The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad’s twice-annual Photo Special traveling the entire length of its 53 miles of track will take place May 22.

The train departs from Dillsboro at 9 a.m., visits the depot in Bryson City, makes several run-by stops for photo opportunities, and has a picnic lunch layover at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. The diesel-powered train will arrive in Andrews at about 3 p.m., where passengers will board busses to travel back to Dillsboro. Advance reservations are required.

This route takes passengers past the film site for “The Fugitive”, through the hand-carved, 836-foot Cowee Tunnel and the 550-foot Will Sandlin Tunnel, across Lake Fontana, and through the Nantahala Gorge. The tunnel is named for Will Sandlin, who was the grade foreman when the railroad was cut through the mountains in the mid-1880’s. It climbs the steepest grade in the eastern United States, the Red Marble Gap (5.3 percent).

The train makes special stops so passengers can deboard and photograph the train as it passes by in the colorful Western North Carolina countryside. The full route of the old Murphy Branch line, established in 1891, traverses four rivers: the Tuckasegee, the Little Tennessee, the Nantahala, and the Valley River in the course of its journey.

Seating is available in Open Air cars and Standard Coaches. Upgrades are available at an additional cost to a climate controlled Crown Coach or the McNeil Club Car. The upgrade fee to the Club Car includes fresh fruit, danish, coffee, wine and cheese. The Club Car serves mixed drinks, wine, and beer as a cash purchase so it is limited to adults 21 years of age or older. Reduced prices are available for children 3-12 on all other cars.

The fare for the trip includes the box picnic lunch with a choice of a turkey, ham, or roast beef deli style sandwich with a slice of cheese and the condiments on the side. A bag of potato chips, an apple, and cookies are included along with a soft drink. Also included is the ticket for the bus ride back from Andrews to Dillsboro. For more information about the Murphy Branch Line and the route of the

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, an official milepost guide, “Passage Through Time” is available from reservations or the gift shops at GSMRR. Visit on line at www.gsmr.com or call 1.800.872.4681.