Large Scale Central

North Carolina Train Museums?

Conventions, Shows, Clubs and Get-Togethers
#1

We are contemplating visiting North Carolina next summer (2014), if we don’t visit our daughter who’s in Brighton the UK in school about the same time,

We have created a short list of places to visit which include the following:

National Railroad Museum and Hall of Fame, Hamlett

NC Railroad Museum, New Hill

NC Trasportation Museum, Spencer

Smoky Mtns Trains, Bryson City (near Cherokee -our primary destination)

Wilmington RR Museum. Wilington

Our question… As these are scattered all over the state, can anyone who has visited any of these give us any advice to assist in narrowing down our list, or add anyplace else to consider… Thanks in advance.

#2

Ralph Berg is your man. He lives in the general area and has been to most if not all of those.

#3

Phil,
They are scattered around pretty good :wink:

A must see is the NC Transportation Museum in Spencer.

If you’re going to be at the Great Smokey Mountain Railway, I suggest you visit the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga, TN. It’s only about 2 hours from Bryson City. Very beautiful and scenic drive.
http://tvrail.com/
If you can arrange to be there on the weekend, the TVRM runs some very nice excursions. Some steam powered. They’ve not released next years schedule yet, but run several excursions every weekend.
The Missionary Ridge local runs all day long and takes you over to their shops.

Hamlet has a beautiful depot. However, I wouldn’t drive too far out of my way to see the museum.

Wilmington is over 6 hours from Bryson City. The RR museum isn’t very large. But if you do go to Wilmington, I suggest you visit the Battleship North Carolina.
Ralph

#4

The North Carolina RR Museum is only open Saturday & Sunday. They only run the train the first Sunday of the month.
Ralph
http://www.triangletrain.com/

#5

We just visited the NC Transportation museum in Spencer this past October, had a great time.
If you want a chance to actually go on a train ride you do have to visit on a weekend, we visited during the week so nothing was actually operating.
Still had a great time looking at everything, and there was nobody in our way!
I have some pictures posted here on my profile:

http://www.largescalecentral.com/albums/view/11964

#6

Vinnie,
They run the train every day they’re open in the Summer at the NCTM.
Ralph

Train schedule
January and February – Saturdays, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

March through Memorial Day
Thursday-Friday, 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m. Saturdays, 11 a.m.,1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. Sundays, 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m.
Memorial Day through Labor Day
Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. Sundays, 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m.

Labor Day through December 31
Thursday-Friday, 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m. Saturdays, 11 a.m.,1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. Sundays, 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m.

#7

Thanks to all for your suggestions and comments - It is most helpful and appreciated!

Phil

#8

Don’t forget Tweetsie, so you can see your Bachmann Annie in 1:1!!

http://tweetsie.com/

#9

Cale: That’s in Blowing Rock? On our bucket list… Thanks for the reminder!

Phil.

#10

Yes Blowing Rock/Boone…we"ll be there Opening Day!