We Are a Citizen’s Group Working to Bring Passenger Rail Back to Western North Carolina

How We Got Started: 

Passenger train service was discontinued to Burke County in the 1970s. Barbara Lynam and Mimi Phifer loved hearing the whistle of the freight train at night from their homes on Morehead Street in Morganton, and spoke longingly of the days when they could ride the train.

When they heard about the possibility of passenger rail returning to western North Carolina, they formed Waiting For The Train, a group dedicated to working with all the communities along the line to help make that a reality.

It’s clear: Passenger rail is essential to western North Carolina, both for the health of our economy and for the preservation of our natural beauty.

Meet the Team

  • Mimi Phifer

    CO-FOUNDER

    I was born and raised here in Morganton and went off to school when I was 18. My father always said you needed to leave town, see the world, learn something, and bring what you learned back home to help out. I stayed away as long as I could but eventually the lure of the hills of home became irresistible. I’m back now hoping to help out and bring passenger rail back to Morganton.

  • Barbara Wetsig-Lynam

    CO-FOUNDER

    Barbara grew up down the road in Lincoln County. After graduating from Duke, she explored other parts of the US and the world through her work in international relief and sustainable community development. During those years abroad she developed an appreciation for passenger trains. Whether traveling with her young children, or for work, she enjoyed the convenience and extra time train travel afforded her to play with her kids, read a book, or tackle some work.

  • Headshot of Jeffrey Howard wearing a blazer and t-shirt

    Jeffrey Howard

    BOARD MEMBER

    Jeffrey first became enamored with passenger rail while riding trains through the countryside during his time studying philosophy and literature in England. He views passenger rail as an essential vehicle for a more sustainable and egalitarian future.

    He is a journalist and writer with more than 15 years of digital marketing experience. He looks forward to taking regular trips from Morganton’s Historic Train Depot.

  • Henry Beall

    TEENS FOR THE TRAIN FOUNDER

    Henry is a junior at Freedom High School. He believes it is extremely important that the youth in our community are allowed to have a say and are also allowed to help, which is why he started Teens For The Train.

  • Phifer Crute

    LOGO DESIGNER

    Phifer lives in California, but is a North Carolina native with family lineage that ties her to Morganton. She is the adoring (and adorable) niece of Mimi, and was delighted to be asked to participate in this project by designing a logo.

  • Emily Fortune

    WEB DESIGNER

    Emily resides in the mountains of Burke County. She has a B.S. in Applied and Public History from Appalachian State University, and is currently pursuing her B.F.A. in Studio Art. She is excited about the sustainable public transportation that the train will bring!

For more information on our efforts to bring passenger rail back to western North Carolina check out our flyer below!

“Waiting For The Train” performed by Edward Phifer.

Waiting for the Train, Inc. is a legally registered non-profit corporation with a charitable purpose.

EIN#93-4461601