Gayle Drives a Steam Engine – NC Transportation Museum

March 24, 2017 admin 0

When you grow up in a railroading family, you naturally learn to love trains. I can not remember a time, no matter where we were, or how long daddy had been working for the railroad, when we didn’t stop to watch a train go by. So naturally, when Jenn found that the NC Transportation Museum offered the opportunity to spend 30 minutes driving a steam engine I jumped at the chance! After all who wouldn’t want to drive a steam engine? Last year we visited the Virginia Transportation Museum and rode the 611 from Roanoke to Radford and we both were surprised at how much we enjoyed exploring the trains and riding the rail. The 611 is the last of Norfolk and Western’s J class of steam engines built between 1941 – 1950. Of the 13 that were built, the 611 is the only one still running. We had no idea what to expect in Spencer, but were excited to see what they had to offer. PLUS we knew the 611 was there for some repairs. The journey to Spencer takes a little over four hours from Wilmington, knowing my drive time was at 3:00, we left early enough to give a cushion. Even though the weather started out nice and sunny, the clouds got thicker the closer we got to our destination. We often laugh that some of our best times were days when rain could have caused us to turn back or not go. We now are often the rest of the story