Visits to the "real thing" at model railroad conventions are always a popular activity. We have lined up three tours where you can get up close and touch prototype locomotives, rolling stock and other railroad equipment. These tours provide an excellent opportunity to take up close photographs, especially of details on an item you might model.

From the old to the totally modern these tours provide a great perspective of the history of railroading from the late 19th century to current times.

Not all locations in these tours are wheelchair accessible.

North Carolina is one of several states that provide operating and capital support for Amtrak passenger service. While Amtrak operates the Piedmont passenger service, the equipment is state-owned. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Rail Division currently owns three locomotives and several coaches and food service cars. This equipment is maintained at a facility that the NCDOT built in Raleigh in 1995, which is the focus of this tour.

The Rail Yard is located approximately 15 minutes from the hotel. A map and directions will be provided to tour participants, who will be responsible for their transportation between the hotel and the Rail Yard. There will be a carpooling sign-up sheet at the hotel to facilitate transportation. NCDOT staff will provide a tour of the maintenance facility and answer tour participants' questions.

NCDOT has advised that photographs at the Rail Yard are permitted and welcomed. Bring your camera.

Note: Tour participants are required to wear hard-soled shoes (no sandals, tennis shoes or high heels) and long pants (no shorts or skirts). The Rail Division has safety helmets and goggles for only 15 people, so once at the Rail Yard, the group will be divided into 2 subgroups, with one subgroup touring the facilities where that safety equipment is required while the other subgroup tours another part of the facility. Midway through the tour, the subgroups will swap areas and the second subgroup will don the safety equipment and tour the shop area.

October 20: This tour has been cancelled due to lack of sufficient numbers signing up for the tour. Attendees who have signed up for this tour may receive a full refund or switch to the NCDOT Rail Yard tour and receive a partial refund.

As well as a museum, the New Hope Valley Railroad operates over 6.5 miles of track. Equipment includes two General Electric, two Whitcomb diesel-electric locomotives, a tank (0-4-0) steam locomotive, and passenger and freight cars.

Normal Train Ride Days are the first Sunday of each month from May through November. Halloween trains operate the Saturday before Halloween. Christmas trains operate on the first three weekends (both Saturday and Sunday) following Thanksgiving. Group Rides are available to Civic Groups, schools and other organizations.

The museum has constructed a 6,685 sq. ft. G scale garden railroad with a walking path surrounding the layout. There are 3 main outer loops, consisting of 210, 215 and 220 feet of track with 2 large tunnels and a 12-foot long overhead truss bridge. Aristo-Craft, Bachmann, LGB, Piko and USA Trains stock, buildings and equipment are used on the layout. Current construction is the 1200 sq. ft. center layout area, consisting of 9 loops, 2 large mountains and numerous bridges, trestles, waterfalls, ponds, buildings, cars, people and many plants. There will be a model of the City of Apex, logging, industrial and rural areas of North Carolina.

Special Note: On the Saturday before Halloween the NHVRy operates special Halloween trains at 4:00, 5:15, 6:30 and 7:45pm at a cost of $7.00 per person. We have reserved a limited number of tickets on the 4:15 and 5:30 trains for attendees. If you are interested in one of these train rides, please send an email to the Webmaster. Click here to send email.

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