Aberdeen Railroad Museum
100 East Main Street
(Corner Main & Sycamore Streets)
PO Box 785
Aberdeen, NC 28315
Phone: (910) 944-5902
Hours: Mon–Fri: 8:00am–5:00pm
The Union Station Railroad Museum in Aberdeen seeks to preserve the Union Station Depot and to preserve and exhibit artifacts and memorabilia collected from the community, the Aberdeen and Rockfish Railroad Company, and other railroad enterprises that passed through Union Station or operated in the surrounding region.
Built circa 1900, Union Station features Victorian architecture and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum features one of only two inspection cars left in the U.S. A renovated caboose sits on tracks nearby.
Admission is free. Free guided tours are available for groups.
Charlotte Trolley Museum
2104 South Boulevard
Phone: (704) 375-0850
Connect to the Trolley's Web-Site: http://www.charlottetrolley.org/.
Charlotte's trolley line runs from the Charlotte Convention Center, along the old Southern RR line (parallel to South Boulevard) to the Atherton Mill shopping center, which is also the location of the maintenance facility and the Charlotte Trolley Museum. The fare is $1.00 each way; accompanied children under 12 are free. Check with the Charlotte Trolley for schedules, and for other special events such as the Wednesday Trolley Crawls.
Trolley car #85, at left, an original car from Charlotte, has been restored and is used for most runs. Since there is no trolley overhead beyond the immediate area of the shop, a Cummins diesel generator rides on a dolly attached to the north end of the car.
A smaller trolley car, #1, has been restored and will shortly operate on the same track. It also will be powered with a Cummins diesel generator.
Other trolley cars, none from the original Charlotte system, on hand are Philadelphia (Red Arrow) #13 (restored), Asheville #117 (not restored) and Richmond, VA #407 (cosmetically restored, via Fort Collins, CO).
Directions to the Charlotte Trolley:
From Interstate 77 take Exit 9 to Interstate 277. Take Exit 1 to South Boulevard. Go south on South Boulevard for four stop lights to Tremont. Take the first right after Tremont into a parking lot at the Atherton Mill. The Charlotte Trolley is located at the back of the lot.
East Carolina Chapter, N.R.H.S.
New Hope Valley Railway
North Carolina Railroad Museum
3900 Bonsal Road
New Hill, NC 27562-0040
Phone: (919) 362-5416
Connect to the New Hope Valley Railroad Web-Site: http://www.triangletrain.com.
As well as a museum, the New Hope Valley Railroad operates over 6.5 miles of track. Equipment includes two General Electric, two Whitcomb diesel-electric locomotives, a tank (0-4-0) steam locomotive, and passenger and freight cars.
Train Ride Days are the first Sunday of each month from May through November. Halloween trains operate the Saturday before Halloween. Christmas trains operate on the first three weekends (both Saturday and Sunday) following Thanksgiving. Check the NHV web site for schedules. Group Rides are available to Civic Groups, schools and other organizations; call the number at the left. The museum is staffed only on Saturday, and Train and Group Ride Days, although the Museum and Railroad equipment can be viewed any day of the week.
The museum has constructed a 6,685 sq. ft. G scale garden railroad with a walking path surrounding the layout. There are 3 main outer loops, consisting of 210, 215 and 220 feet of track with 2 large tunnels and a 12-foot long overhead truss bridge. AristoCraft, Bachmann, LGB, Piko and USA Trains stock, buildings and equipment are used on the layout. Current construction is the 1200 sq. ft. center layout area, consisting of 9 loops, 2 large mountains and numerous bridges, trestles, waterfalls, ponds, buildings, cars, people and many plants. There will be a model of the City of Apex, logging, industrial and rural areas of North Carolina.
Directions from Raleigh: Take US 1 south to exit 89, the Jordan Lake/New Hill exit. Turn right and go 1 mile to New Hill. Turn left and go 2.5 miles south on old US 1. Turn left onto Bonsal Road just before going under the two railroad bridges. Parking is on your right before crossing the railroad tracks.
Great Smoky Mountain Railroad
P.O. Box 1490
Dillsboro, NC 28713
For information, schedule and reservations, call 1-800-872-4681 or 828-586-8811
connect to the GSMR Web-site at http://www.gsmr.com
E-mail the GSMR at email@example.com.
Directions to Dillsboro:
From Interstate 40 Exit 27 follow the Great Smoky Mountains Parkway (Highway 74) to Dillsboro.
Frequencies: 461.575 & 463.250 MHz
Special Excursions include:
Valentine's Day Dinner Train
The Little Engine That Could
Mother's Day Gourmet Dinner Train
Father's Day Beer/Dinner Train
New World Wines Dinner Train
Old World Wines Dinner Train
Day Out with Thomas
Leaf Season Viewing Train
Oktoberfest Beer/Dinner Train
Veteran's Day Train
Biltmore Estate Wine/Dinner Train
Peanuts the Great Pumpkin Patch Express
The Polar Express
Polar Express Dining Train
New Year's Eve Gala
Gourmet Dining & Mystery Theatre Trains
The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad provides a full season of over 836 tourist railway round trip excursions. On passenger schedules, the railway operates four diesel-electric locomotives and one Baldwin steam locomotive (No. 1702, ex-US Army). Passengers ride comfortable, reconditioned coaches, crown coaches, club cars, dining cars, cabooses and open cars which are ideal for viewing and picture taking. Scenic excursions take you through a beautiful section of western North Carolina with views of the magnificent Great Smoky Mountains, winding rivers and lakes, and white-water rafting.
The GSMR operates 53 miles of former Southern Railway track and right-of-way between Dillsboro and Andrews, NC. Depots are located in Dillsboro, Bryson City and Andrews, NC. Excursions run from Dillsboro to Bryson City, Bryson City to the Nantahala Gorge and Dillsboro to Andrews.
On Saturdays from February through November the GSMR operates a Gourmet Dinner Train -- a romantic dining experience (departing from Dillsboro). Dinner includes an appetizer, choice of three entrees, fresh vegetables, salad, dinner rolls, dessert and coffee or tea. Cocktails and wine are available. Advance reservations required.
On certain Fridays from May through November the GSMR operates a Mystery Theatre Dinner Train, a three hour dinner and performance where passengers participate in solving the mystery on board.
Many special excursions are operated throughout the year, as listed at left.
Over the last several years the GSMR has played a part in several motion pictures: "The Fugitive," starring Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones; "My Fellow Americans," starring Jack Lemmon, James Garner and Dan Aykroyd; "Digging to China," with Kevin Bacon; "Paradise Falls," with Sean Bridges and Nick Searcy; and "Forces of Nature," with Sandra Bullock and Ben Afleck. Steam Locomotive 1702 starred in the movie: "This Property is Condemned," with Robert Redford, Natalie Wood and Charles Bronson.
Visit the Smoky Mountain Trains scenic model railroad museum in Bryson City, adjacent to the train depot, which features a collection of 7,200 Lionel locomotives, cars and accessories. There are 24' x 15' and 15' x 21' operating layouts.
National Railroad Museum
and Hall of Fame
2 Main Street
The museum, the National Railroad Museum and Hall of Fame, occupies a portion of the old (1900) passenger station at the diamond. There is a Seaboard SDP35 (#1114) and a caboose. In the station are nicely done exhibits and a gift shop. There is plenty of modern action outside -- the largest CSX yard in North Carolina is nearby, and nearly all the traffic passes within sight of the museum.
Visiting hours are Saturday, 10am - 5pm and Sunday, 1pm - 5pm. Free.
NC Transportation Museum
Southern Railway Spencer Shops
411 S. Salisbury Avenue
(Exit 79 on Interstate 85)
PO Box 165
Spencer, NC 28159
Phone: (704) 636-2889
Fax: (704) 639-1881
Connect to the museum's web-site at: http://nctrans.org
Directions: After exiting Interstate 85 at Exit 79, there are several signs directing you to the museum. Exit 79 is approximately 40 miles north of Charlotte and 50 miles south of Greensboro.
Frequency: 155.145 MHz
While this state-owned museum attempts to cover all forms of transportation relevant to NC, railroads are the primary focus. The site was a Southern Railway heavy maintenance shop for much of this century, located halfway between Washington and Atlanta.
The roundhouse is the largest surviving roundhouse in the south, and enables the proper display of much rail equipment, including a Shay (Graham County #1925), Seaboard 2-10-0, ACL 4-6-0, SR 2-8-0 #604 (ex BC&G #4), SR GP30 #2601, N&W GP9, ACL E3 #501, SR FP7 #6133 and SR E8 #6900. Some of these locomotives pull a weekend train on a 3 mile trip around the 57-acre grounds. Check the museum's web-site or call for train ride schedules.
The restoration job done on the roundhouse and passenger station, and the working equipment, is first class. This museum is among the finest. Definitely worth a day trip if you are within 200 miles.
Hours are 9 -5, Mondays - Saturdays and 1 - 5 Sundays, April 1 - October 31. Hours are reduced and the museum is closed Mondays during winter. Admission is free.
Piedmont Railroad Museum & Library
P.O. Box 12551
Raleigh, NC 27605-2551
Connect to the museum's web-site at: http://piedmontrailroadmuseum.org/
Founded in 2009, The Piedmont Railroad Museum & Library, Inc. is dedicated to preserving the rich railroad history of the Central and Coastal Piedmont Region of the State of North Carolina. The Museum and Library will be a new destination to meet and enjoy the extensive history of the over 200 railroads which served the Piedmont area.
Click on the link at left to read about our plans to Preserve the Past, Educate the Present, and Build the Future.
The Piedmont Railroad Museum & Library, Inc. is currently looking for a suitable site to locate our museum building to provide space for exhibits and prototype rolling stock. The Museum has also begun the architectural design of a suitable building to contain our exhibits, prototype displays, the library and model railroad layouts, plus a meeting room and gift shop.
Smoky Mountain Trains
100 Greenlee Street
Bryson City, NC 28713
Phone: (828) 488-5200
Toll Free: 1-800-872-4681 x 7050
Connect to the Smoky Mountain Trains web-site: http://www.smokymountaintrains.com
Send E-mail to Smoky Mountain Trains at: firstname.lastname@example.org.
Located close to Bryson City station of the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad.
For current hours of operation, click here.
Smoky Mountain Trains is more than an ordinary museum. With its collection of 7,000 Lionel™ engines, cars and accessories, impressive operating layout, children’s activity center, and gift/toy shop, Smoky Mountain Trains has something for everyone.
The vast collection dates back to 1918 and features such classics as the 1934 Blue Comet Passenger set and the more recent Joshua Lionel Cowen Challenger steam locomotives.
A second layout, built by model railroad custom benchwork, opened in 2006. We are excited about what it will provide to our young visitors — and those who still think young! We have G-gauge, Lionel Standard gauge, O scale and HO operating on the new layout. But, what is different is that you (or the kid in you) and the kids can push buttons and operate the trains and over 20 accessory items.
Admission is $9 for adults and $ 5 for children, free with purchase of GSMR Train Excursion tickets.
P.O. Box 388
Blowing Rock, NC 28605
Phone: (828) 264-9061
Toll Free: 1-800-526-5740
Connect to the Tweetsie web-site: http://www.tweetsie-railroad.com
Send E-mail to the Tweetsie at: email@example.com.
Located on Highway 321 between Boone and Blowing Rock, NC.
Off the Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 291 at the Boone exit.
Frequencies: 468.400 & 468.900 MHz
The Tweetsie Railroad is North Carolina's first theme park, and offers a trip back into the days of the Old West. Hop aboard the train for an unforgettable three-mile journey through the scenic mountains . . . but watch out for train robbers and marauding Indians! There are also amusement rides for all ages and live entertainment throughout the park, including the musical show and Can-Can girls at the Palace Saloon. Walk down Main Street, and chat with the cowpokes and gunslingers. Ride the chair lift to Miner's Mountain, where you can pan for gold and stroll through the Deer Park.
There is a special Halloween Festival and Ghost Train in October.
The railroad operates two steam locomotives. 4-6-0 Engine No. 12 was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1917 for the original ET&WNC railroad. 2-8-2 Engine No. 190, the "Yukon Queen" was purchased in 1960, brought to the Tweetsie Railroad from Alaska and restored for operation. An authentic ET&WNC wooden coach remains and runs regularly, usually on the rear of the train.
Wilmington Railroad Museum
501 Nutt Street
(Red Cross and Water Streets)
Wilmington, NC 28401
Phone: (910) 763-2634
Hours: March 15 – October 14
Hours: October 15 – March 14
Connect to the museum's web-site: http://www.wrrm.org
Located in part of an old ACL warehouse complex, now mostly shops, close to the Cape Fear River front. The local model RR club has HO and O scale layouts upstairs. There are a variety of exhibits that include folklore, ghost stories, railroad advertising, railroad police, railroad accidents and disasters, and various equipment and gear used by railroad workers. Outside are various items of rolling stock (RF&P boxcar and 2 cabooses) and a steam locomotive (ACL 4-6-0 #250) that has recently been renovated. The Museum has a children's corner.
Admission is $4.00 for adults, $3.50 for senior citizens and military, $2.50 for children 6-11, free for children under 6.
Worth visiting if you are in Wilmington.
Yadkin Valley Chapter, N.R.H.S.
North Wilkesboro, NC 27562
Phone: (336) 838-2754
Connect to the Yadkin Valley Web-Site: http://www.yadkinvalleynrhs.com/.
The Yadkin Valley chapter of the N.R.H.S. was chartered in November, 1995. Its goal is to preserve the rail history of Wilkes and surrounding counties, and to have fun. The Chapter will occupy what is currently the Wilkes Art Gallery later in 2001, under a long term lease, and will begin construction of a large HO scale layout.
The Chapter meets the second Thursday of each month at 7:30pm at the Wilkes Art Gallery. Some months the Chapter meets elsewhere so check before attending.
The Chapter sponsors two steam excursions each year from Dillsboro to Andrews on the Great Smoky Mountains Railway. The dates in 2001 are April 8 and November 11 (both Sundays). For details check the "Upcoming Excursions" section on the News page.