Celebrating 2024's Journey and Our 2025 Destination
Through challenges and triumphs in 2024, western North Carolina's passenger rail movement gained unprecedented momentum and community support. (Pictured: volunteer Jenny Hughes and Co-founder Barbara Lynam tabling at the Waldensian Festival.)
As the holiday lights still twinkle across western North Carolina and we prepare to ring in the new year, we're filled with profound gratitude.
In a year that tested our region's resilience, we've witnessed firsthand how our community comes together in both celebration and challenge—which is exactly why we're working so hard with the Western North Carolina Rails Committee to bring passenger rail back to our region.
Because at its heart, rail service is about connecting people, in good times and difficult ones.
This year’s highlights:
Our community's resilience shone through in 2024—from our youth-led Teens for the Train winning recognition at the Burke Chamber Litter Sweep, to Sidetracked Brewery transforming into a vital support center after Hurricane Helene, to an enthusiastic turnout at Drinks at the Depot despite the storm's recent impact.
Thousands of people signed our petition at the festivals and events we attended throughout the year.
We're gaining momentum with key political figures: then-NC State Speaker of the House Tim Moore, State Senator Warren Daniel, State Representative Hugh Blackwell, and representatives from US Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd’s offices all attended Drinks at the Depot to show their support for passenger rail's return.
Our grassroots Waiting for the Train coalition is growing, with Hickory, Conover, Drexel, Valdese, Marion, Old Fort, and Asheville joining the movement to restore the Asheville-Salisbury line.
We finished strong in 1BurkeGives, placing 8th among 42 nonprofits and raising $2,825 to help spread our message throughout the region.
2024: A Year of Challenges and Triumphs
This year taught us powerful lessons about community strength and showed us just how deep support for passenger rail runs.
From sponsoring the Burke County Chamber's Women's Leadership Luncheon in March to gathering 632 signatures at the Drexel Fair in August—a remarkable show of support in a town of just 1,800 residents—we've seen enthusiasm for rail restoration grow across all segments of our community. Our dedicated volunteers braved the summer heat to share our vision, demonstrating the incredible commitment of our growing movement.
Waiting for the Train Co-founder Barbara Lynam representing at Burke County’s Chamber of Commerce Women’s Leadership Luncheon.
We saw similar enthusiasm at each festival and event we attended: Black History Month, Family Day at the Phifer YMCA, Rutherford College Founders’ Day, Waldensian Festival, Historic Morganton Festival, Chamber of Commerce Business at the Border and Business Showcase.
Volunteer Kelly Collings Hawkins tabling for Waiting for the Train at the Drexel Fair.
When Hurricane Helene struck in September, we watched in awe as neighbors helped neighbors and organizations like Sidetracked Brewery transformed into community support centers. Norfolk Southern demonstrated their commitment to our region with both immediate humanitarian aid and swift action to repair damaged infrastructure.
Despite nature's challenges, our railway revival movement showed remarkable resilience.
Just weeks after the hurricane, our second annual Drinks at the Depot brought together an extraordinary coalition of support, including then-NC State Speaker of the House Tim Moore, State Senator Warren Daniel, State Representative Hugh Blackwell, and mayors from across the region. The enthusiastic turnout proved that not even a hurricane could derail our community's spirit.
Co-founder Mimi Phifer speaking at the second annual Drinks at the Depot in Morganton.
Most recently, your incredible support during 1BurkeGives helped us steam into 8th place among 42 worthy nonprofits, raising $2,825 for our mission. In a year marked by recovery efforts, this generosity speaks volumes about our community's commitment to building a better future.
Growing Our Coalition
One of our proudest achievements in 2024 has been watching our movement grow through both expanding geography and creative partnerships.
Our collaboration with Sidetracked Brewery exemplified this spirit perfectly—from the enthusiastic crowd at August's "Tasting for the Train" event that helped select our signature beer (still available on tap at Sidetracked!), to the brewery later becoming a vital community support center during Hurricane Helene's aftermath.
Board members Jeffrey Howard and Seth Collings Hawkins “helping” SideTracked brewmaster Joseph Ackerman prepare the first batch of Waiting for the Train's signature Scottish ale.
Towns including Hickory, Conover, Drexel, Valdese, Marion, Asheville, and Old Fort have joined our grassroots coalition, proving what we've known all along—the desire for passenger rail service isn't just a Morganton dream, it's essential for the future success of all of western North Carolina.
This expanded support couldn't come at a better time.
With the federal 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act allocating $66 billion for passenger and freight rail service and NCDOT identifying our Salisbury-Asheville route as one of the top two passenger rail priorities in North Carolina, we're better than ever positioned to make our vision a reality.
Your Support Keeps Our Engine Running
To our growing family of supporters and volunteers: you've made 2024 a year of incredible progress despite significant challenges. With every conversation at our community tents, every branded t-shirt worn proudly around town, and every brochure shared, you've helped build the grassroots momentum we need to succeed.
You understand that this isn't just about trains—it's about transformation and resilience.
As Gen Z leads the charge in reimagining transportation, you've helped us demonstrate that western North Carolina is ready to embrace a more sustainable, connected future. Our Teens for the Train members showed this spirit perfectly when they helped us win recognition for collecting the most recycling during the Burke Chamber Litter Sweep in May.
Teens for the Train at the Morganton Christmas Parade.
Your support shows that our community understands the vision: protecting our beautiful mountain landscape, creating local jobs, and ensuring everyone can access opportunities throughout our region—including during times of crisis.
All Aboard for 2025!
As we close out 2024, we're filled with optimism about what lies ahead.
While Hurricane Helene may have added some curves to our track, our commitment to this vision has only grown stronger. With Speaker Tim Moore's acknowledgment that rail is often "less expensive" than building roads, and his pledge to advocate for our project at the federal level if elected to Congress, we have more reason than ever to be hopeful.
The national momentum for passenger rail continues to build, and thanks to supporters like you, western North Carolina is positioned to be part of this historic revival. This year has shown us that our community's spirit can weather any storm, and that same spirit will help bring passenger rail back to our region.
From all of us at Waiting for the Train, we wish you a happy new year filled with progress toward our shared vision of a more connected, sustainable, and accessible western North Carolina.
Together, we're not just waiting for the train—we're actively laying the tracks for its return.
Ready to help us make 2025 our biggest year yet? Donate now to support our advocacy efforts.