North Carolina DOT to celebrate 175th anniversary of Raleigh's first train

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) on Saturday will mark the arrival of the first train in Raleigh 175 years ago.

Operating on the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad, now a part of CSX Transportation's lines, the train first arrived on March 21,1840. It provided a new rail connection to Richmond, Va. and other important cities.

The old railroad's route is also expected to be used for the future Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor.

"The introduction of the railroad revolutionized travel and freight movement throughout our state and the nation," said N.C. Department of Transportation Secretary Tony Tata in a statement.

"Nearly two centuries later, rail continues to play an important role in North Carolina’s multimodal transportation system, as well as supporting job creation, economic development and commerce activities that are critical to the future vitality of our state," Tata said.