The original tracks starting in Marietta, Georgia reached Blue Ridge and the surrounding areas in 1886. The line running east towards Copperhill, Tennessee originally made a very sharp horseshoe-shaped curve dubbed “the hook” via the Hiawassee Loop. The curve was so sharp that crews claimed that if the conductor’s cigar went out in the caboose, he could wait until the train got to the “hook” then easily lean out and get a light from the engineer.
