SPENCER, NC
Photo by Clickrbee, via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
North Carolina Transportation Museum
About North Carolina Transportation Museum
At the former Southern Railway Spencer Shops in Spencer, North Carolina, a turntable‑yard train departs Barber Junction on a schedule, tracing shop tracks amid Back Shop buildings. The rides are normally hauled by Norfolk & Western GP9 No. 620 or Southern GP30 No. 2601 diesel locomotives, with occasional appearances by Southern FP7 No. 6133, Southern E8A No. 6900, or ACL E3 No. 501.
At a Glance
Verified daily- Type
- Heritage railroad & tourist attraction
- Location
- SPENCER, NC
- Rating
- 4.7 ★ 4,729 Google reviews
- Upcoming
- Sat, Mar 20
Upcoming Events
Plan Your Visit
- Parking
- Free lot · paid lot · street parking
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance · accessible restroom · accessible parking
- Hours
- Monday: ClosedTuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PMWednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PMThursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PMFriday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PMSaturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PMSunday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM
Find the Depot
The Trains
Departing from the Barber Junction Visitor Center, excursions across the former Southern Railway Spencer Shops draw their motive power from a diesel fleet headed by Norfolk & Western GP9 No. 620 and Southern GP30 No. 2601, with Southern's FP7 No. 6133 and E8A No. 6900, along with ACL E3 No. 501, stepping in now and then. No working steam belongs to the museum itself; the tank engines seen here on occasional visits are all Gramling Locomotive Works equipment, namely Lehigh Valley Coal 0-6-0T No. 126 together with the 0-4-0T pair of Flag Coal No. 75 and Jeddo Coal No. 85. Rail exhibits, meanwhile, cluster around the restored Bob Julian Roundhouse.
History
See full history
The North Carolina Transportation Museum originates in 1977, when Southern Railway deeded 4 acres of its former Spencer Shops to the state for a transportation museum. Two years later, in 1979, an additional 53 acres of the railway’s largest former steam‑locomotive repair shops were transferred, completing the museum’s site. The institution records its formal inception in 1982 and opens its first public exhibit, “People, Places and Time,” in 1983. A major expansion arrives in 1996 with the relocation of Barber Junction as the visitor center and the renovation of the Bob Julian Roundhouse, which becomes the hub for railroad and aviation displays. The Back Shop, a three‑story, two‑football‑field‑long structure, undergoes extensive renovation in 2005, opens to visitors in 2009, and is fully opened to the public in 2017, marking the most recent turning point in the museum’s development.
Around the Depot
In Spencer, North Carolina, the North Carolina Transportation Museum can be paired with the Belmont Trolley Inc. about 38 mi away.
Getting There & Staying Nearby
Optional trip extras from our travel partners.
Rent a Car
Most heritage railroads sit well off the interstate. Picking up a rental at the nearest airport is usually the easiest way in.
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Tours & Activities near Spencer
Tours
Guided tours, day trips, and things to do around the area, bookable in advance through Viator.
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