{"id":5960,"date":"2026-07-14T14:06:30","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T14:06:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=5960"},"modified":"2026-07-14T14:06:30","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T14:06:30","slug":"all-aboard-the-bridge-nc-train-man-watches-them-roll-by-with-fellow-railfans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=5960","title":{"rendered":"All aboard the bridge: NC \u2018train man\u2019 watches them roll by with fellow railfans"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

WAXHAW, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) \u2013 In an era of trains, planes, and automobiles, David Carriker hangs onto the rail of nostalgia.<\/p>

Read more Lindsey Graham\u2019s sister to complete late senator\u2019s term. What comes next?<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThis town was built on the premise of the railroad coming [to Waxhaw],\u201d Carriker told Queen City News.<\/p>\n

At the historic Waxhaw Overhead Bridge, he\u2019s known as the \u201ctrain man.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

\u201cTrain\u2019s in about 15 more minutes,\u201d he informs folks on the bridge.<\/p>\n

\u201cI see the light on the train above!\u201d a boy said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can almost see [my son] tense up from excitement every time he sees it,\u201d says Petro Andriyashchuk of Monroe.<\/p>\n

Like life, trains come at you fast. At this landmark, they roll right beneath your feet.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

\u201cThis is the only pedestrian bridge over the tracks where people can wave to the crew, so they look forward to seeing us,\u201d Carriker said.<\/p>\n

They often bring a whole lot of coal. No matter what the cargo, onlookers find it exhilarating.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll the wind comes up, and all the noise comes up, and it\u2019s a big rush,\u201d says Vickie Schaffer of Mineral Springs.<\/p>\n

Carriker comes out to admire some 1600 trains a year. He posts videos on his Facebook page Waxhaw Railroading<\/strong>, which includes followers from all over the world.<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

He\u2019s joined by railfans like Austin Plattenberger of Wesley Chapel, who\u2019s locked in.<\/p>

Read more SC woman aims for bare-knuckle boxing title<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cJust seeing the train, the lights coming from a distance,\u201d Austin\u2019s dad John said.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery train\u2019s different; they\u2019re just like teenagers,\u201d says Carriker, who used to work for Amtrak and has written many books about railroad history.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s so much of it that\u2019s gone now we need to express it to generations that don\u2019t know about things like steam engines,\u201d Carriker said.<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

\u201cYeah, [the train is] getting definitely closer,\u201d Baker Mauldin says with excitement.<\/p>\n

It is a majestic sight that can be more powerful than a locomotive.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just think it brings a piece of history,\u201d said Meghan Hannum of Waxhaw.<\/p>\n

\u201c34.25 million pounds,\u201d Carriker says as coal-filled cars go by. \u201cThey must be building a coal mountain down at the beach.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

When trains arrive, the bridge connects generations.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt kind of leaves you speechless,\u201d Andriyashchuk says.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh man, it\u2019s fantastic,\u201d says Patrick Mauldin of Waxhaw.<\/p>\n

Carriker is the engineer who helps make sure folks of all ages are all aboard for the spectacle.<\/p>\n

Looking for more positive news in your day? Check out The Bright Side \u2600\ufe0f<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just rewarding to see that,\u201d Carriker says.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s amazing how many carts there are and how much coal is in each cart,\u201d said Anna Mauldin.<\/p>

Read more El Salvador\u2019s ruling party clears the way for Bukele\u2019s 3rd term<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s 98!\u201d her brother Baker marvels. \u201c98 cars, 98!\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n

MORE ON QCNEWS.COM<\/h2>\n
\n

\n\t\t\n\t\tFACES OF THE CAROLINAS\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
\n
\n\n
\n

\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tAll aboard the bridge: Waxhaw \u2018train man\u2019 watches them roll by with fellow railfans\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<\/h3>\n\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n
\n\n
\n

\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\u2018If it ain\u2019t broke, don\u2019t fix it\u2019: Red Bridges Barbecue in Shelby thrives after 80 years\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<\/h3>\n\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n
\n\n
\n

\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tUnexpected chapter: Huntersville author\u2019s book inspired her farm for families\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<\/h3>\n\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

WAXHAW, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) \u2013 In an era of trains, planes, and automobiles, David Carriker hangs onto the rail of nostalgia. \u201cThis town was built on the premise of the railroad coming [to Waxhaw],\u201d Carriker told Queen City News. At the historic Waxhaw Overhead Bridge, he\u2019s known as the \u201ctrain man.\u201d \u201cTrain\u2019s in about […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5953,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5960","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nAll aboard the bridge: NC \u2018train man\u2019 watches them roll by with fellow railfans - Raleigh Moving News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=5960\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"All aboard the bridge: NC \u2018train man\u2019 watches them roll by with fellow railfans - Raleigh Moving News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"WAXHAW, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) \u2013 In an era of trains, planes, and automobiles, David Carriker hangs onto the rail of nostalgia. \u201cThis town was built on the premise of the railroad coming [to Waxhaw],\u201d Carriker told Queen City News. At the historic Waxhaw Overhead Bridge, he\u2019s known as the \u201ctrain man.\u201d \u201cTrain\u2019s in about […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=5960\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Raleigh Moving News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-07-14T14:06:30+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ac0ea4d047bc8acd49adce304909e618.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"900\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"506\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/raleighmovingnews.com\\\/?p=5960#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/raleighmovingnews.com\\\/?p=5960\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/raleighmovingnews.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/eda87157c0d9ccdbb002a999547a6a60\"},\"headline\":\"All aboard the bridge: NC \u2018train man\u2019 watches them roll by with fellow railfans\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-14T14:06:30+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/raleighmovingnews.com\\\/?p=5960\"},\"wordCount\":539,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/raleighmovingnews.com\\\/?p=5960#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/raleighmovingnews.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/62061ebdecd639023266046e0aed7325.webp\",\"articleSection\":[\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/raleighmovingnews.com\\\/?p=5960#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/raleighmovingnews.com\\\/?p=5960\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/raleighmovingnews.com\\\/?p=5960\",\"name\":\"All aboard the bridge: NC \u2018train man\u2019 watches them roll by with fellow railfans - Raleigh Moving News\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/raleighmovingnews.com\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/raleighmovingnews.com\\\/?p=5960#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/raleighmovingnews.com\\\/?p=5960#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/raleighmovingnews.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/62061ebdecd639023266046e0aed7325.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-14T14:06:30+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/raleighmovingnews.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/eda87157c0d9ccdbb002a999547a6a60\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/raleighmovingnews.com\\\/?p=5960#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/raleighmovingnews.com\\\/?p=5960\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/raleighmovingnews.com\\\/?p=5960#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/raleighmovingnews.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/62061ebdecd639023266046e0aed7325.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/raleighmovingnews.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/62061ebdecd639023266046e0aed7325.webp\",\"width\":1280,\"height\":720},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/raleighmovingnews.com\\\/?p=5960#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/raleighmovingnews.com\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"All aboard the bridge: NC \u2018train man\u2019 watches them roll by with fellow railfans\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/raleighmovingnews.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/raleighmovingnews.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"Raleigh Moving News\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/raleighmovingnews.com\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/raleighmovingnews.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/eda87157c0d9ccdbb002a999547a6a60\",\"name\":\"admin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"admin\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\\\/\\\/raleighmovingnews.com\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/raleighmovingnews.com\\\/?author=1\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"All aboard the bridge: NC \u2018train man\u2019 watches them roll by with fellow railfans - Raleigh Moving News","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=5960","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"All aboard the bridge: NC \u2018train man\u2019 watches them roll by with fellow railfans - Raleigh Moving News","og_description":"WAXHAW, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) \u2013 In an era of trains, planes, and automobiles, David Carriker hangs onto the rail of nostalgia. \u201cThis town was built on the premise of the railroad coming [to Waxhaw],\u201d Carriker told Queen City News. At the historic Waxhaw Overhead Bridge, he\u2019s known as the \u201ctrain man.\u201d \u201cTrain\u2019s in about […]","og_url":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=5960","og_site_name":"Raleigh Moving News","article_published_time":"2026-07-14T14:06:30+00:00","og_image":[{"width":900,"height":506,"url":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ac0ea4d047bc8acd49adce304909e618.webp","type":"image\/webp"}],"author":"admin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"admin","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=5960#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=5960"},"author":{"name":"admin","@id":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/#\/schema\/person\/eda87157c0d9ccdbb002a999547a6a60"},"headline":"All aboard the bridge: NC \u2018train man\u2019 watches them roll by with fellow railfans","datePublished":"2026-07-14T14:06:30+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=5960"},"wordCount":539,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=5960#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/62061ebdecd639023266046e0aed7325.webp","articleSection":["News"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=5960#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=5960","url":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=5960","name":"All aboard the bridge: NC \u2018train man\u2019 watches them roll by with fellow railfans - Raleigh Moving News","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=5960#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=5960#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/62061ebdecd639023266046e0aed7325.webp","datePublished":"2026-07-14T14:06:30+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/#\/schema\/person\/eda87157c0d9ccdbb002a999547a6a60"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=5960#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=5960"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=5960#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/62061ebdecd639023266046e0aed7325.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/62061ebdecd639023266046e0aed7325.webp","width":1280,"height":720},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=5960#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"All aboard the bridge: NC \u2018train man\u2019 watches them roll by with fellow railfans"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/","name":"Raleigh Moving News","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/#\/schema\/person\/eda87157c0d9ccdbb002a999547a6a60","name":"admin","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"admin"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com"],"url":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?author=1"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5960","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5960"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5960\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5953"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5960"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5960"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5960"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}