The New Hope Valley Railway, part of the North Carolina Railway Museum, offers an hour-long trip through the pine forests south of Raleigh and Durham in central North Carolina.
Choices
The railway offers 60-minute round trips between Bonsal and New Hill in covered, open-air railcars. The museum features an outdoor exhibit of railroad equipment as well as displays of local rail artifacts. It includes a variety of industrial and shortline diesel locomotives.
When to go
Trains operate from April to December. Typically, weekend rides take place on the second Sunday and last Saturday of each month. Weekday rides for tour groups and others are held on the second Wednesday and fourth Friday. Monthly events include a strawberry festival, ice cream social, Brew ‘n’ Choo, beach party, and luau days.
Good to know
In 2022, the North Carolina Railway Museum acquired 10 new railcars, which can be seen while visiting. They include a 1916 Pullman sleeper and two special purpose cabooses. More information regarding the museum’s Save the Ten campaign can be found on their website.
Worth doing
Built over part of an old rail line that carried tobacco, the American Tobacco Trail runs near the railway. You can hike, bike, and ride horses along the trail.
Don’t miss
Kids will especially enjoy the G-scale garden railroad that operates on the grounds. It features more than 1,000 feet of track, tunnels, bridges, trees, houses, and its own enginehouse.
Getting there
Located between Bonsal and New Hill, the railroad is a 30-minute drive from Raleigh along Route 1. Take Exit 89, turn right on New Hill Holleman Road, and then turn left onto old Route 1 for 2.5 miles. The museum is on the right on Daisey Street, and parking for the train rides is on the left on Bonsal Road.
Location: 3900 Bonsal Road, New Hill, NC
Phone: 919-396-5833
Website: triangletrain.com
E-mail: info@triangletrain.com
