“Tractors & Trains” event gets people’s wheels turning
Published 12:10 am Wednesday, April 17, 2024
The tractor parade was the last big spectacle at the North Carolina Transportation Museum's “Tractors & Trains” event on April 13. Brad Dountz/Salisbury Post.
Attendees awarded Robyn Burton first place at the "Tractors & Trains" event with her bright pink 1963 Farmall Cub. Brad Dountz/Salisbury Post.
Ty Elliott's 1972 International 1066 tractor was a crowd pleaser. Brad Dountz/Salisbury Post.
Donald Sellers takes a ride on his 1957 International Cub Lo-Boy. Brad Dountz/Salisbury Post.
Caleb Shelton brought his series of pre-1920s hit and miss motors that range from 2.5 to 15 horsepower to "Tractors & Trains." Brad Dountz/Salisbury Post.
Richard Howard gets his hands dirty at the blacksmith demonstration. Brad Dountz/Salisbury Post.
This “teaching tractor” lets people see with their own eyes how an engine operates. Brad Dountz/Salisbury Post.
Joe Ramsbotham cooks fried chicken the old-fashioned way at "Tractors & Trains." Brad Dountz/Salisbury Post.
SPENCER — The North Carolina Transportation Museum held its annual “Tractors & Trains” event on April 12 and 13 for eager residents who wanted to see the vast collection of eclectic vehicles the museum had on hand.
“It’s a great day for all things dealing with tractors and trains. We’ve got antique tractors, modern tractors, we’ve got farm demonstrations, we’ve got the hayride, we’ve got all kinds of activities going on today,” Executive Director Kelly Alexander said. “We try to highlight not just trains, of course, but all kinds of forms of transportation.”
Besides the numerous tractors on display, the museum also offered blacksmith, cooking, apple cider and corn shelling demonstrations to give attendees a taste of what times were like when everyday life wasn’t as automated and convenient. There were even plastic cows set up where kids could “milk a cow,” but instead of actual milk, water came out of the udders instead.
“I think it’s another opportunity for us to show how all of the components of transportation fit together,” Director of Administration Marcus Neubacher said. “So much of what got hauled from the agricultural industry got hauled by rail, still is hauled by rail. It’s a good opportunity to show everybody how all of that connects.”
Ty Elliott is the owner of a 1972 International 1066 tractor and has been a regular at “Tractors & Trains” for the past few years and he said he is looking forward to making another appearance again soon.
“I love it! It’s my fourth time being here. I can’t wait to do it some more, many more years to come,” Elliott said.
Preceding the tractor parade that helped end the festivities on Saturday afternoon with a bang, the museum announced the winners of the contest where the public voted on the top three tractors. Out of the 85 entrees, Stacy York won third prize with their Pennsylvania Panzer, Matt Drye won second prize with their own 1968 Pennsylvania Panzer, and Robyn Burton won first place with their bright pink 1963 Farmall Cub.
“It’s awesome! I didn’t win anything last year, the year before I won second, so this year I was working really hard for first place. It’s a great feeling! I’m excited,” Burton said.
“Tractors and Trains” wasn’t just a fun time for tractor owners, but for families like Courtney Breeden and her four-year-old son. He is such a big fan of trains and tractors, that Breeden gifted him a ticket to the event for Easter a few weeks ago and the wait was definitely worth it.
“We love it! We’ve had a great time. I think he has been in awe pretty much the whole time we’ve been here,” Breeden said. “There was one tractor a guy cranked up for him while he was on it, so that’s been by far his favorite for today.”
