Visit to Spencer

Over the July 4th weekend, our "staff photographer" Chuck Amstein had a very rewarding trip to the Spencer Shops in North Carolina.  He reports:

Southern Ry. depot, Salisbury, NC, restored and now used as an event center for dinners, weddings, etc.

North Carolina Transportation Museum, Spencer, NC.  Former Southern Ry. Shops and Roundhouse.

N&W 611 was a guest this weekend --

The one surviving Piedmont & Northern electric locomotive--

These two trolleys were supposed to be run on weekends in Charlotte after they finished their streetcar system, but that didn't happen.  I rode #85 (the last streetcar to operate in Charlotte) around 1997, powered by a trailing generator.

Turntable rides for the kiddies, including me--

I was invited on a backshop tour to see the Texas being restored.  I thought, gee, I didn't know they had a 2-10-4.  Actually, it turned out to be the real Texas of Great Locomotive Chase fame.

Now, the real reason for my trip:  Throttle time in the 611.  You don't get this opportunity every day.

Photos only before or after, no photos allowed while the train is moving.

Each participant ran back & forth on 1/4 mile of track about 10 mph, very carefully supervised, for 30 minutes.