Mount Airy, NC (Milepost CF 0)
Mount Airy is a
town in northeast Surry County. It was settled about 1850 and incorporated in
1869. In the early nineteenth century this vicinity seems to have been called
"the Hollow" or "the Hallow." Mount Airy was the northernmost terminal
of the Atlantic & Yadkin Railway. The rails reached this town in 1890.
To the right is a scan of a photo and story from the Mount Airy News from an unknown date (probably 1950-1953) showing the first diesel to arrive in Mount Airy. This is likely to be Southern Railway's RS-3 #6217 but it is hard to read the whole number on the locomotive. Click on the image for a closeup view of the image.
¬Here are a couple of
photos of the Mount Airy Station. This first image is from the Carolina Collection and is
the earliest image I have to date of this beautiful granite structure. I have heard
rumor that there is a plaster cast model of this station, but I have yet to see a kit or
completed model. Please email me if
you know of an HO scale kit that is available!
To the right is an photo I took of this station in 1999. Although
passenger service was discontinued in 1938, the station has been preserved. Today it
is used as a meeting place for Alcoholics Anonymous. 
Unfortunately, the trees have grown so large on the trackside
of the station, that it is impossible to get a shot from that side during the spring and
summer today. Maybe if I get the chance to visit in the winter... Click on image for
close up view of the photo.
A narrow gauge (3') line, the Mount Airy & Eastern Railway Company, existed from about 1900-1918 to haul lumber from the north and east of town. This line made it to Kibler, VA. The primary industry which needed rail service was the granite quarry located 2 miles east of the city. On a separate page are a couple of images of the quarry I have acquired. To view those images, CLICK HERE. In addition to the quarry, various industries existed in Mount Airy including furniture factories and textile mills. I'm currently researching to find out more about the industries in town that might have required rail service.
Here is an image of a
loading dock that still exists across the tracks from the station today.
Contemporary Mount Airy is certainly sensitive to its historical roots. The Mount
Airy Regional History Museum is located downtown (across the street from the Dry Bridge
Station Hobby Shop). The Mayberry Model Railroaders have built an HO scale display of the
Atlantic & Yadkin Railway depicting in condensed form the entire line from Mount Airy
to Sanford. I will have a separate section of the website devoted to modelers of the
A&Y in the near future. For now, click on the image to the right to see the plans for
this already complete exhibit. I visited in January, 1999 and the Club members were
working hard to finish the detailing. I'm sure they keep improving it over time!
I encourage anyone in the region to stop by and visit!
Mayberry Model Railroaders, Inc. Meetings are held the 3rd Thursday of the month at 7pm; locations vary. The club is in the process of building their own building and club layout. Modelers of all skill levels and scale interest are welcome. For more information contact Herb Atkins PO Box 255 Mount Airy, NC 27030 Phone (910) 786-4201
