{{Short description|Train station in Bryson City, North Carolina, U.S.}} {{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox station | name = Bryson City Depot | name_lang = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | symbol = | symbol_location = | type = | image = File:Bryson City Depot, Bryson City, NC (39682819583).jpg | alt = | caption = | other_name = | address = 226 Everett Street | borough = Bryson City, North Carolina | country = United States | coordinates = {{coord|35.4304|N|83.4469|W|display=inline,title}} | grid_name = | grid_position = | elevation = | owned = Great Smoky Mountains Railroad | operator = | manager = | transit_authority = | line = Murphy Branch | distance = | platforms = 1 side platform | tracks = 3 | train_operators = | connections = | structure = At-grade | depth = | levels = | parking = Yes; paid | bicycle = | accessible = Yes | architect = J. D. Elliott | architectural_style = | status = | code = | iata = | zone = | classification = | website = | opened = {{Start date|1895|df=y}} | opening = | closed = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}} --> | rebuilt = 1988 | electrified = | former = | original = Southern Railway | pregroup = | postgroup = | prenational = | years = | events = | passengers = Roughly 200,000 a year<ref name=PM>{{cite web |last= Murry |first= Mandy |url= https://theplateaumag.com/the-thing-about-trains |title= The Thing About Trains |date= December 4, 2020 |publisher= Plateau Magazine |access-date=February 27, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.watershedcabins.com/post/-10-fun-facts-about-the-great-smoky-mountains-railroad/ |title= 10 Fun Facts About the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad |date = December 28, 2020 |publisher= Watershed Cabins |access-date=February 27, 2023 }}</ref> | pass_system = | pass_year = | pass_percent = | pass_rank = | services = <!-- {{Adjacent stations|system=Great Smoky Mountains Railroad|line=Main Line|left=Andrews|right=Dillsboro}} --> | other_services = {{adjacent stations|system=Southern Railway|line=Murphy Branch|left=Bushnell|right=Whittier}} | other_services_collapsible = | other_services_header = Former services | footnotes = | mapframe = yes | mapframe-custom = {{Maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=300|frame-height=180|zoom=16|type=point|marker=rail}} }} The '''Bryson City Depot''' is a train station located in Bryson City, North Carolina, United States. It serves as the only active station along the ''Murphy Branch'', a rail line that traverses from Asheville to Murphy in Western North Carolina. Owned and operated by the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, it serves as both the begin and end point of various scenic excursion trains.

==Location== Bryson City Depot is located at the intersection of Everett and Fry streets in downtown Bryson City. Adjacent to the station is MacNeill Park, dedicated to Malcolm and Joan MacNeill, who established the Great Smoky Mountains Railway. Nearby, within walking distance, is the Smoky Mountain Trains Museum, the Appalachian Rivers Aquarium, the Swain County Heritage Museum, the Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians, Riverfront Park, and Island Park.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.explorebrysoncity.com/things-to-do/ |title= Best Things to do in Bryson City and the Great Smoky Mountains |publisher= Swain County Tourism Development Authority |access-date= February 28, 2023 }}</ref>

==History== In November 1894, Southern Railway had contracted J. D. Elliott of Hickory to build a depot in Bryson City. A frame building with wooden ornament and broad eaves was completed in 1895.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://ncarchitects.lib.ncsu.edu/buildings/B003594 |title= Bryson City Depot |publisher= NC State University Libraries |access-date=February 27, 2023 }}</ref> Around the turn of the 20th century, four passenger trains, between Asheville and Murphy, would daily stop at the station. However, soon after the Second World War, passenger traffic had declined due to increasing prevalence of the automobile. On July 16, 1948, passenger rail service was discontinued along the Murphy Branch and the station was closed.<ref name=PM/><ref name=GSMR>{{cite web |url= https://www.gsmr.com/train-history/ |title= History |publisher= Great Smoky Mountains Railroad |access-date=February 27, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last= Sluder |first= Lan |author-link= |date= June 9, 2014 |title= Moving to the Mountains, Your Guide to Retiring or Relocating to Asheville and the North Carolina Mountains |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=0bR_BAAAQBAJ&dq=bryson+city+depot&pg=PA422 |location= Asheville, NC |publisher= CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform |page= 422 |isbn= 9781499787740 }}</ref>

In 1988, the State of North Carolina purchased the Murphy Branch from Norfolk Southern, the successor of Southern Railway, after the line was abandoned for lack of freight traffic. The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, which was formed that same year, secured a lease agreement along {{convert|53|mi|km}} of track between Dillsboro and Andrews. The station was refurbished and began its second life serving tourists to the area.<ref name=GSMR/><ref>{{cite web |url= https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1924301/m2/1/high_res_d/GSMR_History.pdf |title= The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad |publisher= UNT Digital Library |access-date= February 27, 2023 }}</ref>

==Services== The train station, operated by the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, provides round-trip excursions through the Nantahala Gorge and along the Tuckasegee River.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.gsmr.com/nantahala/ |title= Nantahala Gorge Excursion |publisher= Great Smoky Mountains Expressway |access-date= February 28, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.gsmr.com/tuckasegee/ |title= Tuckasegee River Excursion |publisher= Great Smoky Mountains Expressway |access-date= February 28, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= McCay |first= Tara Massouleh |url= https://finance.yahoo.com/news/5-stunning-train-rides-north-002742838.html |title= 5 Stunning Train Rides To Take In North Carolina |date= January 30, 2023 |publisher= Southern Living |access-date= February 28, 2023 }}</ref> Seasonal and themed round-trip excursions, including ''the Polar Express'', are also available.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.gsmr.com/events/polar-express/ |title= The Polar Express |publisher= Great Smoky Mountains Expressway |access-date= February 28, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= Harris |first= Phil |url= https://kiss951.com/2022/11/07/polar-express-train-rides-return-to-north-carolina/ |title= 'Polar Express' Train Rides Return To North Carolina |date= November 7, 2022 |publisher= WNKS |location= Charlotte, NC |access-date= February 28, 2023 }}</ref> Tickets and information are located in the depot, while public restrooms are located at an adjacent stand-alone building. Operating hours will vary depending on scheduled excursions planned for day.

Short-term and disability parking is available along Everett and Fry streets (free, two-hour limit). Same-day parking is located at 45 Mitchell Street, which requires a cash-only fee per vehicle (including motorcycle and RV).<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.gsmr.com/train-faq/#where-do-we-park |title= Frequently Asked Questions: Where do we park? |publisher= Great Smoky Mountains Expressway |access-date= February 28, 2023 }}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{commons category-inline}} *[https://www.gsmr.com/ Great Smoky Mountains Railroad]

Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 1895 Category:Buildings and structures in Swain County, North Carolina Category:Transportation in Swain County, North Carolina Category:Railway stations in North Carolina