How long should I allow for my visit?

The 57-acre site is spread out, with three exhibit buildings, so if you want to see everything, allow plenty of time. Allow about three hours if you wish to ride the train and see all exhibits; about two hours with no train ride. Touring the Roundhouse alone takes about 45 minutes; the Bumper to Bumper exhibit and Wagons, Wheels, and Wings exhibit take 15-20 minutes each.

Are there vending/dining facilities on-site?

Drink vending machines are available at Barber Junction Visitor Center. Snack and drink machines are available at the Bob Julian Roundhouse. These two structures are at opposite ends of the site, so plan accordingly, especially on warm days. Drinking fountains are available at Barber Junction, in the Gift Station, and in the Roundhouse. See site map for reference.

How much does the museum cost?

There is no charge for admission to exhibits, but there is a small fee for train and turntable rides . Special events, such as Day Out With Thomas TM , Santa Train, and Rail Days may charge a fee.

Can I get to the museum using Amtrak?

Yes. The Salisbury Amtrak passenger station, located just a few miles from the museum, is a stop on Amtrak's Carolinian/Piedmont and Crescent routes. For more information on schedules and fares, visit www.amtrak.com .

From the Depot, the following transportation options are available to bring you to the museum:
Salisbury Transit
704-638-5252 or 704-638-5253
The transit system runs Monday through Saturday. The transit transfer site is one block from the Amtrak station. Group arrangements should be made in advance.

Salisbury-Spencer Trolley Works
704-638-3100
From April through October, the Trolley makes a morning Saturday pickup at the Amtrak station for the N. C. Transportation Museum. Trolley service is also available back to the Amtrak station. Call for exact schedule and pickup times.

Safety Taxi
704-633-7217

Latino Express Taxi
704-855-5566

Is the museum handicapped-accessible?

The North Carolina Transportation Museum is fully accessible to persons with disabilities. Wherever possible, access to exhibits is facilitated by wheelchair lifts and our friendly staff. Certain exhibits and programs do have limited accessibility due to narrow door openings on railroad passenger cars. For additional details, please contact us.

The site is walking-intensive, but wheelchairs are available on loan, a shuttle bus runs between facilities on weekends, and handicapped persons or those with difficulty walking may drive between facilities (please contact one of our friendly visitor services staff on your arrival).

Where does the train go, and how long is the ride?

The train ride is about three miles, and takes about 25 minutes. The train provides a narrated tour of the entire site, allowing a better view of many of our historic buildings than what is available exploring the museum's public areas on foot. To best see the path of the train, view our site map. It departs from Barber Junction, at the north end of the site, traveling backward for a short distance before pulling forward and switching tracks to travel south, along tracks that run parallel to Salisbury Avenue. Once the train reaches the southern end of the site, the train will travel in reverse, again switching tracks to provide a view of the structures on the east side of the site on the way back to Barber Junction.

Why does the train go backward and forward?

The museum was designed initially as a repair facility for trains, not a tourist attraction, so the track was not laid out in a circle. Instead, the track was laid out to bring locomotives in from the main line, repair them, and send them back on their way. With this track layout, the train can't simply “turn around” to go from one end of the site to the other, so the train travels forward to one end, and in reverse to the other.

How should I dress?

Keep in mind that the museum is a historic industrial site. The site is expansive and walking-intensive, so you'll want comfortable shoes. Because of its original purpose of maintaining steam locomotives, the Roundhouse is designed with large sections open to the elements, where locomotives entered the building. Thus, those areas of the building cannot be heated or air-conditioned, so please be sure to dress appropriately for the weather.