The March 29 excursion from Etowah to Copperhill is back on track.

Linda Caldwell, executive director of the Tennessee Overhill Heritage Association, said the unauthorized crossing in Grassy Creek has been removed and the track is deemed safe. She and Tim Andrews with the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum originally felt it would be necessary to cancel the first trip to Copperhill because they did not know if there would be a problem with removing the crossing.

Keith Roberson, who installed the crossing in order to get to property he purchased recently at a foreclosure sale, said he took the crossing out, but he complained that he was not to blame for jeopardizing the trip schedule. He said the rail company has been replacing crossties and doing other repair work so the trips might not have been able to run anyway, adding there are dangerous places on the line. The train can’t run where the crossties are out, he said, adding, “I’m not the one holding the train up.”

“It’s far from over,” Roberson said, noting “I’ve got to get on my property.” He said he planned to build his home on the property. He said he just replaced an old crossing and did not know he had to get permission.

Caldwell said the TVRR is doing some work on the line, stressing it is routine maintenance. “It’s not unusual for them to be on the line -- checking culverts, spraying vegetation, looking for downed trees. She said rail companies normally work on things before they need work. Replacing crossties goes on routinely throughout the year, she said. “They’re always having to replace something. It’s an ongoing thing with maintenance and replacement.” She said there was a time when crossties had a nail with a date on it so workers would know how long it has been in place and when it needed to be replaced.

She said the Old Line is inspected by TVRR every few weeks through the year and daily when there is traffic on the line. It is also inspected annually by the Federal Railway Authority, which is based at TDOT. “These are all things that are mandated,” she explained.

Caldwell said the line is in good shape because a lot of work was done on it after it was purchased from CSX. TVA rehabilitated the line to the Apalachia Powerhouse in order to move heavy equipment, and then Tennessee Minerals replaced crossties and some steel from there to Copperhill when it planned to move freight. “People who know aobut railroads say it is better shape then when we got it,” she said, noting it was always in good condition because it had been used for hauling acid along an environmentally sensitive area.