December 7, 2020
“The mural seeks to highlight the area’s historical relationship with railroads — and its future.
“The history of the Atlantic Coastline Railroad in Rocky Mount goes way back,” said Marion Clark Weathers, an artist and designer based at Goose Creek Studio.
Weathers was asked last summer by Carolinas Gateway Partnership, the economic development organization serving Rocky Mount and surrounding communities, to design the mural and find an artist with the technical skills, interest and energy level to complete the work.
In researching possible themes, she pondered design and color considerations as well as local economic significance.
“When I saw this gorgeous hot pink and purple train with all this silver and yellow, I went ‘whoa — that’s a great train’,” Weathers said.
For its part, CSX fits neatly into Rocky Mount’s current business landscape. The community is set to see more of the company’s trains as completion nears on its 330-acre Carolina Connector, a multi-modal cargo hub CSX expects to open next year near N.C. Wesleyan College. The $160 million project will bring job opportunities as well increased rail activity to the region.”
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