For the Love of Trains

There is something romantic about seeing a train in the snow. We don’t get too many of those opportunities in North Carolina. Probably your best bet is to go to the mountains. The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City offers 53 miles of tracks including two tunnels, river gorge scenery and 25 bridges. This popular passenger service also offers a Mystery Theatre Dinner train. You might want to check out a few other places to satisfy your passion for trains. The North Carolina Railroad Museum in New Hill offers special train rides and museum exhibits. You will also want to visit the NC Transportation Museum at Spencer near Salisbury where 55 pieces of rolling stock including 19 locomotives are on display. You will enjoy the videos and interactive exhibits. Hamlet is home to the National Railroad Museum. Interesting exhibits and a model train layout await your visit there. Here are some links to some neat websites:

NC Railroad Museum: http://www.nhvry.org/timetabl.htm

NC Transportation Museum: http://www.nctrans.org/

National Railroad Museum: http://www.micropublishing.com/railroad/

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad: http://www.gsmr.com