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This post is part of an ongoing project: scanning my old slides, prints, and negatives (late 1970’s to 2004) to digital.

• Click here to see all scanned image posts

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Spencer Shops, a repair facility for railroad locomotives, first opened its doors in 1896. Spencer, North Carolina, was selected by Southern Railway because it was halfway between Atlanta and Washington, DC. Over the years, Spencer Shops expanded into a vast facility, employing approximately 3,000 people in its heyday.

The advent of the diesel locomotive started the decline of Spencer Shops. This change led to its eventual closing. The Shops were abandoned in 1970.

In 1977, Southern Railway donated property to the State and the North Carolina Transportation Museum opened in 1983.

Click to read more about the history of Spencer Shops. You can also see all my posts about the Shops through the years by clicking here.

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My visits to Spencer Shops began in 1983 when the Shops were still very much abandoned and neglected. These images were taken during my second 1983 trip to the Shops in August. I only carried black & white gear. The pictures were developed and printed in my darkroom.

Abandoned Rolling Stock

Empty Back Shop

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Scanned from prints to digital on July 1, 2025

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Click here to see full-size, no watermark, pictures at www.ImagesByBill.us.

Click here to see all Out-of-Business/ Abandoned places posts.

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Thanks for visiting!

July 2, 2025

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