The North Carolina Railroad Museum captivates young and old children alike
Located in the heart of central North Carolina along the border of Wake and Chatham counties, just thirty minutes south of Raleigh, is the North Carolina Railroad Museum/New Hope Valley Railroad. Featuring steam and diesel locomotives, as well as various railcars, flatcars and the like, the museum/railroad has been entertaining train fans at its rural Bonsal location since 1981. Take a trip down the old railroad track with me and experience a bit of History of American Trains!
Since I was a child I have fallen in love with trains: steam engines, diesel, bullet trains and even subways. My family feels the same; we marvel at the sight of a steam locomotive hissing and puffing its way rattling along the tracks, imagining that we, too, are making a journey through this great nation of ours.
This particular rolling museum will excite train buffs with the variety of equipment available, as well as the rides that are available to the general public. In fact, when we visited the museum recently, the grounds were packed as walk days are held only on the first Sunday of the month. [from May through November with special Halloween and Christmas season rides as well]. Five excursions are made each day of the tour; Visitors are encouraged to arrive early for the tour they wish to take.
Pulled by a robust General Electric diesel locomotive [built in the early 1940s], the hour-long train ride allows passengers to travel from Bonsal to New Hill and back. The 6.5-mile track was purchased from the venerable Southern Railway Company and is now used exclusively by the museum.
Enthusiasts sit in one of two comfortable open passenger cars that are, in fact, converted flat cars. On a recent Sunday, the museum pulled out one of the aforementioned diesels and added a pair of red, wood-sided cabooses and a brown baggage car to complete the ensemble.
On the extensive museum grounds is a US Army Transportation Corps tool cart that currently houses the museum’s gift shop and exhibits. Several other cars and an auxiliary crane arm are also on site; some are being carefully restored while others are in active use. The museum’s steam locomotive is currently in limited use, but plans are to begin using it on excursions more frequently.
The railway museum has a dedicated group of volunteers. [Saturdays are workdays and skilled volunteers are welcome]. Train travel prices are reasonable, and passengers know the fares are helping to restore a bit of North Carolina’s rail history while bringing it back to life at the same time.
A “G” scale model garden railway is on the site along with an adjoining barbecue restaurant and picnic area. There is plenty of parking on the premises as well.
Yes, there is certainly a lot to see and do during your visit to the North Carolina Railroad Museum/New Hope Valley Railroad in Bonsal, NC — visit us soon and you’ll hear the driver announcing “all aboard!”