Southern Railway's Spencer Shops was a vibrant part of the Southeast's transportation network for more than 80 years. Starting in the late 1800s and continuing until its closure in 1979, the shop complex and its accompanying yards, transfer sheds, and stockyards constituted a major force in the economy of North Carolina and Southern states. The trains that the shop prepared were hauling everyday freight--Appalachian lumber, Piedmont textiles, and perishables--or were famous passenger trains like the Crescent, the Peach Queen, and many more. Others were more notable, such as the locomotive in the folk ballad "The Wreck of the Old 97" or President Roosevelt's funeral train in 1945. The Spencer Shops was an industrial power whose prominence today is celebrated in its continued role as the home to the North Carolina Transportation Museum. This book tells the story of how Spencer Shops came to be, its role in transportation, and its continued use today as a North Carolina Historic Site.

Following on the heels of Images of Rail: The Southern Railway, this volume takes a more detailed look at a historic railroad that has served the South for over 100 years and continues to serve as the Norfolk Southern Railway. Included in these pages are stories of bravery in war and ingenuity in peace. From 1942 to 1945, the 727th Railway Operating Battalion'sponsored by the Southern Railway'served in North Africa and up the spine of Italy into Germany. The courageous unit received a citation from Gen. George S. Patton for its involvement in the Sicily Campaign.

"Established in 1896, Spencer Shops was the Southern Railway's largest steam locomotive repair facility. After five decades of providing thousands of jobs to craftsmen and laborers, Spencer Shops and its company town became a victim of technology as diesel-electrics replaced steam locomotives. By August 1960, Spencer Shops had all but ceased operation, its workforce dwindling to a level 95 percent smaller than it had been in the early 1950s. Even as rust and pigeons ruled the largely abandoned complex, a dedicated group of state officials and railroad enthusiasts saw its promise as a state historic site. After years of hard work, Spencer Shops experienced its rebirth with the creation of the North Carolina Transportation Museum (NCTM) in 1977. Today, the impressive facility celebrates not only the rich history of Spencer but also the wide array of transportation history in the Tar Heel State."--Publisher.

Tour the Old North State's famous--and not-so-famous--historic sites. "First in Freedom," "First in Flight," and "First, Farthest and Last" are all honorifics that have been used to describe North Carolina's well-known history. Learn the truth behind each of these epithets and other tales from the sands of the Outer Banks to the bustling cities of the Piedmont and the western mountains. Tour the state's famous historic homes, gardens and cemeteries. Dive deep into its military conflicts, from the golden age of piracy to the Second World War. "Join North Carolina's veteran historian, Michael C. Hardy, for an exploration of the many sites, monuments, museums, and public spaces that tell story of North Carolina's history.

Salisbury, North Carolina, is the county seat of Rowan County, which was carved in 1753 from Anson County. Salisbury, located on the junction of a Native American trading route and the Great Wagon Road through North Carolina, was an important economic crossroads through most of the 18th and 19th centuries. Salisbury became a railroad hub in the 1850s, was the location of a large Confederate prison during the Civil War, and is home to two historic colleges--Catawba College and Livingstone College. The locally popular soft drink Cheerwine has been headquartered in Salisbury since 1917. Today, Salisbury is revered as a historic North Carolina city that preserves the past while actively embracing the future. Salisbury showcases the rich transportation, commercial, and community history of this piedmont city.

Attractively illustrated with numerous images, 'Steel Drivin' Man' offers a marvellous portrait of a beloved folk song - and a true American legend.

Few would have guessed in 1870 that within fifty years North Carolina would be the most industrialized state in the South. The Quest for Progress recounts that half-century of turbulent change and growth. It is the fourth volume in The Way We Lived in North Carolina, a pioneering series that uses historic places as windows to the past. An accelerating pace of life was evident everywhere in North Carolina at the turn of the century, from mill villages to mushrooming towns. Sky scrapers and suburbs, country estates and mountain resorts testified to the state's new wealth. But new conflicts marked the era as well. Farmers plagued by debt fought back in a Populist movement that carried its cause to the nation. Working men and women fought to keep their independence on the factory floor. Black North Carolinians, despite violence and disenfranchisement, built the churches, colleges, and businesses that prepared the next generation to reclaim its rights. By 1920, North Carolina was a state transformed. Sites used to illuminate this period include mill villages, a tobacco factory, depots, schoolhouses, general stores, a fire station, a drugstore, and the Thomas Wolfe Memorial. Each volume in The Way We Lived in North Carolina examines the social history of an era, weaving interpretation around dozens of historic sites and the lives of ordinary people who lived and worked nearby. The series is based on the premise that the past can be most fully understood through the joint experience of reading history and visiting historic places. These volumes will appeal to all who are interested in North Carolina history, historic preservation, and social history.

The thoughts of a train ride aboard a pullman car pulled by a steam locomotive stirs up the wanderlust in many people. One of the early portents of the Industrial Age, the railroad changed the face and pace of the world forever. This is a state-by-state guide to over 300 railroad museums, historical, restored depots and special, nostalgic excursions available to the general public. Each entry provides a comprehensive description that blends historical perspective with an overview of the exhibit, including a guide to annual events at the site. Also given are the hours of operation and the cost of the event, along with addresses and phone numbers needed for further information.