SPENCER, N.C. — More visitors are saying all aboard in 2015. Nearly 90,000 people are expected to visit the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer by the end of 2015. It’s a move that workers said has pumped more than $1 million into the local economy.
As more people visit the museum, workers say it could help fill some empty storefronts in downtown Spencer.
From Polar Express to the International Streamliner event, which organizers say added $1.8 million to the economy, people are showing up to watch history in action.
“Important to engage youngsters in some of our history, kids today are very engrossed in handheld electronics,” said Cheri George with the Fire Up 611! Committee through the Virginia Museum of Transportation.
Visitation is up 15 percent and downtown could see changes.
“Bringing that money into the local economy is a good boost for the government infrastructure, for them to set up these areas for businesses to come in,” said Mark Brown, with marketing at the Transportation Museum.
A restoration project on a 611 and coal car, or tender, ultimately headed back to Virginia, is also attracting more visitors.
Volunteers from Virginia are working on the project.
“Making some modifications to the stoker itself. There’s an augur, a screw that feeds the coal through a tube and underneath the apron of the locomotive into the firebox,” said George.
New donations being restored are another draw.
“[We have] a 1966 firetruck that’s gonna be great because that’s going to be part of our teaching collection so we can drive that around the property,” said Brown.
Work restoring buildings isn’t finished. A powerhouse on the property will be transformed into a meeting hall.
“The bottom line is, that if there are people, there will be businesses to support those people. And that’s what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to bring as many people here to the Transportation Museum as we possibly can,” said Brown.
It is all changes that impact the local economy and keep some of the magic alive.
“A chance to learn more about our history, where we came from and how we got here,” said George.
The first phase of construction on the powerhouse will be completed in summer of 2015.
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