PHOTO AT RIGHT: West of Hillsborough, just east of Mebane, NS 349 observes a "slow order" through the construction site for a longer passing siding – part of a state-funded project to speed up passenger trains over the state-owned NCRR line between Cary and Greensboro.

A mini-mountain railroad place
NS 349, a daily Norfolk Southern merchandise freight between Chocowinity and Linwood Yard via Raleigh and Greensboro, is shown winding through the "Occaneechi Mountains" at historic Hillsborough. There's no station these days – just an old green Southern Railway sign beside the tracks where a depot once stood.