The North Carolina Transportation Museum
Historical Attractions and Museums
T
satisfy any group’s thirst for intrigu-
travel. Steam locomotives moved the nation,
tive exhibits are located in the Flue Shop,
ing historical stops, check out these attrac-
and Southern Railway was one of the largest
while traveling and temporary exhibits and
tions and museums. There is sure to be
railroads in the Southeast. Spencer Shops was
the Gift Station are housed in the Master
something for everyone.
the largest of Southern’s maintenance facilities,
Mechanic’s Office. Visitors can even enjoy a
at its peak, employing more than 3,000 workers
narrated train ride, departing from the
to keep the company’s locomotives moving.
authentic 1898 Barber Junction depot.
he following attractions cover a wide
In the first half of the 20th century, steam
and diesel locomotives, rail cars and a full-
breadth of interests and topics. To
locomotives were the fastest, safest means of
size replica Wright Flyer. Additional automo-
The North Carolina Transportation Museum Spencer, North Carolina
Today, the historic structures of Spencer
Special events are offered year-round.
Shops make up the N.C. Transportation
Large, licensed events like Day Out With
The North Carolina Transportation
Museum. Four exhibit buildings are home
Thomas™ and THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train
Museum in Spencer, North Carolina is a state
to the state’s transportation history. The mas-
Ride bring thousands each year. The
historic site, a museum of transportation and
sive Back Shop stretches the length of two
museum’s largest single day event is the
a place where big events happen. Besides
football fields and features aviation, auto,
annual Fire Truck Festival, with more than
train rides, groups explore exhibits featuring
trucking and railroad exhibits, as well as the
6,000 attendees in 2019. Car and truck shows
steam and diesel locomotives, rail cars, clas-
ongoing restoration of a Piedmont Airlines
are held in the spring and summer. The His-
sic autos and titans of trucking and aviation,
DC-3. The Bob Julian Roundhouse, with 37
toric Spencer Shops Train Show features
which fill the historic structures that once
stalls, is the largest remaining structure of
model train layouts, train rides and a special
made up Spencer Shops.
its type in North America and features steam Bus Tours Magazine / January, 2020 • 5
