A State-By-State Guide
North Carolina
American Tobacco Trail approaching Durham, North Carolina
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Traces of some of the nation’s most influential Class I railroads of the past crisscross the state, including the Seaboard Air Line, the Atlantic Coast Line, the Norfolk & Western and the Southern. As a result there are currently 22 rail trails, several excursion railroads, and a growing number of railroad museums and related sites to explore on a visit. Among them is one of America’s premier state railroad museums, the North Carolina Transportation Museum –known to rail fans as the Spencer Shops - in Spencer, North Carolina. Meanwhile, twenty-three railroads continue to operate in North Carolina, running on over 3,600 miles of track. In addition, there is service by the two large eastern Class I railroads – CSX and Norfolk Southern, as well as by Amtrak long distance trains. The Crescent connects New York with New Orleans, the Palmetto connects New York with Savannah (Palmetto), and the Silver Meteor and Silver Star connect New York with Miami. North Carolina also supports intra-state Amtrak service, with the Charlotte - Raleigh Piedmont and the Charlotte - Raleigh - Northeast Corridor Carolinian carrying more than 200,000 passengers annually. In all, fourteen Amtrak trains serve the state. Aberdeen; UNION STATION RAILROAD MUSEUM; 100 East Main Street; 910.944.1115; townofaberdeen.net/union station.htm: Year-around, weekdays by appointment (at 910.944.5902 or 910.757.0161), railroad buildings, equipment, displays. NOTES: Built circa 1900, the station features Victorian-era architecture and served several railroads. Asheville; DAYS INN; 1435 Tunnel Road; 828.298.4000: Norfolk Southern; light traffic; ask for rooms on the top floor back. NOTE: While track is within 50 yards of the property, it is below an embankment, making sightings difficult. Bonsal; NEW HOPE VALLEY RAILWAY; Old U. S. Highway 1; 919.362.5416; www.nhvry.org: Seasonal, partial week (runs first Sunday of each month, May through November), equipment, excursions. NOTE: Includes both a 0-4-0T steam locomotive and several industrial locomotives as motive power. __________; NORTH CAROLINA RAILROAD MUSEUM; Old U. S. Highway 1; 919.362.5416; www.nhvry.org: Year-around, partial week (Saturdays) and daily (equipment, displayed outdoors, is available for viewing during daylight hours; staff is available on work, run and group ride days only), railroad buildings, equipment, excursions. NOTE: The Museum consists primarily of historic railroad equipment, including seven diesel-electric industrial switchers, a 0-4-0T steam locomotive, four cabooses, and other rolling stock. Bryson City; GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS RAILWAY; 226 Everett Street; 800.872.4681 or 828.586.8811; www.gsmr.com: Year-around, on a schedule that varies with the seasons, First Class and Family First Class tickets includes sandwich lunches served on board, with two excursion destinations: Nantahala Gorge and the Tuskasegee River. NOTES: Offers special events trains for children summer, fall and winter. Hamlet; NATIONAL RAILROAD MUSEUM AND HALL OF FAME; Highway 74 East; 910.582.2383; nationalrrmuseum.tripod.com/: Year-around, partial week or by appointment, equipment, displays. NOTES: 1]. Displays a train order stopping all Seaboard trains from 11;00 a.m. to 11:01 a.m. on November 25, 1963, in observance of John F. Kennedy’s burial. 2]. An ex-Seaboard Air Line diesel locomotive and caboose sit approximately one block from the museum. Newton; NEWTON DEPOT MUSEUM; 1123 North Main Avenue; 828.464.3930; www.newtondepot.com: Ex-Southern Railway and Carolina & Northwestern Railway station is open year-around from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. most Saturdays, or by appointment; railroad building with displays. NOTES: 1]. Sits alongside a working 12-mile Norfolk-Southern spur; 2]. Planned as the future home of the North Carolina Narrow Gauge Museum. Raleigh; OLE TIME BARBECUE; 6309 Hillsborough Street; 919.859.2544; www.oletimebarbecue.com: CSX and up to eight Amtrak trains pass daily just across the street. Monday through Saturday. All seats – counter and window booths - offer a view of the trains.
Railroading in North Carolina has its start in the earliest days of the industry. As early as 1827, influential citizens were calling for railroads to be built to replace canals and plank roads. One of the earliest efforts, the Wilmington & Raleigh Railroad, at 161 miles in length became the longest railroad in the world when it was completed in 1840. These early efforts were directed at connecting resources, including timber and tobacco, with manufacturers and end users, and at transporting materials and finished goods to ports along the Atlantic coast.
