Frequently Asked Questions

We are happy to assist with any questions you may have when visiting or planning a visit to the museum.

How long should I allow for my visit?

The 60-acre site is spread out with four exhibit buildings. Allow about three hours if you wish to ride the train and see all exhibits; about two hours with no train ride. Touring the Roundhouse alone takes about 45 minutes to an hour; the Back Shop takes 30 minutes, and our Bumper to Bumper exhibit and Wagons, Wheels, and Wings exhibit area take 20-25 minutes each.

Are there vending/dining facilities on-site?

Drink vending machines are available at Barber Junction Visitor Center. Snack and drink machines are available at the Bob Julian Roundhouse. The Gift Station also has snacks and beverages available for purchase. Drinking fountains with bottle filling ability are available at the Gift Station, in the Back Shop, and in the Roundhouse.

How much does the museum cost?

Museum admission is $6 for Adults, $5 for Seniors and Active Military, and $4 for children 3-12. When trains are running, train ride and admission combination tickets are $16 for Adults, $14 for Seniors and Active Military, and $12 for children 3-12. Members and children under 3 are free for both general admission and train rides. Pricing is higher on some special event days. Special events are listed on our website.

Can I get to the museum using Amtrak?

Yes. The Salisbury Amtrak passenger station, located just a few miles from the museum, is a stop on Amtrak’s Carolinian/Piedmont and Crescent routes. For more information on schedules and fares, visit www.amtrak.com.

From the Depot, the following transportation options are available to bring you to the museum:

Salisbury Transit, 704.638.5252 or 704.638.5253
Salisbury-Spencer Trolley Works, 704.638.3100
Safety Taxi, 704.633.7217
Latino Express Taxi, 704.855.5566

Is the museum handicapped-accessible?

The North Carolina Transportation Museum is fully accessible to persons with disabilities. Wherever possible, access to exhibits is facilitated by wheelchair lifts and our friendly staff. Certain exhibits and programs do have limited accessibility due to narrow door openings on railroad passenger cars. For additional details, please contact us. The train ride has one car that is fully accessible with a wheelchair lift.

The site is walking-intensive, but wheelchairs are available on loan and handicapped persons, or those with difficulty walking, may drive between facilities. Please contact one of our friendly visitor services staff upon your arrival.

Where does the train go, and how long is the ride?

The train ride is about three miles, and takes about 25 minutes. The train provides a narrated tour of the entire site, allowing a better view of many of our historic buildings than what is available exploring the museum’s public areas on foot. It departs from Barber Junction, usually heading north and then reversing to pass downtown Spencer and several historic structures such as the Master Mechanic’s Office, Storehouse #3, the Flue Shop, and the Oil House. Once the train reaches the southern end of the site, it will change directions again, switching tracks to provide additional views of the Sand House, the Roundhouse, Back Shop, and Paint Shop before returning to the historic Barber Junction depot. Depending on operational needs, the route may be reversed at times but the length of the ride remains the same.

Why does the train go backward and forward?

The museum was designed initially as a repair facility for trains, not a tourist attraction, so the track was not laid out in a circle. Instead, the track was laid out to bring locomotives in from the main line, repair them, and send them back on their way. With this track layout, the train can’t simply “turn around” to go from one end of the site to the other, so the train travels forward to one end and in reverse to the other.

How should I dress?

Keep in mind that the museum is a historic industrial site. The site is expansive and walking-intensive, so you’ll want comfortable shoes. Because of its original purpose of maintaining steam locomotives, the Roundhouse is designed with large sections open to the elements, where locomotives entered the building. Thus, those areas of the building cannot be heated or air-conditioned, so please be sure to dress appropriately for the weather. The Back Shop and Flue Shop are also not climate controlled due to the historic nature of their use. Thus, these buildings cannot be heated or air-conditioned, so please be sure to dress appropriately for the weather.

Can I bring my pet?

Animals are not allowed in visitor centers, museum or historic structures, unless the animal qualifies as a service animal under Federal or State law.