We decided that the forecast would make for a bleak weekend of Camping in Brevard NC (sorry Climax fans) so we are going up to the Spencer Shops either tomorrow or Saturday…anything special I need to know (handshakes, code words, etc…) The train will be running according to Elaine in the office this morning!!! We are going as an early Birthday Surprise for my 2nd Born, Luke (family train nut), He’ll be 4 on the 17th.
image from nctrans.org Will report back soon on trip.
Man, Cale, you gotta pick a Fri/Sat/Sun that I have to work to be in the neighborhood … I could even have got you your cars!
Sometime bring your son the extra 45 mins past Spencer and we’ll let him run the K-Rex!
Cab rides can be had for a few dollars more simply by asking, but I think they limit them to 18 years old and up…
Matthew (OV)
Cale, You’ll love it. Cab ride is a must. Get there when they open and get signed up for the cab ride. I took my nephew on a cab ride a couple years ago, but they may have changed the policy. Is the weather supposed to be any better in Spencer? I was thinking it was going to be raining across the East Coast. Here is the engineer in the FM switcher.
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cabby/_forumfiles/000_0723Medium.JPG)
And here is the FM on the turntable.
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cabby/_forumfiles/000_0720Medium.JPG)
I need to check and see when Raildays is this year. It has been about a year since I’ve been to Spencer. I usually go several times a year. Nearby is Linwood. Lots of trains running through. Ralph
No siderods? Sheesh! What kind of train museum is that? 
(To say nothing of those rails being sooo far apart!)
Seriously, have a great time! Suzi is at the “scared of anything that makes loud noises” phase, so she gets a bit nervous around trains at the moment. So long as she doesn’t mind the trains in the back yard, though…
BTW, the Colo. RR museum is supposed to be running something every weekend this year, be it steam, diseasel, or one of the Geese. I’ll probably use that as a way to reintroduce Suzi to full-size railroading. I think she’d love to ride the Goose.
Later,
K
Kevin, I wish I could find the pictures I have from the Shay when it was still running. Ralph
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cabby/_forumfiles/100_0284Small.JPG)
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cabby/_forumfiles/100_0264Small.JPG)
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cabby/_forumfiles/100_0124Small.JPG)
Don’t know who that is in the picture.
I need to visit there again. Neat stuff in the roundhouse.
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Events/EasternNG/IMG_4301.JPG)
And…undercover, is Combine 15 from ET&WNC
(http://www.jbrr.com/assets/images/IMG_4159.JPG)
Plus automobiles and a neat gift shop. There’s a little cafe across the street for lunch. What else do you need? 
Don’t forget The Little Choo Choo shop across the street
Ed
Ahh, that’s better. 
Still gotta do something about that broad gauge, though.
Later,
K
Looks like a worth while trip! Course, if Bruce was any kind of friend I might have been invited along on his last trip…
if only…
Ed and all, we did visit the shop across the street, what dynamic placement!
we had a really good time—it was cold!, but the kids, wife and I all enjoyed it. I’ve got some pics to upload…and yeah Kevin…NO NG 
back with photos soon!
cale
Ken Brunt said:
Looks like a worth while trip! Course, if Bruce was any kind of friend I might have been invited along on his last trip…
You now have an open invitation. Anytime you want to go, I’ll be more than happy to meet you there. I plan on a trip sometime in April. Again in June for Raildays. Ralph
C. Nelson said:
Ed and all, we did visit the shop across the street, what dynamic placement!we had a really good time—it was cold!, but the kids, wife and I all enjoyed it. I’ve got some pics to upload…and yeah Kevin…NO NG
back with photos soon!
cale
Here are a few shots from our day at Spencer… Here is the 2-10-0
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cale_nelson/TripPhotos/bigten.jpg)
A SG Shay, out of service
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cale_nelson/TripPhotos/EliShay.jpg)
A Nice Little SG Saddle Tank:
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cale_nelson/TripPhotos/PorterDuke.jpg)
The Herald from the Tender attached to the Biggest 10-Wheeler I’ve ever seen!
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cale_nelson/TripPhotos/ACL.jpg)
Looked like a 2-8-0 to me, minus a few parts!
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cale_nelson/TripPhotos/riviting.jpg)
A shot I thought Vic would enjoy!
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cale_nelson/TripPhotos/amVic.jpg)
A beautifully restored hopper:
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cale_nelson/TripPhotos/hopper.jpg)
The UGLIEST locomotive I’ve ever seen!
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cale_nelson/TripPhotos/Ugly.jpg)
I’d highly recommend the trip, call a few days before you go (if out of season) to see when the trains are running! We all had a great time! It was the consensus of the 2 adults that the Roundhouse was the best part of the entire museum (with the Turntable ride a close 2nd)! Of course Luke liked the Thomas Table in the gift shop the best-go figure!!! postscript: We took a great many photos but over the course of time, we’ve gotten really weird about posting photos of our kids on-line…you may see one or two now and again, but by and large I try to maintain our families privacy as much as possible (just the world in which we live-sry)…
This is the loco that pulled our train yesterday:
(http://www.nctrans.org/exhibits/images/620.jpg)
<<<<Norfolk & Western #620 — The locomotive was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in 1958. The Norfolk & Western Railway was one of the last Class 1 railroads to dieselize, starting in 1959. Part of their main traffic was coal from West Virginia to the Tidewater section of Virginia, and the railroad kept using steam power to show its continued usefulness. The GP-9 locomotive developed 1750 horsepower from its 567-C prime mover. The N&W used GP-9s for both freight and passenger trains, the later painted in a Tuscan Red and Gold scheme. Freight units wore basic black. The 620 continued in service, working from Roanoke, VA to Ohio until being retired in 1985, when it was donated by Norfolk Southern Corporation to the NCTHC. Volunteers, using money given by NS Corporation, painted the locomotive in the passenger scheme for use on the site train ride. It receives more use than the others, due to favoritism of the crews.>>>>> I didn’t get any photos of it (Me likey steamy better)…and it was about 38 degrees, and windy/drizzily
C. Nelson said:
Here are a few shots from our day at Spencer… Here is the 2-10-0(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cale_nelson/TripPhotos/bigten.jpg)
A SG Shay, out of service
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cale_nelson/TripPhotos/EliShay.jpg)
A Nice Little SG Saddle Tank:
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cale_nelson/TripPhotos/PorterDuke.jpg)
The Herald from the Tender attached to the Biggest 10-Wheeler I’ve ever seen!
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cale_nelson/TripPhotos/ACL.jpg)
Looked like a 2-8-0 to me, minus a few parts!
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cale_nelson/TripPhotos/riviting.jpg)
A shot I thought Vic would enjoy!
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cale_nelson/TripPhotos/amVic.jpg)
A beautifully restored hopper:
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cale_nelson/TripPhotos/hopper.jpg)
The UGLIEST locomotive I’ve ever seen!
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cale_nelson/TripPhotos/Ugly.jpg)
I’d highly recommend the trip, call a few days before you go (if out of season) to see when the trains are running! We all had a great time! It was the consensus of the 2 adults that the Roundhouse was the best part of the entire museum (with the Turntable ride a close 2nd)! Of course Luke liked the Thomas Table in the gift shop the best-go figure!!! postscript: We took a great many photos but over the course of time, we’ve gotten really weird about posting photos of our kids on-line…you may see one or two now and again, but by and large I try to maintain our families privacy as much as possible (just the world in which we live-sry)…
I bet they loved it. At that age those giant locomotives look even that much bigger! Raildays is coming in June. They always move a lot of Loco’s outside for better photos. As well as run several more trains. Ralph
Ralph Berg said:
Ken Brunt said:
Looks like a worth while trip! Course, if Bruce was any kind of friend I might have been invited along on his last trip…You now have an open invitation. Anytime you want to go, I’ll be more than happy to meet you there. I plan on a trip sometime in April. Again in June for Raildays. Ralph
I just might take you up on that.
