Passenger Trains > Amtrak Train 1171. 4/4/26

Amtrak Train 1171, The Rockingham Special, is seen on its southbound journey through Aberdeen NC at 0939 4/4/26, on its way to today's ACRA and NASCAR races at Rockingham Speedway, aka The Rock.  This is the the second year NASCAR has returned to the fabled track since loosing its Cup race in the 2005 schedule, and is the second year NCDOT/Amtrak has operated a special from Raleigh to the track and back.  CSX graded off a spot along the mainline across NC 177 from Turn 3 where the train loads/unloads, about 4 miles north of the north end of Hamlet Yard. 

Equipment is one of the Piedmont train sets, consisting of:

F59PH 1893, City of Burlington
Baggage Lounge 400202 Albemarle Sound
Coach 400001 Cardinal
Coach 400007 Channel Bass
AmCafe AMTK 48196
Coach 400005 Scotch Bonnet
Coach 400004 Long Leaf Pine
F59PH 1810, City of Greensboro

NCDOT in conjunction with Amtrak operate 4 daily trains each way between Charlotte and Raleigh, with a 5th frequency provided by the State supported NYC-Charlotte Carolinian. NCDOT also partners to promote Amtrak' long distance service - Crescent (giving Charlotte and Greensboro an 11th and 12th daily train), Floridian (giving Raleigh and Cary an 11th and 12th daily train), Silver Meteor, and Palmetto.  They also routinely operate special services for on corridor events such as the State Fair, market a "Ale Trail By Rail" package to explore nearby brew houses along their Raleigh to Charlotte route, and operate "off Corridor" service down CSX's S Line to events at Rockingham Speedway and the Pinehurst Resort & Country Club (via ACWR from Aberdeen).  https://www.ncbytrain.org/Pages/default.aspx
 

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Impressive. What a state can do when they own the track.