Out with the Old and in with the New at Noccalula Falls
Noccalula Falls - Gadsden, Alabama
Located in the northeast corner of Alabama is Noccalula Falls, a little gem of a park that is a mix of history, nature, and exploration! Noccalula Falls Park and Campground has a lot to offer for families, nature lovers, hikers, and explorers a like. The highlight of Noccalula Falls is the 90-foot waterfall that drops into the gorge that the park’s hiking trails surround. The history of this majestic waterfall stems from a Native American folktale about Princess Noccalula whom the falls are now named after.
Despite the dry summer in 2020, the falls were still magnificent and plentiful.
The Noccalula Falls Park features many attractions along their walking paths. One of them is a beautiful botanical garden featuring wildflowers, water features, and swing benches that sit along the path. Other attractions feature a pioneer village, covered bridge, miniature golf course, and even small animal exhibits. Surrounding the park area is a miniature railroad that offers views of all of the attractions, including the waterfall. There are three stations along the route where passengers can get on and off. The main station is located at the entrance to the park. The train then traverses down the hill, past the train’s maintenance shed, and to the next station which sits at the entrance to the gorge and the Black Creek Trails which lead to the waterfall. The train then traverses past the pioneer village, past the waterfall, and up the hill to the next station which is close to the botanical gardens. From here, the train travels past the gardens before it returns to the main station.
A map from the Noccalula Falls website highlights the route of the railroad through the park.
The little C.P. Huntington train at Noccalula Falls opened back in 1979. This 20-inch gauge miniature railroad featured one brightly colored train which was manufactured back in 1961. This was C.P. Huntington number 12, meaning it was only the 12th C.P. Huntington train to be manufactured by Chance Rides. The history of this little train prior to it's time at Noccalula Falls is unknown but it has been serving the park well ever since!
An early postcard shows No. 12 pulling out of the Kiwanis Station near the botanical garden.
For many years, C.P. Huntington No. 12 was the only train on the railroad at Noccalula Falls. The brightly colored locomotive pulled 3 cars throughout the park on the 20-inch narrow gauge track. By the time Noccalula Falls park installed the train ride, Chance Rides had already stopped manufacturing 20-inch gauge C.P. Huntington trains and their 24-inch gauge trains became the new standard train. Even though both 20-inch and 24-inch gauges trains were available from Chance Rides from 1961-1975, only 15 twenty-inch gauge trains were manufactured and one lone 19-inch gauge train.
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Pictures of C.P. Huntington No. 3 from the for sale advertisement on Ital International LLC's website in the early 2000s.
In the early 2000s, another 20-inch gauge Chance C.P. Huntington train came up for sale: C.P. Huntington Number 3! Old Number 3 operated at National Park Village in Estes Park, Colorado from 1961 until the mid-to-late 1990s. When the railroad closed, the train was put up for sale. Noccalula Falls purchased the miniature train and it's coaches to run along with the aging Number 12. C.P. Huntington No. 12 became Noccalula's #1 engine and C.P. Huntington No. 3 became their #2 engine.
C.P. Huntington No. 3 can be seen crossing the trestle at National Park Village in Estes Park, CO back in the early 1960s.
Both trains were eventually repainted to wear similar black and red paint schemes and the coaches received new cloth roofs as well. Having two trains allowed for a two-train operation on busy days during the summer as well as during the popular Christmas At The Falls event. This also allowed for the trains to undergo routine maintenance with less down time.
C.P. Huntington No. 12 in its most recent paint scheme appearing as Noccalula Falls Engine 1.
C.P. Huntington No. 3, appearing as Engine 2 at Noccalula Falls in 2021.
Even with having two trains, the locomotives were beginning to show their age even more and maintenance cost and downtime was increasing. With the two locomotives being over 60-years old, it was becoming significantly more difficult to maintain the historic trains.
The tired C.P. Huntington No 3 is awaiting passengers at the main station.
In May 2021, the city of Gadsden, Alabama announced that they'd be buying two new electric Chance C.P. Huntington trains to replace the tired Noccalula Park trains. As parts for the two aging 20-inch gauge trains were no longer available from Chance Rides, it was time for the park to upgrade the trains and the track. The two original Noccalula Falls trains continued to operate for the remainder of the 2021 season through Christmas At The Falls.
Old Number 3 chugs past part of the botanical gardens.
In 2022, the park began construction on the new railroad. The old tracks were ripped up and new 24-inch gauge tracks were installed. The new electric C.P. Huntington trains and six-coaches were built by Chance Rides and waited at the factory for the track construction at the park to be completed. The new trains were numbers 408 and 409, the 408th and 409th C.P. Huntington trains to be manufactured by Chance Rides over the past 60+ years. While these new electric trains may look very similar to their predecessors, they're mechanical workings are state-of-the-art and feature many technological upgrades including realistic train sounds, electric chargers, AC motors, lithium-ion batteries, and most importantly, zero emissions. They also featured coaches with wider seats which provide a more comfortable ride for the passengers. Each train now pulls 4 coaches, which is one more than the previous trains pulled, which increases the capacity of each train.
One of the two new electric C.P. Huntington trains was displayed at the Chance Rides booth at the IAAPA convention in November, 2022. Photo Courtesy: Brenton Asti
The track work was completed and the new electric Chance C.P. Huntington trains were delivered in November 2022, just in time to run for the popular Christmas At The Falls event!
C.P. Huntington #409 chugs through the park while #408 sits in the maintenance shed. Photo Courtesy: Kevin R. Mueller
What happened to the old trains? Currently they are being stored at the park's maintenance facility. The park plans to keep one of the locomotives to put on display at Noccalula Falls Park in the future.
The new trains at Noccalula Falls Park are a welcome, yet familiar, sight and sound to the park! The shining brass and paint stands out compared to the outdated historic trains. With the new C.P. Huntington trains now in operation at Noccalula Falls, No. 408 and 409 will hopefully be chugging around the park for another 40-years, just like old No. 12 and No. 3!
If you haven't had a chance to visit Noccalula Falls in Gadsden, Alabama, it's definitely a place to put on your bucket list! During my southern road trip in 2020, I was pleasantly surprised by the beauty and relaxation in nature that this park had to offer. I was fortunate to ride behind C.P. Huntington No. 3 that day, which is the oldest C.P. Huntington train that I've ever had an opportunity to ride. I already cannot wait to go back to ride behind the new electric C.P. Huntington trains soon!
C.P. Huntington #3 and I in Noccalula Falls during the summer of 2021.