Tarheel Telegrapher September 2026
Volume 66 – Issue 9 1 September 2026
From the Brass Hat
Welcome to fall at NCRM! Hopefully the 90-degree temperatures will let go soon. This month’s article is abbreviated as I am currently doing some extended traveling (including a lot of train riding) in Central Europe. It has been an interesting experience.
A couple of things to highlight this month are the board elections. Please watch for ballots to come out. It is also time again for Halloween decorating. I know, it does not seem possible, but here it is. Chris and Gina can use any help you can provide. The more hands, the faster it gets finished. Look for a decorating schedule to come out. [See last page of this issue – ed] For our newer members, this is a great way to get involved in your museum. Even if you work full time and cannot volunteer during the week, there is always something to do to get ready.
See you at Bonsal,
-John
John Morck, President, NCRM
Get to Know a Member – by Tom Hutchinson
Name: Richard Gray
How long have you been a member? Since April 2013
Where are you originally from? I believe where you discovered who you are, so Auburn, AL.
What is your job in real life? Software engineer
Where do you live now (City & State only)? Cary, NC
Any family…Spouse, Kids, grandkids? Wife, four kids, three dogs – Daughter Xena helps with Halloween when available.
How did you become interested in trains? My Dad took me to watch trains when I was very young.
How did you learn about the New Hope Valley Railway? Through a group event someone else organized 25 years ago.
What has been your favorite activity at the New Hope Valley Railway? I enjoy learning something new and doing whatever needs to be done.
If you do not receive the operating crew calls, please contact Kevin, the crew caller, if you are interested in participating in train operations! We need all the help we can get to keep the trains running safely.
WHERE ARE YOU?
Just a quick reminder from your friendly editor: If you move to a new mailing address or change your email address, PLEASE let the Membership Committee know as soon as possible! Tom or Luke.
Welcome to new members: Miles Jensen, Erik Matson, Rafal Toborek, (individual memberships), Abigail, Taylor, William and Benjamin Coyne (family membership), Sara and Keeling McLin (family membership), Chris Pappas (Sr. membership), Desiree Pendergast (Sr. membership), Eric Jensen (Silver Meteor membership).
Current members, please welcome anyone you don’t know and make them feel at home. Explain what you do for the Museum and teach them how it is done so they get a feel for things. Start their training early! Speaking of new members…
New Member Orientation – by Dennis Winchell
The next New Member Orientation session will be offered on Saturday, September 19, 2026 from 10 AM to Noon. It will be held under the covered area behind the Dispatch Office, and includes a tour of the NCRM property along with some of our ongoing projects. The New Member Orientation session is intended to share information about our history, bylaws, policies, how to get information, who’s who, and most importantly how to get involved as a volunteer (and have fun). This session is open to those who have been members for up to 2 years. This is not a substitute for the Rules and Safety Training sessions necessary to get involved with train operations. [Info on Rules & Safety training also in this issue – ed] Note that this session is scheduled on the same date as the Halloween Dropoff workday. Bring your lunch and stay a couple of extra hours in the afternoon to help with starting the Halloween decorations. If you are interested in attending on September 19, please RSVP to Dennis Winchell by Saturday, September 12. [If you intend to participate in Halloween decorating too, please notify Chris Tilley and thanks for any help you can offer!]
NC State Fair is Approaching – Volunteers Needed – by Tom Hutchinson
The 2026 North Carolina State Fair will be held from October 15-25, 2026. For many years, the New Hope Valley Railway has operated a garden railway in the Horticulture section of the fair. Given the timing of the Fair, this is a prime opportunity to advertise our Halloween and Christmas rides which generate a substantial portion of our annual revenue.
Volunteers are still needed to staff the garden railway again this year.
Tom still has NINE open shifts for the State Fair Crew. If you did not volunteer last year and are interested in volunteering this year, or if you have any questions, please contact Tom Hutchinson as soon as possible and you will be added to our email communications regarding our Fair display.
2026 Board of Directors Elections – Update– by Kyle Obermiller
This year, three board seats are up for election, and we encourage any eligible member to consider running for a position on the Board. Kyle Obermiller has agreed to serve as Nominating Committee Chairman this year and is now accepting nominations from members who wish to run. Ballots will be distributed later in September and published in the 1 October edition of the Telegrapher. We still need candidates to step up! We don’t currently have enough candidates to fill all the available seats on the Board.
Any member of the NC Railway Museum who is at least twenty-one (21) years of age and has been a member of the Corporation for at least two (2) years is eligible to serve on the Board of Directors. If you are interested in running, please submit a short biography to Kyle no later than September 23, 2026.
Reminder: Rusty Spike Nominations Needed from Members by September 30
Each year, the New Hope Valley Railway awards the Order of the Rusty Spike to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to our museum. Pursuant to a policy adopted by our Board in 2022, ANY member may nominate an individual for a Rusty Spike.
Nominations are due by September 30. To nominate someone for a Rusty Spike, please send your nomination to the Chair of the Membership Committee, Tom Hutchinson, (or nominations may be placed in an envelope in the Membership Committee mailbox in the dispatcher’s office). Any questions concerning this process should be directed to Tom Hutchinson.
NCRM Membership Drive: Reminder – By Tom Hutchinson
A reminder…we are offering a new member recruitment incentive to our existing members, effective through October 15. Through the efforts of Marco Zarate, we have obtained two $100 Food Lion Gift Certificates, one $50 Food Lion certificate and a $50 gift certificate from Red Robin restaurant as membership recruiting incentives to our existing members. Particular thanks go to Food Lion for their generous donation.
Any new member recruited through the efforts of an existing member will result in the existing member receiving one “entry” into a drawing for one of the gift certificates. Details of how this works were in last month’s Telegrapher. Since sometimes a new member may not let us know if he/she was recruited by an existing member, please let me know if, through your efforts, a new member has joined.
If you have any questions, or you want to make sure you get proper credit for recruiting a new member, please contact Tom Hutchinson.
NOTICE! NHV Training Day 26 September! – by Kevin Edwards
Attention NHV Train Crew (New and Old), the FINAL training class of 2026 will be held Saturday 26 September 2026. If you intended to be a part of the Halloween and/or Christmas trains and have NOT attended training in 2026 this class is for YOU! Per NCRM/NHVR operating Rules [and Federal Railway Administration policy] you MUST attend a training class every 365 days (annually) in order to maintain your crew qualifications. If you are new to the organization, WELCOME! Please plan on joining us at this training and beginning your crew qualifications journey. The training will begin at 0900 in the shelter behind the Dispatch Office. Testing, for those needing a test for currency, will also be conducted that day. If you have any questions, please email Kevin.
Welcome Our Newest Sponsors: Royalwood Associates, Inc. and Jack of All Trades by George – By Marco A. Zarate, Fundraising Committee Co-Chair
We are delighted to welcome our newest sponsors at the Partner Sponsor level – Royalwood Associates, Inc, and Jack of All Trades by George at the Business Supporter Sponsor level.
At the North Carolina Railway Museum, our ability to serve the community relies on our partners and sponsors who support our efforts to share and preserve North Carolina railroad history.
Royalwood Associates, Inc. has generously contributed 1,400 SF of high-end resilient rubber as the main-floor finished flooring of our 116-year old Goldston Depot, which will be a centerpiece of the North Carolina Railway Museum, currently being restored in our campus. More information about Goldston Depot is here.
Royalwood began operation in 1982 as a specialty flooring subcontractor primarily to the commercial construction trade. For four decades it has specialized in high-end flooring installations from gymnasiums in all levels of education…college/universities to elementary schools, public and private health and athletic facilities, venues for musical and entertainment centers, church sanctuaries, and family centers. Royalwood’s business growth has been fueled by its high-quality products and expert installation reputation. Projects range from construction in large urban sectors to rural areas throughout Virginia, North, and South Carolina. Installations and product donations to nonprofit museums and other organizations are a part of Royalwood’s charitable activities.
More information about Royalwood is here.
Jack of All Trades by George contributed to this year’s renovation project of Duke Energy locomotive #10 by providing all beautiful graphic design to dress up #10 for America’s 250th birthday. On July 1st during our “Happy 250th, America!” event, we introduced our Locomotive #10 to our visitors at Bonsal with its latest look!
Jack of All Trades by George was created and opened in 2004 by George and Tambra (both born and raised in North Carolina) providing a personalized approach at building custom mobile designs with a
cooperative mindset. Early years of production primarily focused on home repairs, RVs, food trucks, and vehicles. As time went by, a wide variety of services were added to include such solutions as wraps, upfits, renovations and more for anything mobile. More information about Jack of All Trades by George is here.
Please join us in giving a warm welcome and huge thank you to Royalwood Associates, Inc and Jack of All Trades by George as 2026 sponsors of our organization! We look forward to a successful partnership and encourage our members to support them!
First Responders Day at New Hope Valley Railway
Our two First Responders Day rides on Saturday, August 8, were a big success! More than 500 guests came out to ride the trains, explore emergency vehicles, and meet the first responders who operate them.
Both rides sold out, with some guests even arriving at the ticket office hoping to purchase tickets onsite, only to find that no tickets remained. The event featured a Touch-a-Truck experience with the Apex Fire Department, which brought a fire truck and several firefighters. The Apex Police Department had an officer onsite who handed out stickers and drink cups and spent time talking with guests. Wake County EMS had two EMTs onsite who did a great job interacting with children, showing them the inside of the ambulance and explaining how the stretchers and other equipment are used.
A special highlight of the day was the Duke Life Flight Ambulance. The brand-new vehicle had only been in service for about a week, making its visit to NHVR an especially exciting opportunity for our guests.
Food trucks added to the festivities and helped make the day an enjoyable experience for families and railway visitors.
As a special thank-you, off-duty Apex firefighters and police officers were also able to bring their families to ride the train using discounted tickets. It was our small way of showing our appreciation to those who work to keep our community safe.
We are grateful to all of the first responders who took time to join us and share their equipment, knowledge, and stories with our guests. We also want to give a special shout-out to our parking crew, who arrived early to get all of the emergency vehicles parked in the right spots and then worked to find parking for guests arriving for the sold-out trains, despite a large portion of the parking lot being unavailable. Their flexibility and hard work helped keep everything running smoothly.
Most importantly, we thank all of the first responders in our community for their dedication, courage, and service every day.
Happy 100th Birthday, #308!
Thursday, August 13, was a special day at the New Hope Valley Railway as we celebrated the 100th birthday of our beloved Caboose #308!
The celebration included cupcakes and a chorus of “Happy Birthday” before riders boarded the train. Several guests who were riding on the excursion cars also took the opportunity to tour the inside of #308 before the ride, showing just how much interest there is in this special caboose.
Caboose #5228 also turned 100 this month, making it a milestone year for both of our historic cabooses. Both #308 and #5228 have been an important part of the railway’s collection since their initial move from Greenville.
Here’s to another 100 years, #308 and #5228
Time to Sign Up for Extra Holiday Roles!
Our holiday rides are quickly approaching, which means it’s time to start planning for all of our special supporting-character roles!
Halloween
We’ll have some different faces stepping into familiar roles this year, and we still have a few spots to fill.
Dracula: Will Hobbs will be our Dracula for the last three rides, but we still need someone to take on the role for the October 10 ride.
Grave Digger: Bubba Chason will be our Grave Digger for the Saturday rides, but we still need a Grave Digger for Friday, October 23.
Flying Witch: Clarett Kevin-Damm and Lilly MacNell have graciously volunteered to step into the Flying Witch role that Gina has masterfully played for so many years.
WitchMaster: Chris Tilley will continue as our WitchMaster and unfortunate victim, but he would like someone willing to be trained for this role in case he is unable to attend one of the rides.
Headless Brakeman: Jim Meade will continue to be our amazing Headless Brakeman.
I’m also expecting the Green Level High School Honor Society students who helped us with Working on the Railroad Day to join us again this year. We could use their help both in the rail yard and as witches in the Coven area.
Christmas
Santa: Paul Barth and Tom Hutchinson are reprising the Santa role this year, but we’d love to have another Santa for December 12 or 13.
Christmas Elf: We’d love to get Jim Meade some help with his Christmas Elf duties, so we are looking for some volunteers to help with this role.
Greeter: We also need someone to hand out 2027 schedules, I Spy cards, and crayons/pencils to our guests. Anita Hussey has signed up for one shift each day, so we are looking for someone to sign up for the other shift.
Sign Up to Help!
If you’d like to be part of the fun, we have two SignUpGenius pages where you can select the dates you’re available:
Halloween:
Sign Up for Halloween Roles
Christmas:
Sign Up for Christmas Roles
Thank you to everyone who helps make these special events possible! These supporting roles add so much to the experience for our guests, and we truly appreciate everyone who is willing to lend a hand and help bring our holiday rides to life!
Red Robin Fundraiser Raises $155.89 for NCRM
The fundraiser held at the Apex Red Robin on August 21 was a great success, raising $155.89 for the North Carolina Railway Museum (NCRM). The event generated $779.44 in sales, with a portion of those sales donated to the museum.
Many NCRM volunteers, along with several riders from the August 21 train, took the opportunity to stop by Red Robin for a meal and support the museum at the same time. It was a wonderful way for members of our railway community to come together while helping raise funds for NCRM.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who participated and helped make the fundraiser a success. We are especially grateful to Sarah Horton, Tim Carroll’s niece and the managing partner of the Apex Red Robin location, for her continued support of the museum and railway.
Sarah is already looking ahead to the possibility of another fundraiser in the future, and we greatly appreciate her enthusiasm and commitment to supporting NCRM. We look forward to working with her again!
Haunted Caboose Decorating Volunteers Needed
It’s time to transform Caboose #5228 into our Haunted Caboose once again!
Decorating the caboose takes several hours with just two people, but with a few extra hands, we should be able to get the job done much more quickly. We’ll need to run extension cords to power the lights and fortune teller, bring out all of the decorations, and transform the caboose into a spooky Halloween experience for our riders.
We can begin decorating on September 20, and everything needs to be ready by October 10, when our first Track or Treat ride rolls out.
Can you lend a hand on Wednesday, September 23? If we can get enough volunteers together, I’m hoping we can knock it all out in one day! Last year, it was especially helpful to have someone from the Wednesday crew take care of the electrical setup while the other volunteers focused on getting all of the decorations in place.
If you’re available to help, please let me know. The more hands we have, the faster—and more fun—it will be!
Around the Yard (and the local area)
On August 24, Tom Hutchinson told the story of the NCRM/New Hope Valley Railway to the Raleigh Rotary Club. Thanks to our member, Peter Gourri, for arranging this. If you are a member of a similar organization, Tom would be happy to speak to your group.
In keeping with all the “Big Boy Hunting” going on this summer, Chris Tilley recently discovered one in Omaha, NE and this one (4004) in Cheyenne, WY. 4014 was resting in the Cheyenne roundhouse, next door to the museum, but not open to the public… so close and yet so far (300 feet). Chris has now “captured” 4 of the
8 remaining Big Boys.
Member Gene Ezzell decked out in his Volunteer Fire Fighter dress outfit for First Responders’ Day. He has been a volunteer in Dunn, NC for about 50 years with countless emergency responses to his credit. Ask him about it and he will tell you some crazy stories! Perhaps he is the only Fireman on the NHV concerned with putting fires OUT, not getting them to burn (inside 17).
Members Jim and Calvin resting after manning a display in Holly Springs for their 150th anniversary as a community recently. See Jim’s latest edition of “What’s Happening at Your Railroad Museum”
Scott and Billey are rebuilding a hydraulic cylinder for our always useful backhoe. Hard work keeps everything running!
Halloween Decorating Help Needed! – by Gina Casselberry
The time to dig in and start decorating is nearly upon us. As usual, Chris and I could really use some help each day unpacking, loading the decorations on the flatcar, dropping them off down the line [19 September] and especially putting them in place to entertain the thousands of guests who come each year to experience this annual tradition at the NCRM. We don’t need a huge group each day, but two extra people each day would be a tremendous help! We start at 9AM, load what we need on the HyRail truck and head down the line daily,
finishing early afternoon, till we are done. We will deck out the Rolling Stock Cemetery on Monday 28 September, so we could use 6 or so to get that all done in one day if possible. Once we finish decorating the Right of Way, we will begin with the many displays in the Bonsal Yard. That is another time we could benefit from additional volunteers joining us. Of course, we can’t get it all done without the help of the Wednesday Crew helping with some of the “heavy lifting” when they meet. Please see the daily schedule on the last page of this newsletter to
see where YOU can jump in and assist. Chris is not getting any younger…
Scenes from last year’s Halloween trains. Please help us make it even better this year! Thanks!
Contact Chris Tilley if you want to help. Thanks