I have lived in North Carolina for over 20 years but never heard of the NC Transportation Museum. As a way to inch my way back into travel, I signed up for this one-day escorted tour offered by a local company. I hoped it would be a way to get my feet wet by mingling with a few other strangers and spending the day mostly outdoors.
A luxurious Mercedes Benz Sprinter van with seating for 12 carried the 8 passengers (all vaccinated) along with our tour guide/driver. The trip took 2 ½ hours each way from Hendersonville in Western NC to Spencer NC. Spencer is located between Charlotte and Greensboro NC in Rowan County.
What is the NC Transportation Museum?
The North Carolina Transportation Museum is a collection of automobiles, aircraft, and railway vehicles. The museum is located at the former Southern Railway‘s 1896-era Spencer Shops and devotes much of its space to the state’s railroad history. The Spencer Shops was once a major steam locomotive repair facility between Atlanta and Washington, D.C. in Spencer, North Carolina.[The museum has the largest collection of rail relics in the Carolinas. Its Back Shop building of nearly three stories high is most notable for its size of two football fields long.
Historic structures include Barber Junction Depot, an authentic train station built in 1898 that serves as the museum’s Visitor Center.
Barber Junction 
Train Conductor
The Bob Julian Roundhouse is the largest remaining roundhouse in North America and is home to locomotives, passenger rail cars, and a full-size replica Wright Flyer.
The massive Back Shop, where steam locomotives were once completely overhauled, now houses rail cars of the past, antique automobiles, fire trucks, and the restoration of the Piedmont Airlines’ Potomac Pacemaker DC-3.
The Flue Shop houses the museum’s Bumper to Bumper automotive exhibit.
A Train Ride
Upon arrive at Barber Junction, our tour guide handed us our tickets for a 30 minute ride on the antique Southern Railway. This gave us a chance to view the entire 57 acres of the museum and plan our next moves.
Railway Turntable
In rail terminology, a railway turntable or wheelhouse is a device for turning railway rolling stock, usually locomotives. It turns the train in the direction from which it came.
Eccentric Cycles Exhibit
We visited during a special exhibition of bicycles. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the word “eccentric” describes something or someone unconventional. This special exhibition, “Eccentric Cycles: Unique Bicycles and the Stories Behind Them”, has over 30 extraordinary bicycles on display. There were early antiques, avant-garde “mutant” bikes, and innovative machines that truly exemplify the unconventional history and people of the eccentric world of cycling. From the early 1900s to the present day, the bicycle has stood the test of time as a healthy and fun mode of transportation.
Why Are All Those People Gathered Around That Train?
In the distance, I saw a train with a lot of people gathered around looking very excited. Every once in a while, the whistle would blow and steam would burst forth from the top of the train. In addition, a lot of young men were hurriedly walking around the museum grounds carrying cameras on tripods.
I solved the mystery when I got back home and studied the website.
The Norfolk and Western 611
If you are a train buff you would understand why the Norfolk and Western 611 visit is so exciting.
Norfolk and Western 611, also known as the “Spirit of Roanoke” and the “Queen of Steam”, is a preserved class “J” 4-8-4 “Northern” type steam locomotive. It was operated by the Norfolk and Western Railway from 1950 to 1959. Built at the Roanoke Shops in May 1950, No. 611 is the only surviving example of fourteen class “J” locomotives.
It so happened that a special event was happening during our visit. The N&W Class J 611, the last class J locomotive was alive and well. It was on loan for four days from the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke. Four days of fired-up activities were in progress.
What is Firing Up a Locomotive?
It takes anywhere from one to six hours to fire up a steam locomotive. It depends on how cold it is, and how big the locomotive/boiler is. A completely cold steam locomotive (room temperature) needs to heat all the metal and all the water in the boiler.
These are the tours offered. Many were already sold out.
N&W 611 Fired-Up Behind-the-Scenes Tour
Get up-close and personal with the Norfolk & Western Class J #611 during the locomotive’s fire-up process. The day starts promptly at 7 a.m. This is when the crew gives a safety briefing and lights up the fire in the locomotive.
Exclusive access to the locomotive includes explanations from the crew as they do their work, time in the cab, and up-close photography. Access to the locomotive cab is by a vertical ladder on the side of the locomotive, without ADA accessibility. Participants must be able to climb the ladder independently or with the help of a member of their party to access the locomotive cab. A liability release must be signed, closed-toed shoes and cloth face masks are required. Minors under 18 must be accompanied by paying adults. Not recommended for small children.
The locomotive is stationary during this tour. Only one participant is allowed in the locomotive cab at a time, except in the case of members of the same family as cab capacity allows. $125 per ticket.
Additional Tours Related to N&W 611
At The Throttle – 611
Be at the throttle of the Norfolk & Western 611 for approximately 30-minutes while being instructed by a qualified engineer. $611 per ticket.
Be The Fireman
Learn how to fire the Norfolk & Western 611 for approximately 30 minutes while being instructed by a qualified fireman. The job of the fireman is to regulate the amount of coal and water being used to keep the locomotive running. $225
Jump Seat Cab Ride
Ride in the cab of the Norfolk & Western 611 for approximately 30 minutes located behind the engineer and fireman. $100
Fired Up Cab Tour
Your chance to blow the whistle! $35
Caboose Ride
Ride behind the N&W 611 steam locomotive in a caboose pulled by the locomotive during an “At The Throttle” session. $10
N&W 611 Night Photo Shoot – Shoot some incredible photographs and video of the Norfolk & Western 611. 7 p.m. and runs until 11 p.m. The N&W 611 steam locomotive will be positioned in various locations for night-time photos and videos with night lighting provided. $50
N&W 611 Daylight Photo Charter
The iconic streamlined 4-8-4 will be posed for photos and will perform photo run-by’s in multiple locations across the museum site, including new photo angles and areas not accessible to the general public.
This all-day event begins at 9 a.m. and runs until 6 p.m., with a mid-day break for lunch on your own, turning of the locomotive, and repositioning. The break will take place during the “high sun” hours which are especially difficult for photographers, lasting approximately two hours.
The 611 will pull coaches, including some of the museum’s stainless steel cars to represent a time when the J’s pulled the “Tennessean” passenger train. $150
The Buffs Really Love Their Trains & Planes
I listed all these special events to demonstrate the level of interest some people have in trains. What a wonderful hobby!
In addition, the museum utilizes volunteers in many capacities. For example, I was watching a group of men restoring an old DC 3 airplane. It turns out they are some of the aviation volunteers who assist with the cosmetic restoration of the Piedmont Airlines DC-3. They gather every Saturday to do this work!
Visit a Transport Museum
A transport museum is a museum that holds collections of transport items, which are often limited to land transport (road and rail)—including old cars, motorcycles, trucks, trains, trams/streetcars, buses, trolleybuses and coaches – but can also include air transport or waterborne transport items, along with educational displays and other old transport objects. Some transport museums are housed in unused transport infrastructures such as dismantled trolley systems, former engine sheds or bus garages.
According to Wikeipedia, there are 119 transport museums in the United States.
And Finally
If you have a passion for trains, the NC Transportation Museum is the place for you. I am sure train buffs will find their hearts beating faster at this amazing collection of locomotives. The special events such as the one described above would be worth driving a significant distance for the thrill of it. And if you live near the museum, there are numerous opportunities to use your skills to preserve these transportation treasures for future generations.
The museum is a source of education and fun for the young and old. Many excited small children were running around having fun when I was there. Several food trucks provided drinks and “sno cones” (very popular on a hot day) as well as hot dogs and hamburgers.
This is a great family outing for the children as well as adults.
I did this tour to ease back into travel and it worked. I’ve scheduled another 1-day tour and a regional tour for this year. You will find out where when I post!
I sure have learned more about trains than I ever thought I wanted to know from this visit.
I am looking forward to my next one day tour in June. Stay tuned for details.
This would be an amazing place for kids! I went to the NY transit museum in Brooklyn and kids loved it!
I don’t know too much about trains in general, but I do enjoy visiting museums like this when I’m travelling – they’re very informative!
Super interesting! I’ll have to keep this in mind next time I’m in the area.
I’ve actually been there once and I actually really loved it. There’s so much history behind trains and it’s intriguing
Looks as though there is a lot there to appeal to people of all ages.