Does anyone know anything about trains in New Bern NC? We are staying here for the next two weeks.
NS has a small yard here, and I believe the North Carolina RR is also here.
If anyone could shed some light on the train doings here, I'd appreciate it.
We've been in town for four hours so far, and I've heard no trains at all yet. And I am virtually certain we are in earshot of the NS line and probably also the NCRR. I'm pretty sure there are grade crossings nearby which would call for horns.
Still in training.
I'm starting to get a handle on things.
First off, there is street-running here! About four blocks, in a very nice part of town, no less. That street, like much of the town, is immaculate; no trash, no nothing.
I think all the trackage in the area is owned by the state, but for all practical purposes it is an all-NS show. I think.
Trains come and go from the town on two long trestles (one to the south, the other to the east) with swing sections. And to the northwest. There is a substantial former passenger depot which is being restored nicely.
I believe it's possible that as many as six trains pass thru most days. It's hard to know. For sure a train goes down to Morehead City most/all days, and back. I think of that as two trains. Now maybe that same train also takes the eastern bridge and goes up the branch line. And then comes back. So maybe I'm hearing two trains, maybe four. Dunno. And it seems to me there may be an additional north/south turn; but probably what I think is another train or two is really the yard engine switching, and he has to blow for some adjacent grade crossings.
The one train I've seen had a big modern wide-cab unit running northbound with long hood forward. Mostly it was hoppers, all the same, with large-ish platforms on each end. These looked pretty new. And on the whole train there was not a speck of graffiti. Refreshing. I think those hoppers must not travel too far afield.
Its an interesting, tidy little railroad scene here, in a very scenic location. We are considering spending the whole winter here next year. (Not just for RR reasons! We love it here; it's a quaint, low-key town with plenty enough going on for us. And the restaurant prices are reasonable. Sure beats being in Maine right now.)
I'm going to chase the train down to Morehead City (a port town), and see if I can figure out what the routine is. And what is in the hoppers; and whether the commodity is inbound or outbound.
Lithonia OperatorI'm going to chase the train down to Morehead City (a port town), and see if I can figure out what the routine is. And what is in the hoppers; and whether the commodity is inbound or outbound.
Sounds like ballast hoppers. Quarry nearby?
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
Don't know about a quarry.
I just read that a lot of phosphate gets shipped out of Morehead City. Maybe that's what it is. Or would phosphate be in covered hoppers?
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