AUGUST 20, 2009 ISSUE
Take An Autumn Train Excursion
Tickets Still Available for Round Trips to Virginia, Asheville
Take a romantic train ride through the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains on an excursion offered by the North Carolina Train Museum on Sunday, November 1. Photo submittedLive in the past for a day with an old-fashioned train ride to Asheville or Charlottesville, Va., offered by the North Carolina Transportation Museum Foundation and the Watauga Valley Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. A round trip to Charlottesville will take place on Saturday, October 31, followed by a round trip to Asheville on Sunday, November 1.
The North Carolina Transportation Museum is a state historic site and museum located in Spencer, northeast of Salisbury, on what was once the Southern Railway Company’s largest steam locomotive repair facility. The site features an authentic train depot, antique automobiles and a 37-bay roundhouse that includes 25 locomotives, dozens of rail cars and other exhibit areas.
After hosting day trips throughout the 1990s, the museum revived rail excursions in 2007, said Mark Brown, information and communication specialist for the museum.
“It’s one of the main fundraisers for the North Carolina Train Museum Foundation,” Brown said.
The past two years have featured trips to Charlottesville on both days, but this year, the museum and the National Railway Historical Society will feature a trip to Asheville as well.
“What we kept hearing over and over again was ‘You guys really need a trip to Asheville,’” Brown said.
Amtrak will power the train excursions, which feature coaches from Amtrak and historic first-class and dome cars “restored to the finest condition possible,” Brown said.
The Charlottesville trip on Saturday, October 31, will depart Spencer at 7:00 a.m. and offer a second passenger pickup at the Greensboro Amtrak Station at 8:00 a.m. Passing through the North Carolina cities of Thomasville, High Point and Reidsville and the Virginia cities of Danville, Lynchburg and Oak Ridge, passengers will experience views of the Piedmont and rolling hills of the Carolinas and the western part of central Virginia. Spectacular views of the Dan, Roanoke and James Rivers can be seen as the train crosses above. The train will also pass by Schuyler, the mountain town fictionalized in the television show “The Waltons.”
The train will arrive in Charlottesville, home of the University of Virginia, at noon. Travelers will have nearly three hours to explore the historic downtown area. Departing Charlottesville at 3:00 p.m., the train will arrive back in Greensboro at 6:45 p.m. and in Spencer at 8:00 p.m.
The Asheville trip on Sunday, November 1, will travel through the western Piedmont into the foothills and through the Blue Ridge Mountains. Departing Spencer at 7:00 a.m., the train will roll through the cities of Statesville, Hickory, Morganton, Marion, Black Mountain and Swannanoa. The train will climb the famed loops of the Blue Ridge Mountains, passing by the famous Andrews Geyser and through several tunnels before arriving in Asheville at noon. Passengers will have nearly three hours for an outing at Biltmore Village. Departing Asheville at 3:00 p.m., the train will return to Spencer at 8:00 p.m.
All Dome Class and Deluxe Coach Class tickets for both excursions and Premium First Class tickets for the Asheville train are currently sold out, Brown said.
Premium First class tickets cost $240 per person and are still available for the Charlottesville trip. Premium First Class tickets feature comfort seating on private rail cars restored to the height of luxury. Premium First Class passengers will also enjoy an early continental breakfast, newspaper and dinner in the diner on the return trip.
Coach Class tickets are $140 per person and available for both excursions. Coach tickets feature comfortable seating, air conditioning and heat and restrooms.
An optional box lunch is available for $14. The lunch is served in a souvenir lunch tote and includes a half turkey wrap, pasta, chips and salsa, a cookie and drink. Passengers can also take advantage of a shuttle bus at each destination for an additional $2.
For tickets, click to www.nctrans.org or call 704-636-2889 ext. 232.
Want To Go?
Dates: Saturday and Sunday, October 31 and November 1
Time: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. both days
Locations: Spencer to Charlottesville, Va./Spencer to Asheville
Costs: $240 Premium First Class/$140 Coach Class
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