Garner grows up along North Carolina Railroad

Editor’s note: This is the first installment in a series of articles profiling towns along the North Carolina Railroad corridor.

Long before American Idol singing champion Scotty McCreery put Garner, N.C. on the map, the little railroad town was the dear home to the Wake County residents who grew up keeping time by the train whistle, skipping along the rail corridor to go to church and school, and passing time counting box cars.

Today, Garner is all grown up. Its population is up to 26,000, and the town is home to many young professionals who appreciate its proximity to the hustle and bustle of Raleigh, jobs throughout the Triangle, and who love its small town southern charm.

McCreery sings about that charm in his ode to his hometown, “Water Tower Town,” Garner is a place where “Friday night football is king, sweet tea goes good with anything…you can see who loves you from miles around, in a water tower town.”

Garner got its start when the North Carolina Railroad crossed through the area in 1847 bringing with it commerce, economic development, and a train station. In that year, after a tie-breaker vote by the Speaker of the State House of Representatives, Garner was chosen as the location for a train station.

“Garner’s Station” was established with the construction of a post office in 1878, and the Town of Garner’s Station was incorporated in 1883, according to town records and “History of Garner and Environs,” by the Garner Historical Committee.

Amtrak considers bus service in eastern N.C.

Newspapers in Eastern North Carolina are reporting on Amtrak’s consideration to provide bus service to parts of the state that would transport passengers to the Wilson train station.

The Kinston Free Press reports the route to the train station in Wilson would include stops in Greenville, New Bern, Havelock, Morehead City, Kinston, Goldsboro, Jacksonville and Wilmington.

Read all about it here:

Charlotte LYNX Blue Line reaches major milestone

Last spring, the North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR), the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), and Norfolk Southern Corporation signed lease, construction, and operating agreements for the LYNX Blue Line Extension (BLE) light rail project along 2.7 miles of the North Carolina Railroad corridor. The extension’s total length will be 9.3 miles.

Greer, S.C. targeted for inland port; study to determine jobs, logistics

The South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) has identified Greer as an inland port that will be developed to improve the efficiency of international container movements between Charleston and the Upstate. The inland port will serve the international and national communities.

Intermodal rail good option for USPS

The United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General recently issued a report stating intermodal rail use by the Postal Service could reap benefits, including saving money and helping improve the environment.

National Train Day delights adults and kids

Xavier Binkowski said he was five-and-a-half, visiting his grandparents, Sally and Frank Binkowski of Hillsborough all having a great time at the National Train Day Festivities on May 12 at the Cary Depot. The all day event drew more than 1,000 people to the heart of downtown Cary, and the town was alive with people visiting the depot, shopping, lunching and visiting the local farmers market.

Scott and Courtney Baker of Cary possibly love trains even more than their four-year-old son Timothy. Since he was two he has loved trains, inspired by the children’s book series on Thomas the Tank train engine. Now the entire family loves Thomas.

Rail fans brave hot weather to enjoy Norfolk Southern Heritage Locomotives

The North Carolina Transportation Museum was a rail fans paradise over the Independence Day holiday as the Norfolk Southern Corporation paraded 20 freshly painted Heritage Locomotives to Spencer, N.C. from all over the country for a historic family reunion.

Temperatures edging over the century mark did not deter spectators, huddled in small patches of shade and shadows cast by the museum’s historic buildings and locomotives, and the Norfolk Southern mascot, Brainy stuck to low key antics.

“We’re very proud of what we do,” said Norfolk Southern CEO Wick Moorman. “This is a very fitting way to acknowledge the efforts of those who came before us and make a statement that we are proud of our past.”

Mark Your Calendar

March 5-6, 2013
2013 Progress In Motion Rail Forum
Raleigh, NC

More information coming soon!


July – August 2012 \| Volume 6, Issue 4
	Garner grows up along North Carolina Railroad Editor’s note: This is the first installment in a series of articles profiling towns along the North Carolina Railroad corridor. Long before American Idol singing champion Scotty McCreery put Garner, N.C. on the map, the little railroad town was the dear home to the Wake County residents who grew up keeping time by the train whistle, skipping along the rail corridor to go to church and school, and passing time counting box cars. Today, Garner is all grown up. Its population is up to 26,000, and the town is home to many young professionals who appreciate its proximity to the hustle and bustle of Raleigh, jobs throughout the Triangle, and who love its small town southern charm. McCreery sings about that charm in his ode to his hometown, “Water Tower Town,” Garner is a place where “Friday night football is king, sweet tea goes good with anything…you can see who loves you from miles around, in a water tower town.” Garner got its start when the North Carolina Railroad crossed through the area in 1847 bringing with it commerce, economic development, and a train station. In that year, after a tie-breaker vote by the Speaker of the State House of Representatives, Garner was chosen as the location for a train station. “Garner’s Station” was established with the construction of a post office in 1878, and the Town of Garner’s Station was incorporated in 1883, according to town records and “History of Garner and Environs,” by the Garner Historical Committee. Read More » NCRR joins N.C. BeRailSafe to promote crossing safety North Carolina Railroad Company teamed up with N.C. BeRailSafe on a safety blitz in Durham on the fourth annual International Level Crossing Awareness Day, June 7. The team gathered at the Swift Road tracks near the Duke University campus and handed out cards and stickers to drivers and pedestrians for three hours. The Operation Lifesaver program also recognized ILCAD, sponsoring events and programs in 20 states around the country, including North Carolina. ILCAD was established in 2009 in Europe to call attention to the need for public education on railway safety issues as a way to save lives. This year, 42 countries worldwide held events to promote railroad crossing safety. Read More » Amtrak considers bus service in eastern N.C. Newspapers in Eastern North Carolina are reporting on Amtrak’s consideration to provide bus service to parts of the state that would transport passengers to the Wilson train station. The Kinston Free Press reports the route to the train station in Wilson would include stops in Greenville, New Bern, Havelock, Morehead City, Kinston, Goldsboro, Jacksonville and Wilmington. Read all about it here: Read More » Charlotte LYNX Blue Line reaches major milestone Last spring, the North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR), the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), and Norfolk Southern Corporation signed lease, construction, and operating agreements for the LYNX Blue Line Extension (BLE) light rail project along 2.7 miles of the North Carolina Railroad corridor. The extension’s total length will be 9.3 miles. Read More » New Bern area firefighters respond to Memorial Day blaze near NCRR corridor North Carolina Railroad Company’s president, Scott Saylor is grateful for New Bern area fire departments and rescue personnel for their timely response and efficient work to extinguish a blaze on Monday, May 28 that engulfed a large warehouse building, owned by the railroad. Read More » Greer, S.C. targeted for inland port; study to determine jobs, logistics The South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) has identified Greer as an inland port that will be developed to improve the efficiency of international container movements between Charleston and the Upstate. The inland port will serve the international and national communities. Read More » Intermodal rail good option for USPS The United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General recently issued a report stating intermodal rail use by the Postal Service could reap benefits, including saving money and helping improve the environment. Read More » National Train Day delights adults and kids Xavier Binkowski said he was five-and-a-half, visiting his grandparents, Sally and Frank Binkowski of Hillsborough all having a great time at the National Train Day Festivities on May 12 at the Cary Depot. The all day event drew more than 1,000 people to the heart of downtown Cary, and the town was alive with people visiting the depot, shopping, lunching and visiting the local farmers market. Scott and Courtney Baker of Cary possibly love trains even more than their four-year-old son Timothy. Since he was two he has loved trains, inspired by the children’s book series on Thomas the Tank train engine. Now the entire family loves Thomas. Read More » Rail fans brave hot weather to enjoy Norfolk Southern Heritage Locomotives The North Carolina Transportation Museum was a rail fans paradise over the Independence Day holiday as the Norfolk Southern Corporation paraded 20 freshly painted Heritage Locomotives to Spencer, N.C. from all over the country for a historic family reunion. Temperatures edging over the century mark did not deter spectators, huddled in small patches of shade and shadows cast by the museum’s historic buildings and locomotives, and the Norfolk Southern mascot, Brainy stuck to low key antics. “We’re very proud of what we do,” said Norfolk Southern CEO Wick Moorman. “This is a very fitting way to acknowledge the efforts of those who came before us and make a statement that we are proud of our past.” Read More » Mark Your Calendar March 5-6, 2013 2013 Progress In Motion Rail Forum Raleigh, NC More information coming soon! Read More »	About NCRR News Rail Lines Archive NC Rail Map Subscribe Contact Us Turner finds dream job as museum historian Walking through the North Carolina Transportation Museum’s 57-acre campus at a leisurely pace is good exercise, but when the museum’s historian, Walter Turner hits top speeds in his smooth, rapid stride, the light workout becomes an all out training session. Turner, who is tall and fit, doesn’t slack off when it comes to giving tours of the planes, trains and automobiles spread throughout the museum’s vast territory, including the back shop, the flue shop, the Bob Julian Roundhouse, Barber Junction and all of the outdoor exhibits, not to mention a 25-minute train ride around the entire museum site. To give such tours is a dream come true for Turner, born in Winston-Salem, a fifth generation Tarheel who grew up in North Carolina’s Piedmont. “My dad loved history and would regale the family with history,” Turner said. “He taught me the value of history, and the value of conversations.” Education Turner earned his undergraduate degree in history from Methodist College in Fayetteville and a Master’s in social work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Inspired by a desire to travel and to help people, Turner entered the Peace Corps, working in Manila in the Philippines. He went on the serve as the director of social services in Anson County and as a travel agent. By 1995, Turner had been out of school for 30 years, and was feeling burned out. “I wasn’t meant to be an administrator,” he says. He began a three year transition into a role that has kept him happy. And busy. He started writing about transportation, and in 1998 went to work at the N.C. Transportation Museum in fundraising and development, two years after a large restoration project had wrapped up. In 2000 he became the museum’s historian. “I really love the creativity involved,” he says. “I love working with visuals, and it is thrilling to do original research.” Books He has written several books including Paving Tobacco Road: A Century of Progress by the North Carolina Department of Transportation; Waterways to the World, The Story of the North Carolina Ports Authority; and Development of Streetcar Systems in North Carolina. He is at work now on a book about Corbett Trucking Company of Henderson in collaboration with other writers. “My father loved trains,” he says. “And I grew up loving trains.” In the Transportation Museum’s early days, Turner found a home among the trains. The historic institution was established as a railroad museum in 1983, six years after Southern Railroad donated four acres of land and three buildings to the state of North Carolina. Additional historic buildings and more land were donated in 1979. The N.C. Transportation Museum’s history, posted on its website, describes how the museum came to be. Read More »

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