Vacation - North Carolina

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Just got back yesterday from a great week in North Carolina. I had posted earlier about the North Carolina Transportation Museum. If anyone gets a chance, go see it. It is in Spencer, NC, about 45 minutes north of Charlotte. Plus it is on the busy ex Southern mainline between Atlanta and Washington DC, so there are quite a few trains.

I am always intrigued with the West Virginia area. This North Carolina trip is a nearly annual event, and I have always wanted to take a look around Bluefield, WV. Anyone know much about it? Often we stay overnight at Princeton, WV and there is an NS line thru there. The trestle over I77 is spectacular, once saw a hopper train passing on it while driving.

Does anyone know if the operations in Bluefield area still as heavy as in the past? I have read that the export coal business for NS is down, so I dont know what to expect. Also, does anyone know about the Princeton line?

thanks,

ed

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I am going to the NC Transportation Museum this weekend for the Norfolk Southern Heritage Celebration they are having.

Bluefield, WV is a pretty good spot for railfanning. I have been there a few times for work and we were working right beside the eastern edge of the NS Yard. The yard is pretty busy and has lots of bridges crossing over the yard, so you can get some shots. The few times I have been there, I have seen an average of 5 - 10 trains.

http://members.trainorders.com/varailfan/guides/index.html This website has some railfan guides…check out the one for NS Pocahontas Divison; it may be of some help.

3

Thanks for the info. I am back home again in Indiana, but will use the info next time (hopefully next summer).

The Winston Salem area looks interesting. Northbound on US52 there was a pretty good sized yard, plus those great NW signals.

Those guides are pretty good.

ed

4

I’m heading to the NS Heritage Celebration as well this weekend. I hope the weather will be better than what is being currently predicted.