Tweetsie: The Blue Ridge Stemwinder

Tweetsie, officially the East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad (ET&WNC), was the first railroad to cross the Blue Ridge. She opened up mountain country which had previously known only isolation and remoteness.

Tweetsie made her last scheduled run in 1950. Then, in 1956, the people of North Carolina and Tennessee, and lovers of railroad lore everywhere, were filled with excitement when the gallant train was rescued from oblivion and began operating over three miles of track at Blowing Rock, North Carolina. "Tweetsie's back!" were words repeated thousands of times in the Blue Ridge.

The authors claim that they have written, not a history, but "a song to Tweetsie". Here is history nevertheless...and legend...and a loving look at the mountains and their people. It is a delightful story of the best loved of all the doughty little narrow gauges -- Tweetsie -- the little engine that could, and still does!

Elizabeth Black was an associate professor of education at Queens College and began her career as a school teacher in 1921. She fell in love with Tweetsie when she was a member of the East Tennessee State College faculty. Julian Schneer is a Virginia born writer. He has worked for various newspapers and magazines and was an officer in the Merchant marines.