North Carolina Transportation Museum

The North Carolina Transportation Museum sits on the grounds of the former Spencer Shops and houses locomotives, vintage cars, and aircraft in several historic buildings. The collection spans different eras and types of transportation across a sprawling property.

The Southern Railway built Spencer Shops in 1896 as its main repair facility for steam locomotives in the Southeast. The shops operated until the 1960s and played a major role in the region's industrial growth.

The museum displays railway artifacts that tell the story of train travel in the Carolinas. Visitors can see how locomotives shaped daily life and the region's economy over many decades.

The museum offers train rides, guided tours, and special events throughout the year with varying admission rates. Plan to spend several hours exploring the scattered exhibits across the spacious grounds.

The Bob Julian Roundhouse is North America's largest surviving locomotive service facility and holds a full-scale replica of the Wright Flyer. This massive building with its distinctive curved roof design once served as a testament to early 20th-century engineering.

Location: North Carolina

Location: Spencer

Inception: 1982

Website: http://nctrans.org

GPS coordinates: 35.68690,-80.43610

Latest update: December 8, 2025 13:42