Vintage train rides are coming to Charlotte
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Vintage train rides are coming to Charlotte. Photo: Courtesy of Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway
Vintage train rides are coming to Charlotte and you'll be able to preview the experience aboard a stationary train this fall.
Why it matters: Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway is bringing its popular Pinehurst train experience to NoDa, starting with its magenta locomotive bar, Engine Room 87.
Zoom in: The family-run short-line railroad started in 1987, when founder Robert Menzies — a lifelong train enthusiast who used to hop freight cars as a kid — bought a small North Carolina freight line after spotting a newspaper ad.
- Over time, the company began rescuing passenger cars, some more than a century old, from around the country and restoring them with an Art Deco feel and modern upgrades.
- In Pinehurst, the railway offers murder mystery, brunch, "journey in time" dinner and Christmas-themed rides.
Driving the news: ACWR is hosting a free open house Thursday, Oct. 22, from 4-7pm aboard Engine Room 87 to give people a preview of the NoDa experience.
- The team plans to use feedback from the open house to help shape future events before train rides roll out next year.
- "I keep saying it's like a little appetizer," Hayley Coleman Forgo, a spokesperson for Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway, tells Axios. "Try it out and let us know what you want to have here."
What to expect: The train will be parked at 409 E. 35th St., where you'll be able to grab a drink and explore the preserved cars.
- The 24-tap self-pour bar inside Engine Room 87 will offer options from NoDa breweries, in addition to wine and cocktails.
- Engine Room 87's stationary three-car setup has room for about 100 people, with a locomotive cab where you can visit a canopy car, an indoor lounge with couch nooks and bathrooms, and a rooftop deck above the bar car.
- When additional restored cars are attached, there's room for up to 250 people. A former baggage car can even turn into a dance floor with a DJ or live band.
What's next: The full fleet, which currently splits its time with Pinehurst, is expected to return to Charlotte spring 2027 for regular rides. Eventually, the railway plans to offer holiday and themed trips, including a Christmas train to Mint Hill.
