Beginning construction in the mountains of postCivil War Tennessee, the East Tennessee & Western North Carolina Railroad Company was known locally as the “Eat Taters and Wear No Clothes” railroad. Narrow gauge operations began in 1881, and after nearly 60 years of operation, developing interstate highway systems and the torrential rains of 1940 worked to bring about the railroads demise. Following a series of purchases and acquisitions (singing cowboy Gene Autry once owned an ET & WNC locomotive), the railroad was resurrected in 1956, going on to become one of North Carolinas favorite travel attractions.