Full Steam ‘Behind’

STOCK ADOBE PHOTO

Story By Natalie Salvatore Photos Contributed To LIVE Lee

Are you familiar with Huntsville’s “best-kept secret”? Visitors come from all over the country and world to experience a place that is passionately dedicated to the railroad system and its history — the North Alabama Railroad Museum, or NARM.

Moving the incorporation’s headquarters to Chase, Alabama, just over 35 years ago, the museum gained its own 5 miles of track and right-of-way. As the museum has been a community staple for decades, its purposes and attractions have grown along with it, as shown through its evolving excursion themes and additional exhibits and equipment.

Originally laid out in the 1800s, NARM’s right-of-way crosses over two bridges, both of which are over 100 years old. As the museum is an all-volunteer organization, its aesthetic, well-kept appearance reflects the dedication that the volunteers bring to NARM every day to keep the museum running.

Deciding to visit the museum results in a historically rich experience. Venturing out onto the train observation platform allows tourists to watch passing freight trains on the Norfolk Southern Railway mainline.

Visitors can take self-guided tours to view the traditional Chase Depot and other vintage locomotives, cabooses and passenger cars featured in stationary exhibits. On the north side of the depot, which happens to be the smallest union depot in the United States on site, guests can find a green Waybill box featuring museum brochures, exhibit information and train ride schedules. The depot itself has its own rich history. Originally used for purposes such as a post office and storage space for the Chase Nursery, NARM restored it to its original design and replaced the ticket window. Visitors are welcome to partake in these walking tours seven days a week, no matter if a volunteer is present. Tourists can use the pedestrian gate to get inside the museum, which is open every day during normal business hours. However, some displays are only open when workers are there. The museum is unable to hire fulltime tour guides because of the business’s voluntary nature. Also, typical Wednesday and Saturday mornings serve as good times for museum workers to give other tours, such as the museum grounds, to interested patrons. NARM also offers train rides along its own Mercury & Chase Railroad for those who want to experience one of the many train excursions offered from April through December. Mark Hillgartner, NARM’s vice president, said that visitors can ride up to 10 miles in full-sized rail equipment dating back from 73 to 98 years old.

Hillgartner joined the museum in 2018 shortly after retiring from work.

“It’s hard to describe the feeling of peace and pride one gets when rolling down the tracks on a piece of equipment that hasn’t seen service in over 40 years that you helped get back on the road,” he said.

The vice president answers questions for the museum’s visitors as he works as a car host and punches train tickets. He said that lots of guests share memories from their youth as they admire the equipment’s pristine condition and experience the museum around them.

“We started out as a railroad club in Sheffield, Alabama, in 1966 with members also in Huntsville who formed a Redstone Division,” he said. “In the mid-1970s, the Sheffield Division went away, and the Redstone Division became the North Alabama Railroad Museum.”

Tom Anderson, NARM’s president, also shares in experiences and has extensive knowledge about its history after being a member for 47 years.

“In its early days, NARM rallied around its own steam locomotive, No. 77, and after much hard work, it was used to power several mainline excursions,” Anderson said. “For over two decades, NARM sponsored mainline railroad excursions to Chattanooga, Tennessee, behind such wonderful steam locomotives as Southern No. 4501 and N&W No. 1218.”

Once NARM purchased its own railroad track, the museum sold No. 77.

During the round-trip train rides that NARM offers, riders will take in the scenic views along their railroad journey from the Chase Depot through the historic Huntsville Branch of the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway. Passengers will see the museum’s animals in the woods after crossing Chase and Higdon roads. More wildlife is to come as the train ventures deeper into the woods and toward a culvert.

“The kids can keep a watchful eye out for some real horses in these parts as well, not to mention the occasional deer and smaller animals you would expect to see in the woods,” Anderson said.

The train ride, lasting for approximately one hour, stops for a break in Normal, Alabama, where guests like to visit the souvenir car for railroad trinkets. As the train heads back up the hill toward the depot, riders can see the Chase Depot after crossing the two

previous roads on the south side of the train, where many wave hello to the station operator who inspects the train.

Continuing along the journey, before it hits more woodlands, the train slows its speed past a general store and saloon on the north side of the track, purposefully set there for train riders to admire and take in a historical sight while aboard.

“Then, the train crosses Moores Mill Road, where we use our air horns in earnest,” he said. “Please remind your family and friends to treat rail crossings with the utmost respect and teach any young drivers in your family to do the same.”

Guests can experience what a train ride feels like through these tailored excursions, especially for those that have never been on a train before. The rides give passengers a chance to view the interior of NARM’s passenger cars, which have expanded and improved over the years.

Anderson said that while their trains vary, guests can usually expect to see three passenger coaches, a diner, the baggage and power car, as well as possibly a Pullman Sleeper with ALCO diesel locomotives at each end. NARM has open-air cars with depot-style benches as well, plus bright colors and other traditional elements.

The president encouraged anyone to attend the museum, and invited those interested in membership to join. Museum members must be at least 18 years of age and are asked to support the museum. Each member receives a periodic, member-drafted newsletter entitled “White Flags and Full Steam,” which keeps readers up to date on current events.

“We are community-minded and strive to maintain good relationships with our neighbors,” he said. “We have a wide diversity of members, and you are sure to find your niche in our museum.”

Looking ahead on its schedule, NARM is offering excursions such as the “Punkin’ Pickin’ Extravaganza,” the “Fall Color Special” and the “North Star Limited.”

The “Santa Train” excursion that occurs during the Christmas season has tickets available now, as these train rides tend to sell out quickly.

Learn about purchasing tickets, photography guidelines, the NARM’s grounds, events, projects, the calendar and much more at www.northalabamarailroadmuseum.com/wp. The museum is located at 694 Chase Road NE. in Huntsville, Alabama.

461 Opelika Road, Ste. A, Auburn 334-502-8848