J. Craig Thorpe (American, B. 1948) "Tennessee Locomotive" Signed lower right. Original Oil painting on Paper. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood Legendary Locomotives of the 50 States Tennessee Commemorative Cover postmarked June 3, 1995. On June 3, 1896, several small railroads merged to become the Atlanta, Knoxville & Northern Railroad. With this new organization came a directive from owner Henry K. McHarg to devise a more efficient method for crossing Tennessee's Bald Mountain -- located 16 miles north of Copperhill. Although his predecessors had devised a series of switchbacks to solve this dilemma, McHarg was not satisfied with that solution because the system allowed only three or four cars to cross at one time. Thus, in 1898, the Hiwassee Loop was born. Measuring some 8,000 feet long, it was once considered to be the world's third-longest railroad loop. In the six miles between the Tennessee towns of Farrier and Appalachia, the loop accomplished a drop of 426 feet. From the south, the line completely encircled Bald Mountain and crossed under itself through an opening in a 62-foot-high, 195-foot-long wooden trestle to reach the gorge of the Hiwassee River. At the top of the loop, riders were afforded perhaps the most impressive view in the South. From that vantage point they could see three states: Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina. Today, the line has been relegated to use only by freight trains. Displayed here is engine No. 25 -- a Vauclain Compound 2-8-0 built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works -- steaming through the opening in the wooden trestle on the Hiwassee Loop. Image Size: 14 x 12 in. Overall Size: 18 x 15 in. Unframed. (B15044)