Saluda Mountain: famous grade forlorn Norfolk Southern is suspending service over the former Southern Railway's Saluda grade, the steepest on any "main line" still standing in the United States.

This is Melrose, the railroad's control point at the bottom of Saluda Grade. The track heading off into the weeds on the left is for runaways – an occurrence uncommon in modern times. The milepost shows the distance from Asheville.

A Norfolk Southern passenger excursion chugs into the town of Saluda at the top of the famous grade behind N&W steam engine 611 in October 1994. One month later NS announced the end of its long-standing excursion program.

Above Saluda Grade the railroad continues to climb toward Hendersonville. Here's a view from a roadway trestle beside Lake Summit.