One of the most beautiful, poignant sounds to echo out into the ancient mountains of Western North Carolina is that of a train whistle in motion. And in downtown Bryson City, that iconic howl is heard almost daily. Most recently, it signaled the inaugural departure of the Great Smoky Mountains Music Train. 

“This is a moving, musical experience,” said Courtney McClary, director of operations for SBG Productions, which booked the musical acts. “You can start at one end [of the train] and move to the other. It’s intimate, where you’re part of the experience.”

To preface, the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City is owned by the Colorado-based American Heritage Railways. The AHR also owns and operates the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in the Centennial State. And it’s the D&S that plays host to the highly-popular Durango Blues Train and Durango Bluegrass Train each year.

The artists for the Durango music trains are also booked by SBG Productions. Located in Colorado, SBG puts on the longtime Telluride Blues & Brews and Telluride Jazz festivals. Since AHR was interested in putting music on their GSMR train, SBG was brought on to find local acts to Western North Carolina and greater Southern Appalachia for the test run on June 5-6.

“Honestly, we looked at other trains across the U.S. and the vibe just wasn’t there,” McClary said. “And we spent less than 24 hours here [in Bryson City] and it was like, ‘This is going to work.’ We’re excited, and it has worked. Hopefully, this will be an annual thing, if not more like a series if it fits in with the train schedule.”

For the GSMMT, the lineup includes Americana/bluegrass ensemble Colby T. Helms & The Virginia Creepers, blues-rocker Andrew Scotchie, singer-songwriter Ashley Heath, hard rock/jam outfit Dr. Bacon, alt-country/roots act Martha Spencer & The Wonderland Country Band and roots/indie-folk group Collin Pressly & Friends.

With a 6:30 p.m. boarding time, hundreds of excited faces emerge from seemingly every direction of downtown, all heading for the train station. At 7 p.m. sharp, a loud whistle erupts from the No. 1702 steam locomotive and ricochets throughout the small community. Built in 1942, the train has become not only beloved with its aesthetic, but also the symbol of the GSMR itself.

Soon, the train pulls out of the station, the slow rumble ultimately signaling to the bands that it’s time to play. Before the train can even leave the city limits, the sounds of bluegrass, Americana and rock music spill out of the open-air railcars and open windows. Bystanders on Everett Street and other nearby crossings happily wave goodbye to the riders, the riders, in turn, raising their beverage of choice in an act of solidarity and anticipation for the trip.

Martha Spencer & The Wonderland Country Band. SBG Productions photo

“I have never played on a train before, but we play lots of train songs,” Helms chuckled. “And I feel like [the train] is part of the culture of our type of music, for sure. It puts some of our songs into real perspective and kind of keeps the flow of the music going.”

Throughout the first half of the jaunt, the train snakes through the mountains, its steam stack huffing and puffing up the steady incline toward Fontana Lake, ultimately ending at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. Along the way, one observes the fauna and flora right outside the train cars. The smell of the forest and those stunning sunset views seen from train trestle bridges high above the lake. Houseboats floating in the distance, more folks waving hello to us.

After an hour and a half chugging along, the train comes to a halt at the NOC. Everyone onboard hops out for a quick break, the sun now disappearing behind the mountain ridges. Between sets of music, Scotchie exits the train and stands near the edge of the fast-paced Nantahala River.

“It’s not about the destination but the journey, and who you share the journey with,” Scotchie said with an ear-to-ear grin. “This weekend has been all about that — what a unique journey.”

A half-hour later, No. 1702 rings its bell, signaling to passengers that it’s time to head home. Put the train in reverse and cruise through the darkness of old farm fields and backyards filled with fireflies. Slide back into the station at around 10 p.m., but not before Spencer ties a bow on the evening with one final old-time tune, her timeless tone swirling around the train car. The scene conjures the age-old notion of “nothing’s the same, everything’s the same,” especially when it comes to the universal language that is music.

“I grew up in a mountain music family,” Spencer said. “[These songs are] about home, family, love and community. And I think a piece of people lives on through music. It’s deeper than stages, deeper than anything — it’s just heartbeat and generosity.”

Want to go?

Plans are already in motion for the 2027 Great Smoky Mountains Music Train. For more information and updates, visit greatsmokymountainsmusictrain.com.

To note, the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad hosts an array of customized train excursions throughout the year. To learn about the GSMR and its upcoming schedule, visit gsmr.com.