In the late 1800s, George Washington Vanderbilt II commissioned the construction of the Biltmore Mansion in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. The estate still stands as a major tourist attraction. It features a whopping 250 rooms, 65 fireplaces, and gardens that span over 8,000 acres. Constructing the Biltmore was no easy feat. The mansion necessitated such a massive amount of construction materials to be transported to the remote construction site over rugged terrain that Vanderbilt commissioned the construction of a miniature railroad system to transport the building materials to the site. The narrow-gauge system spanned over 3 miles and used a small steam engine that pulled flatbed railcars loaded with supplies like bricks, lumber and stones. Once the mansion was completed, Vanderbilt repurposed the railway system to transport guests and farm products around the estate. Visitors could also take a ride on the railway and enjoy the scenic beauty of the estate’s gardens and grounds.
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