The road is pictured previously
Great Smoky Mountain Railroad recently tore up a road that crossed its railroad line in the Nantahala Gorge that provided access to seasonal housing at the West Hellard property for Nantahala Outdoor Center.
The NOC says the action was swift with little warning to the residents and has caused a serious disruption.
In general, the two companies are aligned for their role in the tourism industry. Even in the latest newsletter from the Swain County Chamber of Commerce, a photo features rafters and the train in the background— highlighting two of the biggest attractions for visitors to the county.
The two companies are now in a dispute over a railroad crossing following GSMR destroying the crossing last Wednesday, July 22 that went to NOC housing for about 60 people.
Jan Wojtasinksi, VP of Marketing for NOC, said the railroad provided a notice that Tuesday evening that in the morning they would be destroying the crossing.
Following the action, several residents were left with their vehicles stranded on the other side in addition to their belonging.
Now, employees remaining in the housing are parking along the side of busy Highway 19, he said.
Wajtasinski said it is of particular concern when there is a public health crisis going on that the housing is left with no direct access for emergency responders either.
“The uncertainty of being able to access their home and belongings, especially in a pandemic, has created a crisis for these staff,” he said.
NOC had designated one of the units in West Hellerds for self-isolating for any employee with COVID-19.
The railroad said it was forced to take action over safety concerns.
In a written statement, Kim Albritton, GSMR VP and general manager, said two of three crossings were closed due to safety concerns.
“Numerous failed attempts to work with the NOC have placed the GSMR in a position to unilaterally take necessary safety measures to protect GSMR, its employees and passengers.”
Among the issues she cited was a 2017 collision between a bus and train on the main campus that left several on the bus injured. The bus driver in that incident was charged.
Wajtasinski said there hadn’t been any conversations leading up to the action about the West Hellards site in particular.
Instead, he said, there were conversations the previous week after GSMR revoked access to Fontana Lake in a separate right of way on the main campus that he said was in place for more than 25 years.
While Wojtasinski said NOC worked to quickly adjust and relocate staff to the West Helllard new housing, some of the employees chose to leave altogether, a blow during the height of the tourism season.
According to the NOC, this access has been used since the 1940s, and NOC has owned and operated staff housing at the West Hellerds locations since the 1970s.
On the other hand, Albritton called NOC’s use of the railroad right of way since the 1990s a safety concern.
“NOC and its employees commonly park vehicles on the tracks, permit rafters to crawl under trains, allow employees to travel by bicycle and foot on the train tracks, all of which constitute a crime in North Carolina,” she stated.
Wojtasinski disputes the claims that staff were parking on the tracks or that NOC was allowing visitors to crawl under trains or staff to walk and bike on the tracks.
“These are patently false claims and misrepresent our commitment to safety to both our guests and guides,” he said.
Albritton said safety is GSMR’s top priority.
On Friday, Wojtasinski said NOC is exploring its options and hopes to come to a resolve with the railroad.
“We are pursuing all available avenues to protect our staff and business, but hope to engage in productive conversation with the train as a partner in the local tourism economy,” he said.