Review Archive/May 2013
Updated April 29, 2013


North Carolina Transportation Museum^Cont'd.
Fair On History!

By Jay Whipple/Trend Magazine Online™

From there I headed over to the main attraction which was the Bob Julian Roadhouse which dates back to 1924 and is one of the largest a fewest remaining structures of its kind in the U.S. This 37-stall facility was used for the routine maintenance of the trains during the sites hay days and includes a 100-foot turntable. I arrived just after the approximately 15-minute orientation film started but in just enough time to get the gist of the history of trains, this shop, and the town of Spencer, NC. I found the film very well presented, informative, and entertaining as it covered quite a bit of railroad history to include a major train crash in the early 1900’s along a bridge. Hmmmmmmmmm I thought, that sounds familiar.

The film also covered the Back Shop’s history to include the fact that it was a major operation that extended the length of two football fields and it took approximately 30-days for a complete overhaul of a steam engine. `The film also struck a positive cord with me because it was completely honest concerning the past phenomenon known as discrimination which crippled this nation by not allowing every man and woman to advance in their fields of talent due to sheer stupidity. For example, white women and colored (Now African-Americans) men were not allowed to work as skilled craftsmen and were limited to office work (White women) or laborers (Colored men).  It went on to detail how the new – more efficient -- diesel engine had totally replaced the steam engine by 1960 ending the boom days of the 1940’s and 1950’s. One of those steam engines is on display in Freedom Park in Charlotte, NC, and we go by there on our QCT Charlotte Daily City Tours™.

After the film we were invited to take an unusual ride on the 100 foot diameter turntable that once was rotated manually to point each engine into the correct bay for routine service. The cost was just $1 and the attendant was very friendly, hospitable, and just plain ole nice. I was certainly not going to pass up this opportunity because I may never get back this way again in my lifetime. The ride was quite smooth as I reflected on what it must have been like to have a full grown steam engine rotating around this circle back in the day. According to the nice attendant, this was the second turntable.

From here I was off to other parts of this stop which included life-size transportation artifacts from years gone by with much emphasis on trains. I got a chance to read about early railroad gurus like Mr. John Motley Morehead who was an early President of the North Carolina Railroad, Mr. William J. Gaston who introduced the bill to charter the North Carolina Central Railroad Company in 1932. That venture failed due to lack of capital. He was also a North Carolina Legislator and Judge who is the namesake of Gaston County, NC, located just south of here along Interstate 85. The city of Gastonia is also named in his honor. I spent the next hour or so marveling at the other life-size trains and other exhibits that included airplanes, air balloons; mail, hospital, and other specialty trains, and interactive demonstrations and trivia questions. They also included additional displays and information on the town of East Spencer which developed as a residence for the many colored (Now African-American) workers that called this place home for many many decades.  Unfortunately, that town today appears extremely depressed with vacant homes and buildings visible off Long Street.

I did not get a chance to check out the Master Mechanic’s Office (1911), the Storehouse (1896), and the Flue Shop (1924) during my three-hour visit. The walk back to the parking area gave me time to reflect on all that I had seen and done on this particular day at the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer and just north of Salisbury. One can easily spend the better part of a day here as they have a picnic area on site and Downtown Spencer is located just across the street. Unfortunately I only noticed one restaurant (Italian) left in Downtown and not many other shops of interest to tourist other than a train shop. All and all it was quite a memorable and educational experience here and I suggest allowing at least four hours for you to see it all.

The North Carolina Transportation Museum is located at 411 S. Salisbury Ave., in Spencer, NC. Their web site is www.nctrans.org, and phone number is 704-636-2889.


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