Photo Art by Lou Plummer

New Bern photographer Lou Ellen Plummer has been exploring New Bern's railroad yards near the train depot.

These photographic images were created using a method called emulsion transfer or lift, where the emulsion is actually lifted from a peel apart print. The emulsion is a very thin slice of gelatin and once removed can be manipulated creating interesting effects.

Lou talks about these pieces "I like the designs created by the random placement of the discarded track. The weathered, rusted look adds yet another element to these designs."

Lou attended Randolph Community College, receiving an associate degree in Photo Technology, concentrating in Photojournalism. She also received a bachelor of arts degree in Marketing from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va.

You can meet Lou at Carolina Creations Monday-Friday 10-6 pm!

A little history of Railroads in New Bern - The New Bern Union Station, one of the largest surviving stations in North Carolina, is owned by the North Carolina Railroad. An effort is underway to restore it. . The station is fairly unique nationally because the tracks serving the station run down the middle of a street and passengers boarded and detrained in the street.

The Atlantic and North Carolina Railroad came to New Bern in 1858.  From the end of Hancock Street to James City was a covered bridge, which was burned by Union troops during the siege of New Bern in March 1862.  The trestle was rebuilt and has remained at the same site for 152 years, with the last major renovation about 15 years ago.

Another railroad trestle was constructed and came into operation about 1903 on the Neuse River at the Riverside community, connecting to the north side of Bridgeton. It was historically important because it gave New Bern a north-south connection that included Wilmington.

Both trestles remain in operation by Norfolk-Southern.

The state is currently exploring light rail between Raleigh and Wilmington via Goldsboro. It would be great if it came to New Bern and Morehead City too!