Burlington in Alamance County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
North Carolina Railroad
Photographed By Patrick G. Jordan, March 4, 2010
1. North Carolina Railroad Marker at the Historic Depot
Erected 1972 by Office Of Archives And History. (Marker Number G-89.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the North Carolina Division of Archives and History, and the Time Capsules series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1857.
Location. 36° 5.647′ N, 79° 26.215′ W. Marker is in Burlington, North Carolina, in Alamance County. Marker is at the intersection of West Front Street and South Main Street, on the right when traveling west on West Front Street. Located at the historic Burlington Downtown Depot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 South Main Street, Burlington NC 27215, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Johnston Moves West (within shouting distance of this marker); Norfolk & Western Caboose #518654 (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Camp Alamance (about 400 feet away); Cammack Building (about 500 feet away); Pine Hill Cemetery - Veterans Memorial (approx. ¾ mile away); Dentzel Carousel
this page online
More about this marker. The Historic Depot was built in 1892 as a "Southern Railway Passenger Station" and has been restored as a Burlington Historic Property. Three granite statues circle an original stone railroad turntable. The statue of "Passengers" portrays a turn of the century family preparing to board a train. "Shop Crew" shows two repairmen working on a piston rod with a large wrench. A "Road Gang" of four men is ready to work on the railroad.
Beside the depot is a time capsule, placed in 1979, which contains memorabilia and historical information dating back to the time when Burlington was Company Shops. It is to be opened in 2079.
Behind the depot, a restored red caboose is open to the public. Times vary.
Inside the depot is a wall mural depicting scenes from Burlington's history 1893 - 1993. An outdoor amphitheater with a fountain is available for concerts, family gatherings and weddings.
Regarding North Carolina Railroad. In his book,
Photographed By Patrick G. Jordan, March 4, 2010
2. Historic Depot and Granite Statues Depicting Railroad Scenes
Construction began on the NC Railroad in 1851. There was soon a pressing need for a maintenance and repair facility, and in 1856, Company Shops was created.
The original Company Shops railroad repair facilities were located approximately 100 yards East South East of the marker. Railroad tracks were mounted on the stone so that locomotives could be driven onto the turntable. The stone could then be rotated and the locomotive driven off in another direction.
The essential buildings were completed by 1859 and included two machine shops, a carpenter shop and a blacksmith shop. All of these were brick two-story buildings. A dry kiln and a foundry, both of brick, were built nearby. The wooden engine shed, or "roundhouse" was actually rectangular, and when it was replaced with a brick structure a few years later, it was said to be the largest brick structure in the state.
The first engine built at Company Shops was completed in 1868.
The North Carolina Railroad operated repair facilities here until 1886, and the shops were reopened briefly between 1890 and 1897. The family of James M. Atwater preserved the turntable from the mid 1930s until 1981 when it was moved to this depot site.
The
Photographed By Patrick G. Jordan, March 4, 2010
3. Men Hard at Work
Additional keywords. Alamance, Train, Depot, Repair, James M. Atwater Family, Piedmont, Central, Graham, Mebane, Mebanesville, Burlington
Photographed By Patrick G. Jordan, March 4, 2010
4. Railroad Turntable Plaque
Photographed By Patrick G. Jordan, March 4, 2010
5. Road Gang
Photographed By Patrick G. Jordan, March 4, 2010
6. Historic Depot Erected 1892
Photographed By Patrick G. Jordan, March 4, 2010
7. Time Capsule 2079
Photographed By Patrick G. Jordan, March 4, 2010
8. The Historic Depot
Photographed By Patrick G. Jordan, March 4, 2010
9. The Restored Caboose
Photographed By Patrick G. Jordan, June 9, 2011
10. North Carolina Railroad Marker is Missing
A staff member at the historic depot said that it was hit by a car.
Photographed By Michael C. Wilcox, December 29, 2016
11. North Carolina Railroad Marker
Marker found on display at the NC Transportation Museum in Spencer, NC.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 29, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 4, 2010, by Patrick G. Jordan of Graham, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 2,148 times since then and 50 times this year. Last updated on November 28, 2022, by Michael Buckner of Durham, North Carolina. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on March 4, 2010, by Patrick G. Jordan of Graham, North Carolina. 10. submitted on June 10, 2011, by Patrick G. Jordan of Graham, North Carolina. 11. submitted on April 1, 2017, by Michael C. Wilcox of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
