Opryland's Rachel at Doe River Gorge October 2000

In 2000, Ken Riddle arranged to borrow a steam locomotive to pull excursions in the Doe River Gorge to celebrate 50 years since the last run of the ET&WNC narrow gauge trains from Elizabethton, TN to Cranberry, NC. That steam locomotive was Rachel which had operated at Opryland in Nashville, TN until 1997. For 3 years, it was stored at the Tennessee Central Railroad Museum in Nashville. From 2000 until 2003, it operated in the Doe River Gorge delighting folks with the sights and sounds of steam in the beautiful gorge. As of February 2021, the locomotive is in storage in Grapevine, TX.
This video was shot on the first weekend of trips in October 2000. At the time, DRG didn't have any serviceable passenger cars, so motorcars and trailers were used to haul the passengers.
Video by Wiley Helton.