I spent last weekend in Raleigh NC and took a few hours off to look in on downtown-area railroad history sites. I had no local guide, so I'm sure I missed a lot, but even so I found plenty to reward a short exploration.

1. The former SAL classical revival depot on the North side of downtown (1940s or 1950s construction) is adaptively reused as a garden center. The platform canopies are still there, and the whole platform area serves as the facilities outdoor selling area. There is a cafe in the depot building. The surrounding former RR-served warehouse district is home to everything from furnature and wine stores to urban ministries. On the north end of the station you'll find a heavyweight Pullman being restored as a PV, and the former SAL yard office, still serving the same function for CSX. On the South end of the station aross the tracks, the former SAL Raleigh roundhouse turntable remains in service, thought the roundhouse itself is long gone. Across the yard to the west you can get a distant look at NSDOT's motive power and passenger equiptment service facility, with ex-CNW B-unit F's, full-length domes, and other interesting rolling stock in the deadlines.

2. The NCRR/SR depot (also neoclassical ca. 1950)west of downtown now serves NCDOT and AMTRAK. The exterior is plain but well kept, and the track-side has been modified--attractively--with a glass-covered waiting and access area. The old SR freight depot (on the downtown side of the Y, across the small yard located within the Y in front of the station) has just been scrubbed and redeveloped to the nines--really nice job--but has no tenant yet. The surrounding warehouse district has become a funky nightclub area, but with lots of old touches of in-street railroad trackage, coal delivery trestles, and other interesting remnants.

3. Southend Brewery on Jones Street--former streetcar pwoer house, attractively converted into a brewpub--located between the former SAL and old NS mainlines on Jones St. west of downtown, near Greewood Ave.

I'm sure this is all old hat to our Carolina friends, but it was new to me, and I was happy to find so much to see. Good contemporary trainwatching too--NS keeps the area busy, and you can often see a local crew pottering around the little flat yard inside the Y adjacent to the Amtrak station.

eledbetter@rypn.org

I believe the "Old North Chapter" NRHS published a book (the book exists and is in print-got it a few months ago; just can't remember the source) on remaining railroad structures in North Carolina. It would have made a great reference tool in your Raleigh ramblings. It is organized by county and then by city; has photos/directions/history on every building; and comes in a ringed binder which makes it very flexible.

> I believe the "Old North Chapter"
> NRHS published a book (the book exists and
> is in print-got it a few months ago; just
> can't remember the source) on remaining
> railroad structures in North Carolina. It
> would have made a great reference tool in
> your Raleigh ramblings. It is organized by
> county and then by city; has
> photos/directions/history on every building;
> and comes in a ringed binder which makes it
> very flexible.

I found an online version of the same at RRSHS that was very helpful--a quick look at it on my sister-in-law's computer helped set my itinerary.

http://www.rrshs.org/N.C./ncrrstruc.htm


eledbetter@rypn.org

Well, Erik, you missed meeting some fine folks from NHVRR and the best wings and beer selection in the southeast. Let me know when you pass this way again and I will see if I can get you some local coloration.

dave

irondave@bellsouth.net