Like most young children, my kids are fascinated with trains and railways. Catching a glimpse of a train is still thrilling both to the young and young at heart. The sister towns of Newton and Conover both hold special locomotive sites that would be of interest to any budding railfan.
The first is Conover Station, home to the unique Conover Branch of the Catawba County Library, located at 403 Conover Station Southeast in Conover. Besides the wonderful resources and activities the library offers (be sure to check the Macaroni Kid events calendar!), this renovated factory also has a front-and-center view of the railways, which are still in use and active throughout the day. A call to the branch may give you a better window of time to ensure a sighting, but while you wait, you can enjoy all the library has to offer as well as some of the train artifacts and signs on display in the large lobby. When the bells finally clang, large picture windows are the perfect spot for excited little fans to observe. The awesome Conover City Park is also right next door.
The second is the SE Narrow Gauge & Shortline Museum at the Historic Newton Depot. Located at 1123 North Main Avenue in Newton, NC, the museum offers free admission and is open Fridays & Saturdays 9-4pm, as well as for many special events throughout the year. Most recently, my family attended a storytelling and music event called “Tales of the Rails” hosted by the Catawba County library. My kids thoroughly enjoyed both the event and museum. The quaint museum holds many artifacts, as well as working miniatures, and is actively extending its collection of outdoor boxcars. Check the Macaroni Kid event calendar for upcoming events, as many are being scheduled through the rest of the year, including Spooky Tales of the Rails in October, and Hot Cocoa with the Conductor and Pictures with Santa in December.
With only a few miles between each attraction, you don’t have to “choo-“choose! Make a day of seeking out some local train fun in Catawba County!
