Anniversary Celebration and Fundraiser April 20-21

New Hope Valley Railway (NHVR), operated by the North Carolina Railway Museum, Inc. (NCRM), is celebrating a number of significant milestones during our 2024 season. Join us for two days of family-friendly fun and festivities on Saturday, April 20, and Sunday, April 21, 2024.

It’s been 40 years since our first train ride for visitors (1984) and 120 years since William Roscoe Bonsal built our namesake –the New Hope Valley Railroad Company (1904). We’re calling the weekend our 40/120 Anniversary Celebration and during the two-day event, guests will be taken back to the golden age of train travel with a variety of engaging activities and attractions.

Experience our train rides through a scenic pine forest departing at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, and at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 21, 2024. Buy tickets here. Scroll to the date and train departure time for which you would like to purchase your tickets.

Exciting exhibits showcasing ongoing restoration projects, including the #17 Steam Locomotive inspection rebuild and the #110 Locomotive restoration, will captivate visitors of all ages. Additionally, guests can tour the 1884 Goldston Depot and a Diesel Locomotive Cab, then marvel at restored cabooses. Don’t forget to stop by our gift shop and buy a 40/120 Anniversary Celebration patch or other train-related items.

Kids will have the opportunity to participate in fun activities and receive a prize for getting their commemorative ticket stamped at each exhibit throughout the railway. Exhibitor hosts and volunteers will provide detailed information about their projects and explain how donations to the 501(c)(3) North Carolina Railway Museum support their completion.

The event will be accompanied by the delightful sounds of train music and old-timey tunes played by a local DJ, creating a festive atmosphere for all to enjoy. The G-Scale Garden Railroad will also be operational throughout the weekend, offering entertainment for the whole family and a behind-the-scences tour.

The weekend will also kick off a year of fundraising with raffles for gift baskets and ROKR 3-D Wooden Steam Express Puzzles and opportunities to “Adopt” a locomotive, passenger car, or caboose from the railway’s collection of rolling stock.

Founded by the East Carolina Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society (ECC NRHS), we have become a cherished landmark, fondly known as the “Triangle’s Train.” As a volunteer-operated organization NCRM is committed to preserving North Carolina’s rich railroad history and making it an integral part of our community’s heritage.

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NEWS RELEASE

New Hope Valley Railway Celebrates Milestones during 2024 Ride Season
Anniversary Celebration Planned for Saturday, April 20 and Sunday, April 21

(Bonsal, N.C., March 4, 2024) — New Hope Valley Railway, the Triangle’s Train, is celebrating significant milestones during the 2024 ride season, including its first train ride 40 years ago (1984) and the inception of its namesake 120 years ago (1904).

Visitors are invited to join the 40/120 Anniversary Celebration on April 20-21, 2024, for a weekend of festivities throughout the railyard and along the tracks spanning between Bonsal and New Hill, N.C., located 30 minutes southwest of Raleigh.

New Hope Valley Railway (NHVR) is operated under the direction of the nonprofit North Carolina Railway Museum, Inc. (NCRM). The museum’s goal is to preserve North Carolina railroad history through the area’s only locomotive trains pulling passenger cars and cabooses for visitors to enjoy.

Its rich history dates to 1904 when a group of investors led by William Roscoe Bonsal built a new railroad that went through the valley of New Hope River basin and was called the New Hope Valley Railroad Company.

Volunteer-operated train rides began in 1984 with a somewhat sporadic schedule. Over time, with more equipment acquired and restored for train rides and a larger group of volunteers, train rides became more routine.

“As an all-volunteer operated, nonprofit organization, we’re committed to preserving North Carolina’s rich railroad history, making it an integral part of our community’s heritage,” said Chris Tilley, NCRM president. “Whether you’ve visited our railyard several times or are a first-time passenger, 2024 is the year to experience what NHVR has to offer as we commemorate these significant milestones,” he added.

During the Anniversary Celebration weekend, guests will be transported back to the golden age of train travel. Volunteers dressed in period costumes will offer free tours of the Garden (model) railroad and ongoing restoration projects such as #17 and #110 steam locomotive rebuild/restoration, the 1884 Goldston Depot, cabs of diesel trains, and restored cabooses.

Train ride tickets are now available online at www.TriangleTrain.com for the anniversary celebration weekend and throughout the 2024 season. Ticket prices for all rides (except holiday rides in Oct. and Dec.) are adults $14 (ages 13-59), children $11 (ages 2-12), seniors $13 (ages 60+). Private cabooses are $150 (up to 10 passengers).

About the New Hope Valley Railway (NHVR)

New Hope Valley Railway (NHVR), the Triangle’s Train, is the operating division of the North Carolina Railway Museum, Inc. NHVR straddles the historic towns of Bonsal and New Hill, North Carolina, 30-minutes southwest of Raleigh, off U.S. Highway 1, Exit 89. A real train takes passengers on one-hour scenic rides through the woods in covered, open-air passenger cars. Our organization while informally started at ECU late 1963 by a group of students and a professors was chartered as the ECC by the NRHS in 1964. And officially incorporated as a NC non profit in 1965. And then as an IRS certified non profit in 1966. We moved from Farmville to New Hill Aug 1982. Also available are opportunities to operate a locomotive and visit the North Carolina Railway Museum, Garden Railroad (G Scale) and gift shop. Learn more at www.TriangleTrain.com or connect on social media:

Facebook: @TriangleTrain X (formerly Twitter): @Triangle_Train Instagram: @TriangleTrain and YouTube: Triangle Train – New Hope Valley Railway