Selma (Rail Junction) – Selma, North Carolina, USA | Train Spotting Location

Selma Rail Junction is one of the rare places in North Carolina where two Class I railroads intersect at grade in full public view, giving railfans an almost continuous parade of CSX main-line freights, Amtrak passenger service, and Norfolk Southern locals within a compact, easy-to-observe area centered on historic Selma Union Station.

🛤️ The Trainspotting Experience

A typical visit revolves around the brick-built Union Station on East Railroad Street. From the publicly accessible platform and adjacent sidewalks, visitors can monitor the north–south CSX “A-Line” and the east–west Norfolk Southern “H-Line” as they meet at the diamond just south of the station. Trains approach at track speed—CSX freights usually 40–50 mph and Amtrak up to 79 mph—creating plenty of horn action and wheel noise as they rumble across the junction. Freight consists frequently exceed 6,000 ft, so expect long, ground-shaking passages. The unobstructed sightlines let you watch head-end power clear the crossing while the tail end is still blocks away, offering ample time for photography and car counting. Parking along Center Street keeps vehicles close, and the town’s low traffic means you can relocate quickly to catch an oncoming movement from the opposite direction.

🌄 Landscape, Setting and Local Atmosphere

Selma sits on the flat, sandy coastal plain of central North Carolina, about 165 ft above sea level. The terrain is level enough that you can see locomotives a half-mile out in either direction. Mature oaks and crepe myrtles line the streets, but the trackage itself is bordered by open ballast and trimmed grass, so sightlines stay clear year-round. Summers are hot and humid—90 °F afternoons are common—while winters are mild, rarely dipping below freezing. Morning fog can settle over the low ground, adding dramatic atmosphere when headlights pierce the haze shortly after sunrise. Evenings are often calm, with cicadas providing a rural soundtrack between trains.

🚂 Type and Frequency of Train Activity

• CSX Transportation: Approximately 20–25 through freights per day, including intermodal, manifest, unit grain, and mixed merchandise.
• Amtrak: Six regular passenger trains—Carolinian, Palmetto, Silver Star, Silver Meteor (northbound and southbound)—plus the Auto Train after dark, totaling up to eight passenger movements daily.
• Norfolk Southern: 4–6 locals and regional freights serving the Port of Morehead City line, often powered by GP38-2 or SD40-2 variants.
Total traffic averages 35–45 trains in 24 hours, with peak periods around 08:00–11:00 and 18:00–22:00 when both carriers’ schedules overlap.

📸 Best Angles for Photos and What Railfans Enjoy Most

1. South Station Platform: Stand near the diamond; the curve on the CSX line frames northbound trains against the historic depot, perfect for three-quarter shots in morning light.
2. Anderson Street Crossing: Provides a broadside view of the CSX main; afternoon sun illuminates westbound NS movements crossing the diamond.
3. Raiford Street Overpass (two blocks north): A slight elevation allows overhead images of the entire junction, capturing both railroads in one frame.
   Golden hour (17:30–19:30 in summer) backlights southbound Amtrak consists, highlighting stainless-steel Superliners on the Auto Train. Tripods are welcome, and streetlamps offer enough ambient light for night shots of slow-rolling locals.

🕰️ Historical or Cultural Relevance

Selma became a rail town in 1904 when the Atlantic Coast Line (now CSX) built its north–south main. Norfolk Southern’s predecessor, the Southern Railway, added the east–west connection in 1910, turning Selma into a strategic interchange for coastal freight. Union Station, constructed in 1924 and restored in 2002, is one of North Carolina’s few surviving examples of Spanish Mission–style railroad architecture. The depot still serves passengers, linking present-day railfanning with a century of transportation history. Nearby antique shops and the annual Selma Railroad Days Festival celebrate this heritage with model layouts, memorabilia, and excursion caboose rides.

🧭 What Makes This Spot Different from Others

Unlike many Southeastern hot spots that require access roads or private land, Selma offers couch-friendly railfanning directly from a public Amtrak station, with two busy main lines intersecting within arm’s length. The combination of heavy CSX freight, scheduled Amtrak service, and low-key Norfolk Southern locals provides varied motive power—GE Tier 4s, EMD SD70ACe, P42DC, and GP38-2 all in one afternoon. The level terrain ensures minimal obstructions, and the small-town setting means you can hear distant horns well before trains arrive, adding anticipation rarely found in urban junctions.

📚 Additional Resources

Selma Union Station – Town of Selma
North Carolina Transportation Museum
CSX System Map & Timetables