“Steam-UP” event returns to campus

A sense of normalcy came back to the George L. Carter Railroad Museum March 27 with the return of their popular “Steam-UP” event.

The 2020 Heritage Days event held by the Carter Railroad Museum was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, 2021 held better days for the museum.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the museum admitted anyone free of admission to view the excitement of steamboat locomotion in a more compact view. The pandemic and severe weather did not stop a large crowd from showing up and enjoying the museum.

“We haven’t had as many visitors since the pandemic shut us down last March,” said Fred Alsop, “But we had a great turn out, we had more than 60 adults, 18 children, and about 15 to 18 of our volunteers there.”

The event was created to display the historic changes that railroad transportation has made throughout the years.

“The first locomotive is all about burning steam, until diesel locomotives came into the picture,” said Alsop, “That early form of train transportation is long since gone, that is why the event is called Steam-UP, because there is only a few places you can see steam locomotives.”

There is another special event similar to this one at the museum in November.

“We’ll do Steam-UP event in March, but in November we run the Clinchfield Railroad because the Clinchfield was built by George L. Carter,” said Alsop. “We will honor his railroad by running the Clinchfield on all of our layouts.”

Anyone can visit the museum free of charge, but Alsop says donations are always welcomed and appreciated.

According to the Johnson City Press, Alsop said the Carter Railroad Museum is currently looking for a new home because it has outgrown its spot at ETSU and there are future on-campus construction projects anticipated to take place.

To discuss any questions or concerns about the George L. Carter Railroad Museum and its events, email alsopf@etsu.edu.