Fans and followers had their interests piqued recently when we shared the funny selfie of one North Carolina passenger. It wasn't Daniel's stylish shades but the stoic woman next to him that caught your attention.

Meet Miss. Rail Rose. She's been waiting for her train in Wilson, N.C., for more than a decade.

By now you've obviously figured out that she's not a real woman but a local piece of art that's reached iconic proportions along the Carolinian, Piedmont, Silver Service and Palmetto routes that pass through the small North Carolina town.

The historic station, which was built in 1924, underwent a three-phase renovation that began in 1996. It even included the installation of a large multicolored mural by North Carolina artist Michael Brown inside the station.

But Miss. Rail Rose remains a local (and Instagram) favorite. In fact, she even got her name from a local 3rd grader during a Wilson County Schools contest to name the statue. Pretty cool, huh?

Next time you pass through North Carolina, be sure to say hello to Miss. Rail Rose. She's a little shy but loves visitors!

The North Carolina State Fair is in full swing in Raleigh and even includes a special train stop at the fairgrounds for extra easy travel aboard the Carolinian.

Between the Scotty McCreery performances and Krispy Kreme sloppy joes, we caught up with the state's Director of Marketing and Tourism, Wit Tuttell. He's an NC State Fair pro and shares his expert tips on what to see and how to get there. Check out his recommendations for this year's festivities!

What are the top highlights from this year’s state fair in Raleigh?
The Cirque Mechanics performance is incredible. Think: jugglers and acrobats on a moving stage called the Gantry Bike that looks like something Buckminster Fuller might have dreamed up. On the midway, a new stand-up ride called Surf’s Up creates the sensation of surfing or skateboarding. And to remind us that agriculture is the heart of the fair, there’s a 10-foot-tall soybean fountain plus a double-decker caramel apple dipped in chocolate, covered in candy and topped with a Ding Dong—and yes, it’s served on a stick.

There's an extra train stop at the fair grounds just for the fair. What will that offer people?
The train will relieve people of the stress of traffic and parking, so they should arrive at the fair in great spirits, ready to enjoy the rides, the food, the exhibits or whatever excites them. The train ride also adds quality time by giving fairgoers the perfect opportunity to map out their visit. It’s a win-win all the way around, and no worries about where they left the car when it’s time to leave.

Why should people from other states come to the N.C. State Fair?
For Scotty McCreery! But even without the two performances by our hometown ‘American Idol’ star, the North Carolina State Fair is a destination event. North Carolina is the only Southeastern state among the country’s top 10 agricultural producers, so it follows that our State Fair is one of the largest in the nation.  Anyone who visits can expect to see things—and taste things—that they can’t find anywhere else.

What’s your favorite state fair snack?
I’m partial to barbecue, and this year there’s a new take on North Carolina’s most famous heritage food: a pork barbecue and slaw egg roll. Of course, we’re also the home of Krispy Kreme, and the state fair is the only place in the world where you can get a Krispy Kreme sloppy joe. That plus the egg roll covers all of the major junk food groups except chocolate, but the caramel apple dipped in chocolate takes care of that.

The North Carolina State Fair runs through Oct. 27.

10. There’s the beach, the mountains and plenty of history in between!

From the Lost Colony and Black Beard to the historic Woolworth's counter in Greensboro, the state has plenty of sights and history to see when you visit. If these awesome pics don't convince you ... well ... we know they will.

9. Raleigh handles its biz.

The capital city was recently named the No. 10 city in the country for growing a businesses. According to Market Watch, the city's high economic metrics, education scores and concentration of commerce make it ripe for budding companies.

8. You won't go thirsty in Asheville.

Visitors to the Appalachian city can enjoy about 50 local beers.

7. North Carolina is “first in flight” thanks to the Wright brothers.

Originally from Dayton, Ohio, the duo is probably the most famous set of brother's in American history. The bicycle repairmen created a bike-powered flying machine and flew it in Jockey's Ridge, NC, on December 17, 1903. Read More →

This edition of Photo of the Week is brought to you by Julianna or should we say a Sweet Carolina Girl!

Here, the Piedmont train pulls into High Point, NC, smack dab in the middle of Tobacco Road for all you sports fans out there. That's right, this route, which runs between Raleigh and Charlotte might as well be the ACC train. It serves NC State University (wolfpack!!), University of North Carolina (GTHD!), and Duke University (blue devils!). Read More →

Thanks to the loyalty of our awesome passengers, March set a record as the best month ever in the history of Amtrak!

More than half of our routes saw ridership increases, and, as if that wasn’t enough ... we expect to end the fiscal year at or above last year’s record of 31.2 million passengers. That’s a lot of people, tons of trains, miles of rail and countless memories, and we couldn’t be more pumped to share the news with you!

An extra special shout out goes to our riders in the Northeast Corridor, who aren’t letting Superstorm Sandy slow them down. We expect that region to end the fiscal year above last year’s record, despite the storm! (And they say not to mess with Texas! Sheesh)

Lastly, since everyone likes a winner, we should mention that these are the top Amtrak routes in terms of ridership growth so far this fiscal year. We see you, Palmetto customers!

Top Amtrak Routes for Ridership Growth:

1. Palmetto: New York City–Savannah, Ga.
2. Coast Starlight: Seattle–Los Angeles
3. Illini/Saluki: Chicago–Carbondale, Ill.
4. San Joaquin: San Francisco–Bakersfield, Calif.
5. Piedmont: Raleigh–Charlotte, N.C.
6. Wolverine: Chicago–Pontiac, Mich.
7. Vermonter: Washington–St. Albans, Vt.
8. Carolinian: New York City–Charlotte. N.C.
9. Keystone Service: New York City–Harrisburg, Pa.
10. Springfield Shuttles: Springfield, Mass.,–New Haven, Conn.
11. Downeaster: Boston–Brunswick, Me.
12. Pacific Surfliner: San Luis Obispo, Calif., –San Diego, Calif.
13. Pennsylvanian: New York City–Pittsburgh, Pa.

FY 2013 (Oct. 2012 – March 2013)