The Drexel Fair Gave Passenger Rail Loads of Love

Passenger rail enthusiasts showed up in mass at the Waiting for the Train booth while attending the Drexel Fair last week.

Held annually at the Fairgrounds in Drexel, North Carolina, the lively, week-long event featured carnival rides, food and merchandise vendors, live music, agriculture exhibits, and a spectacular fireworks display.

It’s arguably the community’s largest event of the year.

(Speaking of Drexel, have you read Calvin Johnson’s story about him and his cousins jumping train cars in Drexel in the 1950s?)

We had a phenomenal time talking with inquiring minds and nearby residents about the Asheville-Salisbury passenger rail line we hope to see restored in the next five to seven years. We witnessed strong support.

A whopping 632 people signed our petition! And we received loads of donations, as well.

That’s quite a feat for a small town whose population hovers just below 1,800 people.

We couldn’t have done it without our stalwart volunteers who showed up during the summer heat, willing to answer questions and spread the word about passenger rail.

We want to shout out to all our volunteers.

That included: Terry Connelly, Rob Lynam, Ken Riddick, Carolyn Riddick, Noah Johnson, Noah Hawkins, Kelly Hawkins, Emily Fortune, Phifer Settlemyer, Henry Beall, Jenny Hughes, Seth Hawkins, Abyssinia Tilahun, Jenny Gaspar, Samantha Gilbert, Jeffrey Howard, David Gomez, Mimi Phifer, Bryan Gonzalez, Cathy Moore, Avery Lindecamp, Jonah Griggs, and Barbara Lynam.

Thank you!

The summer festival season is winding down, but we’re not done yet. We’ll be tabling at a couple more outdoor events over the next couple of months. Be sure to say, “Hello,” if you see us at Morganton Fest on September 6th and 7th, or Hickory’s Octoberfest on October 11th-13th (a few blocks from the Olde Hickory Station).