North Carolina Transportation Museum: The Trains

Spencer, North Carolina was home to the Southern Railway Company's largest steam locomotive repair facility.  I recommend watching a short film on the history of the Spencer Shops before visiting the trains.

This section of the Transportation Museum is very special to me.  My father's dad and brother worked in the railroad industry.

This train is available for
rides throughout the day.

The end car has a spotter.

One of many Southern
Railway cars

A diesel locomotive:
My Uncle was an
engineer for New York Central.

The roundhouse at the
Spencer Shops has 37 work
stalls & 100 foot turntable.

My Grandfather worked in the
roundhouse in
Rensselaer, NY for many years.

The far end of the turntable, 

looking towards the roundhouse.

The area the turntable rotates on.

The control for the turntable.

The wheel that rolls along the
rail for the turntable.

This steam locomotive is in the

roundhouse.

Fred tries his hand at 

the brakeman's job.

Many types of train cars

are in the roundhouse.

There is a mail car for

visitors to walk through.

My father, Stan Zapisek, worked

a mail car from Albany, NY to

Boston MA in the early 1960's.

This hospital car is one of many

passenger cars converted to 

transport injured soldiers
 during World War II.

Some of the stalls in 

the roundhouse have work pits.

The trains and the roundhouse tour were great!  It was fun to look into my grandfather's and uncle's work life.