Southeastern Narrow Gauge & Shortline Museum

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Southeastern Narrow Gauge & Shortline Museum The official Facebook site for the Southeastern Narrow Gauge & Shortline Museum in Newton, NC! Main Ave.) We're currently open on Fridays from 12-5:00 p.m.

Welcome to the official page for the Southeastern Narrow Gauge and Shortline Museum! We are located in Newton, NC at the former junction of the Southern and Carolina & North-Western Railways. Our Museum is operated by the Newton Depot Authority and the Alexander Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, and currently uses the Newton Depot, Model Railroad Center next door (at 1111 N. featuring Wade's Train Town and our Gift Shop, and our Alexander Railroad Pavilion across the railroad tracks from the Depot. We have a wide spectrum of railroad-related displays; from an incredible lantern collection to an operating Alco diesel locomotive; from model railroad layouts to the active Norfolk Southern railroad operation that runs through the middle of our campus! and Saturdays from 10-4:00 p.m. Admission is free but donations are welcomed, so come see us!

We apologize for the "radio-silence" on our end this past month...we've been *extremely* busy with more projects than we...
10/01/2026

We apologize for the "radio-silence" on our end this past month...we've been *extremely* busy with more projects than we can share in one post! 🥴
And thus, tonight's monthly Alexander Chapter NRHS Meeting (held in conjunction with the Museum) is going to be one for the history books, literally...
We've got updates on everything that's kept us busy (yes, including railroad construction!), but the real treat will be the presentation that follows... 🛤
Cayla Colclasure, PhD. will be joining us via Zoom after our monthly meeting in the evening of Thursday, 10/1 to give us an incredible presentation about the incarcerated laborers who built the Western North Carolina Railroad, with research that gives a deeper-than-ever look into their lives constructing the railroad - and before. She'll also show her archeological findings from the site of the infamous Cowee Tunnel construction camp, dating back to the early 1880's, as well her ongoing efforts to continue researching and sharing her discoveries. We're beyond grateful to her for taking time out of her busy schedule to share her extensive knowledge with us! 🙌
As usual, our monthly meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month at 7:00 in the Abernethy Meeting room our historic Newton Depot at 1123 N. Main Ave. in Newton, NC.
All are welcome to attend, and we hope to see you there!..or...here... 🚂

It's the 1st Thursday of the month, so you know what that means...It's Alexander Chapter NRHS Monthly meeting time! We'v...
09/03/2026

It's the 1st Thursday of the month, so you know what that means...
It's Alexander Chapter NRHS Monthly meeting time! We've got LOTS of things to talk about...that "Georage" building that's popped up from out of nowhere behind our Pavilion, future events, restoration progress, new projects, and recapping this past weekend's events at Tweetsie Railroad and the N.C. Transportation Museum!

As with all Alexander Chapter NRHS monthly meetings, they are held in conjunction with the Museum. Meetings begin at 7:00 in our historic Newton Depot (1123 N. Main Ave. Newton, NC)...all are welcome to attend - so we hope you can join us!
🛤️

It's time to address what we're doing and where this weekend... With Tweetsie Railroad's annual Railroad Heritage Weeken...
08/28/2026

It's time to address what we're doing and where this weekend... With Tweetsie Railroad's annual Railroad Heritage Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, the "America 250 Locomotive Celebration" down the road with our (almost definitely overwhelmed friends) at the N.C. Transportation Museum, the Southbound Model Railroaders, Inc. "Southbound Model Railroad Expo" in Winston-Salem, it might be the busiest weekend EVER for railfans here in Western NC!
We'll be well-represented at Tweetsie Railroad this weekend - and with a Historical Memorabilia Room... AND, we'll be open our regular hours here at our Museum in Newton as usual, so if you're attending any (or all, if you're ambitious enough) of these events, you can come see what we're up to! 🛤️

Check out our Facebook and Instagram Stories tomorrow and Sunday for updates of our adventures and excitement... Stay hydrated wherever you are!!!

On August 13th, 1940, western North Carolina was devastated by one of the worst floods in the region's recorded history....
08/16/2026

On August 13th, 1940, western North Carolina was devastated by one of the worst floods in the region's recorded history... The biggest loss for railroads here was the ET&WNC's Linville River Railway, between Cranberry and Boone NC. The last revenue train on that portion of the "Tweetsie" ran that day, and was unable to complete its return trip to Boone - blocked on both sides by a washout and a landslide near Tucker Hollow just past Cranberry. With Hurricane Helene also devastating the same area of our region less than two years ago, we know how horrific these storms and floods can be.
On 8/13/2026 - 86 years *to the day* after the Flood of 1940, the Whitewater Valley Railroad in Indiana experienced a similar flood, and now faces an incredible challenge to rebuild. Although they are far away from us in Indiana, we couldn't help but notice this coincidence and find it more than appropriate to help spread the word and help them fundraise for the daunting tasks that lie ahead for them. We're posting their donation link below - and we hope you'll spread the word and help support getting them back on track!

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/whitewater-valley-railroad-flood-relief?fbclid=IwdGRjcATuy4JjbGNrBO7Ld3Bkb2YBZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEe6a87ZE6me7SQxBsDEt6wp8lmsl9SgsXk9ngpPBICZokj1MHId4QWeh1UJBo_aem_CXAiNSaLOjwW1CgjINSLCg

Who needs a little luck—specifically this Lionel LCCA 2003 Lady Luck Las Vegas Mint Car -6-52299? $50 in our gift shop. ...
07/19/2026

Who needs a little luck—specifically this Lionel LCCA 2003 Lady Luck Las Vegas Mint Car -6-52299? $50 in our gift shop. We also ship ($15 flat rate S&H) plus all applicable taxes.

07/18/2026

Thanks to everyone who visited today and supported the Summer Swap Meet! The vendors were pretty happy with the turnout. Until next time…🚂

07/18/2026

Today! Swap Meet from 10 - 3! Come on out!

07/11/2026

Now available in the Gift Shop…

As many know, our V-C #50 steam locomotive was built as an identical twin (in a set of triplets) to Everett Railroad Co...
07/08/2026

As many know, our V-C #50 steam locomotive was built as an identical twin (in a set of triplets) to Everett Railroad Company's #11, so we're copying their homework and showing you the specs of #50 and #11 (as built) vs. the Union Pacific Railroad's Big Boy #4014... Kudos to the awesome people at the Everett Railroad for posting this for us to steal...y'all definitely understood the assignment!!! 🙌😎

Address

1123 N Main Avenue
Newton, NC
28658

Opening Hours

Friday 12pm - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+19808584266

Website

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