Whistlestop at Company Shops

Company Shops

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Courtesy of the North Carolina State Archives

Original plan of the NCRR maintenance and repairs shops drawn under the directionof Chief Engineer Walter Gwynn, 1851.

"The eyes of a hundred people stared in open eyed wonder at the strange monster, other eyes of a hundred plain but noble countrymen of old Alamance sparkled in expectation…. This was indeed a proud and glorious day for old Alamance. It was to celebrate the completion to that point of the North Carolina Railroad, which has been considered the greatest public blessing ever conferred on the country and has done more than any other one thing to aid her material development and promote her manufacturing interests…."
Alamance Gleaner, August 14, 1884

As construction of the NCRR came to an end, the Company’s officials began planning for the maintenance and repair of their track and locomotives. At the recommendation of Chief Engineer Walter Gwynn, the Company chose a location nearest the center of the 223-mile track to build the Company’s Shops.

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