Positioned in the heart of central North Carolina along the border of Wake and Chatham counties, just 30 minutes south of Raleigh, is the North Carolina Railroad Museum / New Hope Valley Railway. Showcasing steam and diesel locomotives as perfectly as many boxcars, flatcars, and the like, the museum / railway has been entertaining educate fans at its rural Bonsal site since 1981. Consider a excursion down the old railroad line with me and practical experience a minimal little bit of American teach background!
Given that I was a boy I have been enamored by trains — steam engines, diesels, bullet trains and even subways. My relatives feels the exact way we marvel at the sight of a steam locomotive hissing and wheezing its way clackety-clack down the tracks, imagining that we, as well, are having a trip across this great nation of our’s.
This particular rolling museum will excite train buffs for the variety of devices on hand, as effectively as, for the rides that are created obtainable to the basic public. Without a doubt, when we visited the museum just lately the grounds ended up packed considering the fact that trip times are held only on the 1st Sunday of the thirty day period [from May through November with special Halloween and Christmas season rides as well]. Five excursions are held every trip working day site visitors are encouraged to arrive early for the journey they desire to take.
Pulled by a rugged Normal Electric powered diesel locomotive [built in the early 1940s], the just one hour train trip permits travellers to vacation from Bonsal to New Hill and back. The 6.5 mile observe was ordered from the venerable Southern Railway Business and is now used exclusively by the museum.
Enthusiasts sit in 1 of two relaxed open up passenger cars and trucks that are, in truth, transformed flat automobiles. On a the latest Sunday, the museum introduced out a person of the aforementioned diesels and extra a pair of wooden sided purple cabooses and a brown baggage car to spherical out the set.
On the sprawling museum grounds sits a US Army Transportation Corps Device Car which presently properties the museum’s gift store and exhibits. Numerous other vehicles and a crane growth tender are found on web site as very well some are getting cautiously restored whilst other individuals are in active use. At the moment, the museum’s steam locomotive is used on a minimal foundation, but designs are to get started applying it on excursions far more frequently.
The railroad museum is staffed by a devoted group of volunteers [Saturdays are workdays and skilled volunteers are welcome]. Practice ride costs are sensible and travellers know that the fares are encouraging to restore a little bit of prepare heritage to North Carolina while reliving it at the exact same time.
A “G” scale product yard railroad is on web site along with a barbeque cafe and adjoining picnic area. There is a good deal of parking on the premises as properly.
Sure, there definitely is a lot to see and do though checking out the North Carolina Railroad Museum / New Hope Valley Railway in Bonsal, NC — cease by soon and you will listen to the conductor announcing to you, “all aboard!”
