We make up our train at Summit, the highest point on the railroad. From here we will drop 50 actual feet to drop down to Whistlestop, at the far end of the line. After safety chains are hooked up and brakes are tested we start out. A running brake test is performed just before Heimgartner Hill, a curving 4% downgrade. Taking the left track at Kay, we go under a recently completed depot.

Leaving Kay, we again are on a downgrade of about 4%, curving to the left. Since this is the first time that we are on a tall embankment, we call this “Deadmans Curve”. Across a trestle at Dry Creek and then after curving to the right we arrive at Big Ivy, the largest station on the railroad. It is complete with a waiting room & operator’s desk, and houses the relays controlling the block signal system.

Leaving Big Ivy, we cross under the foot bridge and head out on the longest straight track on the railroad, over 200 feet in length. At the end of the straight section we cross Tomm Tomlinson Bridge, 32 feet in length. Looking below and to the left, we can see the track coming out of Mardiat tunnel.

We cross the driveway and turn to the right and back to the left. This is Yellow Hill, named for the sandstone on the bank above. We go downhill through Mardiat tunnel, 48 feet in length. The tunnel is made from two old gasoline tanks, each 5’4” diameter and 24 feet in length. As we exit Mardiat tunnel we pass under Tomm Tomlinson Bridge on our way to Noc-a-nee rock, where a number of rocks had to be moved to make way for the track. Down over a 3% grade until after curving to the right we arrive at Spielman Junction.

Leaving Spielman Junction, we curve to the left and through Luke Cut. After Luke Cut, we go across Frushour bridge, the largest bridge on the railroad, over 12 feet high and 85 feet in length. We go down a 3 3/4% grade to Stoney Hill, a passing track in the woods.

After Stoney Hill, we curve right across Ecology Trestle, so named as it was built to avoid a tree. We pass the picnic area and continue down the steep grade until we again cross the driveway at Dead Indian Crossing. We then arrive at Whistlestop, the far end of the railroad.
 

Leaving Whistlestop, we curve right, across the driveway, over a trestle overlooking the Tennis Court and back to the mainline for our return trip uphill.

The trip uphill from Whistlestop to Frushour bridge is over 500 feet of 3 3/4% grade, so it is a workout for our locomotive. The rest of the trip is somewhat easier, except for Deadmans curve and Heimgartner hill, both of which are steep grades.