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train stuff to see in north carolina by the outer banks?

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train stuff to see in north carolina by the outer banks?
Posted by 0-6-0 on Friday, August 1, 2008 11:16 AM
Hello well I am going to the outer banks in NC and was wondering what, where the train stuff is. What is a must see ? Any good hobby shops ? Any club layouts open the public? I am leaving from cleveland Ohio and taking 77 south for most of the way till I hit NC then go left. I will be there for a week and I will time to check things out. Thanks Frank
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Posted by tangerine-jack on Friday, August 1, 2008 11:55 AM
V&AL could give you an answer as he lives down that way.  I'm about an hour and a half or so away, but I can't for the life of me think of any train related points of interest at OBX.   When I'm there I'm surfing, not shopping.

The Dixie D Short Line "Lux Lucet In Tenebris Nihil Igitur Mors Est Ad Nos 2001"

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Posted by V&AL on Friday, August 1, 2008 4:01 PM

 0-6-0 wrote:
Hello well I am going to the outer banks in NC and was wondering what, where the train stuff is. What is a must see ? Any good hobby shops ? Any club layouts open the public? I am leaving from cleveland Ohio and taking 77 south for most of the way till I hit NC then go left. I will be there for a week and I will time to check things out. Thanks Frank

 

Any must see's?  here in Elizabeth City?  not really. The origonal Norfolk Southern (not the one arround today) ran through here, the train station is now a seafood restuarant. The Chesapeak and Albemarle is headquartered here. If you want I can show you where.  The local club layout is not acessable to the public, but I might be able to get you in.  otherwise there's not too much arround. There's a few places in Norfolk area to watch trains, and a few hobby shops. My favorite shop is 3 hours west, almost to raleigh, called the Antique barn in Wilson, NC.

 

If you need/want more info, just drop me a PM or something...

Virginia and Alleghenny Railroad Texas and Gulf Coast Railroad (The Dixie Road) PACE: Pittsburgh Area Commuter Express Texas Express
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Posted by basementdweller on Sunday, August 3, 2008 11:43 PM
I have made a couple of trips to the NC coast and haven't found much. There is a museum in Wilmington, its ok if you happen to be there then check it out I wouldn't drive just for it. However also in Wilmington is the USS North Carolina Battleship. It is excellent, you can get to walk all through it. Thats two reasons to go to Wilmington, NC.
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Posted by 0-6-0 on Monday, August 4, 2008 11:27 AM
Hello Thanks guys I am going to a town called Duck. But when I look anything up about it it is listed as Kitty Hawk. I got out voted on this trip so I am looking for some things to do. I didnt think there would be a lot of train stuff close by. And I guess we are not taking 77  I think it will be 76 and should bring us though North Folk VA. I will be looking for stuff around there to. It' only a half inch a way on the map. I will know more by the end of the week. Maybe if its not to far I would like to see the club. Thanks Frank
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Posted by SilverSpike on Monday, August 4, 2008 11:58 AM

Not much in the coastal region of the state near the Outer Banks, but if you travel a bit west of there on NC Hwy 64 you will see some rail that parallels and crosses over and under on occasion. Part of the CSX line which runs to Rocky Mount, NC. Then just south of there is Selma, NC where you will find a diamond with CSX has the N/S tracks crossing, the NS is the E/W track, plenty of action there at the Selma Amtrak Depot.

Most of the RR related sites in NC are in the central and western part of the state.

Here are a few of my favorite resources for NC RR sites and information:

Extant North Carolina Railroad/Railway Structures - http://www.rrshs.org/N.C./ncrrstruc.htm

Tar Heel Press Carolina Railroad Top 10 List - http://www.tarheelpress.com/Top10.html

North Carolina Transportation Museum - http://www.nctrans.org/

 

 

Ryan Boudreaux
The Piedmont Division
Modeling The Southern Railway, Norfolk & Western & Norfolk Southern in HO during the merger era
Cajun Chef Ryan

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Posted by dad1218 on Monday, August 4, 2008 4:59 PM

   You could take 77, then get on 64. Can't remember whether they connect in Virginia or West Virginia. 64 will take you to Norfolk, VA. If you are pressed for time on the way and do take 77, you can see the New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia. It is on US 19 north of 77, I can't remember how far north it is. There is gorgeous scenery, a visitor center with a brief history of the area (including railroads). You can take the 300 step walk down to the river or you can drive down to the river, expect the drive to take over an hour.

   There is also a view of the river and bridge from the visitors center and if you are lucky, you might get to see a CSX coal train along the New River.

                   Gary

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Posted by V&AL on Monday, August 4, 2008 5:44 PM
I would definitly hit kitty hawk Wright memorial if you are in the area.  not RR related, but it's where flyign got started.
Virginia and Alleghenny Railroad Texas and Gulf Coast Railroad (The Dixie Road) PACE: Pittsburgh Area Commuter Express Texas Express
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Posted by jfallon on Monday, August 4, 2008 6:36 PM

   OBX is pretty much a train-free zone. If you can spare an hour or two in Norfolk, there is a small RR museum at Norfolk Southern's corporate headquarters. There is also the Norfolk History Museum a few blocks up with a small HO scale display layout. You can find some more stuff, plus hobby shops, at the Tidewater Division, NMRA website, http://www.geocities.com/hotraindoctor/

 

If everybody is thinking alike, then nobody is really thinking.

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Posted by G Paine on Monday, August 4, 2008 7:50 PM
 SilverSpike wrote:

Here are a few of my favorite resources for NC RR sites and information:

Extant North Carolina Railroad/Railway Structures - http://www.rrshs.org/N.C./ncrrstruc.htm

Tar Heel Press Carolina Railroad Top 10 List - http://www.tarheelpress.com/Top10.html

North Carolina Transportation Museum - http://www.nctrans.org/

Ryan, thanks for the links. We will be spending some time this fall at Penland in western NC. It helps my train site planning. Big Smile [:D]Thumbs Up [tup]

George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch 

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Posted by Locogirl on Monday, August 4, 2008 9:04 PM
Hello 0-6-0,

I'll ditto what A&AL says- the Antique Barn in Wilson is probably your best bet. It's not Antiques as the name implies. Location is 2810 Forest Hills Road , not far off US 264. Phone is 252-237-6778. The shop is large and has a good selection of HO stock. There's also a modular DCC layout upstairs that is quite large. I've not been there for a couple of years, but I rather imagine their stock is still considerable. The store is about an hour east of Raleigh.

Have a good time on vacation.

Locogirl
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Posted by 0-6-0 on Friday, August 8, 2008 7:04 AM
Hello Thanks everyone for the info but it sounds like my best bet to see stuff is on the way there and back. We are going though PA, Maryland, WVA, virginia and the far east tip of NC I will take pics of what I can. Thanks Frank
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Posted by V&AL on Friday, August 8, 2008 7:50 AM
Dont forget the NS museum at NS buildign in downtown Norfolk...
Virginia and Alleghenny Railroad Texas and Gulf Coast Railroad (The Dixie Road) PACE: Pittsburgh Area Commuter Express Texas Express
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Posted by 0-6-0 on Friday, August 8, 2008 11:18 AM
Hello V&AL I have them marked on my list and I am going to try a find the triple cross in Richmond. My in laws are going with us so we have to make a few stops so they can get out and stretch. I am going to try and stop by some RR stuff if I can. There is 22 of us going and I am the only one that likes trains. So I am on my own. Thanks Frank
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Posted by tangerine-jack on Friday, August 8, 2008 11:51 AM
Sent you a PM with my contact info.  Get in touch with me as you pass through the Norfolk VA area.  I may be out of town, but I can turn you on to a couple of places.

The Dixie D Short Line "Lux Lucet In Tenebris Nihil Igitur Mors Est Ad Nos 2001"

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Posted by 0-6-0 on Monday, August 18, 2008 11:22 AM
Hello I am back . We had nice time lots of sun and sand. And you guys were right it is a train free zone. I seen one csx loco and 2 boxcars and one small yard there and back. I did stop at NS museum on the way home it was to far out of the way to run up there. It was small no real trains but a lot of history stuff to read and look at. If you are going by stop it's cool but it was not worth a 2 hour ride one way. Thanks for the help and info Frank

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