Iowa Pacific took over the Piedmont & Northern Railroad in Gaston County NC (near Charlotte) from Patriot Rail last year. During the past holiday season, they ran Christmas-themed excursions aimed at families, over part of the line on weekends. Now they're going to cover the entire line (the part that they operate, anyway) with two railfan excursions on Saturday, January 23. They'll run from a boarding area in Belmont (not at the former P&N station downtown, unfortunately, but from a field at the north edge of town) to Belmont Junction and Mount Holly, then double back through Belmont Junction to Gastonia, then return via Belmont Junction. There will be photo stops and a refreshment stop.
This will be the first passenger service along the P&N to Gastonia since the last electric interurbans to/from Charlotte in 1951. The train will include the ex Great Northern "Prairie View" full-length dome car.
https://www.premierrails.com/piedmont/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Looks like an interesting "rare mileage" trip, although not very long, only about 24 miles round trip. I'm within a couple hours' drive, so I'll be there!
This will be the first passenger service along the P&N to Gastonia since the last electric interurbans to/from Charlotte in 1951. The train will include the ex Great Northern "Prairie View" full-length dome car.
https://www.premierrails.com/piedmont/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Looks like an interesting "rare mileage" trip, although not very long, only about 24 miles round trip. I'm within a couple hours' drive, so I'll be there!
