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ROUNDHOUSE EXHIBIT AREAS |
The 37-bay Bob Julian Roundhouse, one of the largest ever constructed, was built in 1924 and is one of the few preserved roundhouses remaining in the country. The building houses about 40 restored locomotives and rail cars. |
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Exhibits focus on the lives of the men who made Spencer Shops run and the history of railroads in North Carolina. Stop by the orientation room to get a map of the building, watch the orientation film, and ride the 100-foot turntable .
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The Spencer Worker
Housed in what was once the wash room for workers at the site, this exhibit depicts the lives of the men who worked at Spencer Shops and tells the story of the town that grew up around the industrial site. |
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The African American Community at Spencer Shops
This new interactive kiosk provides visitors with the understanding of the African-American work experiences that took place here at Spencer Shops, and includes first person histories and experiences about relationships and job opportunities offered as well as jobs prohibited to Black workers.
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Participants in the research and
design of the African American
Community at Spencer Shops Exhibit
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The Railroad and North Carolina
This exhibit shows how the railroad developed in North Carolina, and how it affected passenger travel and the transport of goods. A highlight of the exhibit is a large scale model of the Spencer Shops site as it once stood.
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The Restoration Shop
Here, volunteers restore and maintain rail cars and locomotives for future display in the Roundhouse or use on the train ride. The most active work days are Saturdays, and large viewing windows let visitors watch sparks fly and listen to the metal clang. Learn about becoming a Rail Operations Volunteer .
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This 1939 Railway Express Truck was recently restored by the late Lester Brown, automotive volunteer and NCTMF board member, and Roger Lyons Restorations of Sanford, NC.
In 2002, Brown donated an unrestored 1939 REA Truck to the museum’s foundation, calling the truck the “missing link” in the museum’s interpretation of North Carolina’s transportation history. The Railway Express Agency (REA) was a nationwide operation that moved packages to and from railroad terminals until the 1960s, similar to modern companies like UPS and FedEx....
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Photo by Jim McConnell |
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Riding The Rails
This exhibit features two lush private rail cars, a Rail Post Office Car and an Army hospital car from World War II. Interactive displays explain the role of a caboose and show how rail communications kept things running smoothly on the tracks. |
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