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See photos, video of Norfolk Southern freight train rolling through Old Fort, the first since 2024

Mike Conley
Apr 18, 2026
Apr 18, 2026 Updated 2 hrs ago
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The first official train to travel on the tracks between Old Fort and Black Mountain since Hurricane Helene went through on Saturday. The train, which came from Hickory, stopped in Old Fort for 30 minutes, greeted by a crowd of supporters and onlookers.

Train returns to Old Fort 4.jpeg — A crowd waits at the Old Fort Depot to welcome the train back.
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Train returns to Old Fort 1.jpeg — On Saturday morning, crowds of anxious people were found on both sides of the track in Old Fort waiting for a train. Many of them carried signs saying, “Welcome back Norfolk Southern.”
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Train returns to Old Fort 7.jpeg — For many, the return of freight trains traveling from Salisbury to Asheville is a sign that our region is getting back to normal after Helene’s destruction. It is also a hopeful indication that western North Carolina may someday have passenger rail service again.
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Train returns to Old Fort 10.jpeg — Young and old alike were excited to see the freight train return to Old Fort on Saturday.
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Train returns to Old Fort 5.jpeg — At around 10:45 a.m., the freight train arrived in Old Fort, and it stopped in the middle of town.
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Train returns to Old Fort 2.jpeg — Northfolk Southern had representatives in Old Fort Saturday as the freight train came through.
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Train returns to Old Fort 6.jpeg — The train sat in Old Fort for around 30 minutes to give rail fans plenty of time to take photos and videos.
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Train returns to Old Fort 11.jpeg — This railroad worker stands on the front of the locomotive in Old Fort.
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Train returns to Old Fort 12.jpeg — After around 30 minutes in Old Fort, the train continued its way west toward the Loops around Andrews Geyser, traveled through the mountain tunnels and made the steep climb up to Ridgecrest.
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Train returns to Old Fort 3.jpeg — Cathy Moore, the local leader for the grassroots effort to bring passenger trains back to McDowell County and western North Carolina, looks at a set of plans that detail the repairs made to the railroad.
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Train returns to Old Fort 9.jpeg — Young and old alike were excited to see the freight train return to Old Fort on Saturday.
MIKE CONLEY MCDOWELLNEWS

Train returns to Old Fort 8.jpeg — The long freight train sat in Old Fort so everyone could get a good look at it.
MIKE CONLEY MCDOWELLNEWS

Mike Conley

Staff Writer