• Old Fort Depot and Museum, 25 W. Main St. — Located in downtown Old Fort, where the westbound grade begins. The site includes a restored Southern Railway caboose and open viewing areas.