Staff Special/photos as noted
You would be forgiven if you experienced a bit of sensory overload while attending America 250 Locomotive Celebration at the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer. Walking the grounds, it almost felt surreal to see so many different pieces of equipment together in the same place. From August 28–30, more than 30 locomotives, along with a caboose and a set of commemorative boxcars, assembled at the museum in honor of the 250th anniversary of American independence. The roster represented all six Class I railroads, along with short lines, regionals, passenger operators, museums, and preservation groups from across the country — not to mention a tremendous amount of logistical effort to get everything to the museum in time for this special once-in-a-lifetime event.
For those of us who made the trip to Spencer, the appeal was obvious from the moment we stepped onto the grounds. Everywhere we looked there was another splash of red, white, and blue, from names familiar and foreign. Some units wore brand-new America 250 schemes, while others represented restored Bicentennial designs. The museum’s Bob Julian Roundhouse and turntable provided a natural stage, with locomotives rotating in and out for display while trains moved around the grounds throughout the weekend.
ABOVE: Delaware-Lackawanna M-630 1776 (ex-Pacific Great Eastern 707) was the lone Alco/MLW representative at the special event. —Otto M. Vondrak
The lineup also showcased an impressive cross-section of locomotive history, with everything from first-generation diesels to the latest high-horsepower road power. Delaware-Lackawanna’s M-630 1776 was the lone Alco/MLW representative, while Aberdeen, Carolina & Western’s former Canadian National GMD SD60F brought an uncommon cowl-bodied design to the lineup. Vintage GP9s, GP38-series locomotives, Naugatuck Railroad’s U23B, and classic SD45s provided plenty of variety from earlier generations, standing in sharp contrast to the newest Wabtec and EMD units on display.
One of the real highlights for us was seeing three restored Bicentennial locomotives gathered in one place. Southern California Railway Museum brought Santa Fe SD45-2 5704 all the way from Perris, Calif.; Virginia Museum of Transportation sent high-hood Norfolk & Western SD45 1776; and Midwest Overland Rail Preservation Society displayed Milwaukee Road SD40-2 156. It was the first time all three were together since they were part of a special photo shoot in Chicago sponsored by Trains in 1976. Seeing MILW 156 carried a little extra meaning for us because White River Productions was a proud cosponsor of its restoration and repainting.
ABOVE: BNSF 1776 and ATSF 5604 were paired up briefly for photo opportunities, offering a comparison between Santa Fe’s Bicentennial design and BNSF’s updated interpretation for America’s 250th. —Michael T. Burkhart
It was amazing to have all of this equipment staged for photography, and the weather turned out better than expected. But the real experience came from simply walking the grounds, comparing details, talking with railroaders and preservationists, and watching visitors take it all in.
Railfan & Railroad was proud to play a part in the festivities, hosting two sold-out night photo sessions for 200 photographers each evening. White River Productions was also a major sponsor of the event.
We hope you enjoy this gallery of some of our favorite moments from a remarkable weekend in Spencer — one that brought together railroading past and present in a way we may not see again for a very long time…
ABOVE: Photographers ringed the turntable throughout the afternoon, waiting for each locomotive to rotate into position for a clean portrait. On August 28, Naugatuck Railroad 2798 takes its turn in the spotlight as cameras line the edge of the pit. —Otto M. Vondrak
