North Carolina Transportation Museum

My last drive around NC before I head to Tennessee.

The first stop was the Transportation Museum.  My Dad worked for the Southern Railroad, so this museum held a special interest.  They provide a short train trip as part of the museum admission, so it was fun as well as informative.

The N.C Transportation Museum is a 57-acre historic site, dedicated to the technology of travel, including a variety of planes, trains and cars all in one place.   It is located on the grounds of what was once Southern Railway's largest steam locomotive repair facility in the Southwest.

The Flue Shop was used to repair the flues, or pipes,used in steam locomotive boilers

The 37-stall Roundhouse is one of the few preserved roundhouses remaining the the country.

The immense Back Shop structure was built in 1905 and served as the major overhaul facility for steam locomotives.

After the monument, I stopped at Cook Out for lunch and asked the staff for the "authentic Cook Out experience."  They provided a burger with chili and slaw, big slab of onion, and mustard with hush puppies on the side.  They are famous for their 40+ flavors of milkshakes ... which are suppose to be worth the calories, but I settled for my usual Diet Coke.

Confederate Soldiers Monument in Cornelius was built by Confederate veterans in 1910. The monument stands in front of the Mt. Zion United Methodist Church which served as the location for Civil War reunions.

I found the Charlotte skyline to be more interesting than most .... some unique buildings.


I rounded out the day with stops at fabric shops and used book stores ... like I needed more of either!

The weather is still fantastic.  It did get into the 30's at night and about 70 during the day ... with great tree color.

It did take me a minute or two last night to remember why the heater was blowing cold air and to switch over to propane for heat.  It is only in the high 60's so far today, but sunny and bright.