| Situated in the heart of central North Carolina along the | | | | venerable Southern Railway Company and is now |
| border of Wake and Chatham counties, just thirty | | | | used exclusively by the museum. |
| minutes south of Raleigh, is the North Carolina Railroad | | | | Enthusiasts sit in one of two comfortable open |
| Museum / New Hope Valley Railway. Featuring steam | | | | passenger cars that are, in fact, converted flat cars. |
| and diesel locomotives as well as various boxcars, | | | | On a recent Sunday, the museum brought out one of |
| flatcars, and the like, the museum / railway has been | | | | the aforementioned diesels and added a pair of wood |
| entertaining train fans at its rural Bonsal location since | | | | sided red cabooses and a brown baggage car to |
| 1981. Take a trip down the old railroad line with me and | | | | round out the set. |
| experience a little bit of American train history! | | | | On the sprawling museum grounds sits a US Army |
| Since I was a boy I have been enamored by trains -- | | | | Transportation Corps Tool Car which currently houses |
| steam engines, diesels, bullet trains and even subways. | | | | the museum's gift shop and exhibits. Various other |
| My family feels the same way; we marvel at the sight | | | | cars and a crane boom tender are located on site as |
| of a steam locomotive hissing and wheezing its way | | | | well; some are being carefully restored while others |
| clackety-clack down the tracks, imagining that we, too, | | | | are in active use. Currently, the museum's steam |
| are taking a trip across this great nation of our's. | | | | locomotive is used on a limited basis, but plans are to |
| This particular rolling museum will excite train buffs for | | | | begin using it on excursions more frequently. |
| the variety of equipment on hand, as well as, for the | | | | The railroad museum is staffed by a dedicated group |
| rides that are made available to the general public. | | | | of volunteers [Saturdays are workdays and skilled |
| Indeed, when we visited the museum recently the | | | | volunteers are welcome]. Train ride prices are |
| grounds were packed since ride days are held only on | | | | reasonable and passengers know that the fares are |
| the first Sunday of the month [from May through | | | | helping to restore a little bit of train history to North |
| November with special Halloween and Christmas | | | | Carolina while reliving it at the same time. |
| season rides as well]. Five excursions are held each | | | | A "G" scale model garden railroad is on site along with |
| ride day; visitors are encouraged to arrive early for the | | | | a barbeque restaurant and adjoining picnic area. There |
| ride they wish to take. | | | | is plenty of parking on the premises as well. |
| Pulled by a rugged General Electric diesel locomotive | | | | Yes, there certainly is much to see and do while visiting |
| [built in the early 1940s], the one hour train ride allows | | | | the North Carolina Railroad Museum / New Hope |
| passengers to travel from Bonsal to New Hill and | | | | Valley Railway in Bonsal, NC -- stop by soon and you |
| back. The 6.5 mile track was purchased from the | | | | will hear the conductor announcing to you, "all aboard! |