Rail Days rolls on at NC Transportation Museum | Events

SPENCER - The 2012 Great Southeastern Rail Days Festival has great fun for families, rail fans, and anyone with an interest in the golden age of railroading! Featuring three passenger trains, including the steam powered caboose train, the 30th anniversary celebration of the Southern Railway and Norfolk & Western merger, music, magic, railroad artisit Andy Fletcher and much more, this event promises to be bigger and better than ever before!

Visitors can enjoy unlimited rides aboard three different passenger trains. In honor of the 30th Anniversary of the Norfolk Southern merger, we'll have an N&W themed passenger train, a Southern themed passenger train and our Steam Engine Caboose Train all rolling down the tracks.

In addition to unlimited train rides, every ticket purchased includes rides on the Ash Pit Shuttle, allowing visitors to step into the cab of the Southern GP30 No. 2601 and the N&W #522 for a quick run up and down the rails. Or take a quick ride on the motor cars for a close-up view from the tracks. For a small additional fee, visitors can take a spin on 1925 turntable, the original turntable built as part of the Bob Julian Roundhouse, which orients locomotives and rail cars to be placed inside the Roundhouse.

With a mix of original and traditional songs, Piedmont Natural Grass will bring the harmonies and warm sounds to the Bob Julian Roundhouse, performing both Saturday and Sunday.

Watch with amazement, as Chaz the Magician makes the impossible become possible, right before your eyes. He will roam the site, so you never know when magic may happen.

Spencer Shops Hobo Camp
A hobo camp will be set up with tales of riding the rails - without paying the fare. It's a fun visit for families as they make their way to the Roundhouse.

Model Railroaders
N-Scale, HO Scale and other Model Railroaders will show their incredible displays at three locations.

Kid's Crafts and Activities
Children will have a host of things to do, including crafts and activities in the Bob Julian Roundhouse. This is a great event for kids who love trains!

The N&W 522 visits the N.C. Transportation Museum and will be on display throughout the Great Southeastern Rail Days Festival. The engine will also be used during the recreation of the golden spike advertisment that announced the merger of Southern Railway and Norfolk and Western.

The Bob Julian Roundhouse at the N.C. Transportation Museum will be a mecca to rail fans during the 2012 Great Southeastern Rail Days Festival. The event features a rail car lifting demonstration, a great display of locomotive horns and rail equipment throughout.

Railroad Artist Andy Fletcher Appears in the Roundhouse Saturday AND Sunday!
Railroad artist Andy Fletcher will appear at the N.C. Transportation Museum, showcasing his railroad art and designs for some of the most important cars traveling down the tracks. Fletcher is a railroad artist, speaker, and advocate for freight rail in America. His drawings were the inspiration for Norfolk Southern's 30th Anniversary Heritage Locomotives.

Find out more about the Virginia Museum of Transportation's first artist-in-residence by clicking here.
 

Evening Photo Shoot
An evening photo shoot, 5pm to 7:30pm Saturday only, will include a recreation of the famous photo below in honor of the 30th Anniversary celebration of the N&W/Southern merger. Photo runbys and more will also take place. Photo shoot tickets include evening and nighttime sessions.

Nighttime Photo Shoot
A nighttime photo shoot, 9pm to 10:30pm Saturday only, will feature vintage rail equipment around the site, including the Bob Julian Roundhouse, with scenes beautifully lit for rail fan photography. Photo shoot tickets include both evening and nighttime sessions.