In February 2016, with Super Bowl 50 fast approaching, the Carolina Panthers were preparing to take on the underdog Denver Broncos. Confident that their "hometown" team would come out on top, the North Carolina Transportation Museum approached the Colorado Railroad Museum with a friendly wager: the "Turntable Challenge!"
The terms were simple. Whichever organization's home team lost would have to send the winning organization a selection of local food and beverages, decorate their operating railroad equipment in the winning team's colors for a weekend of operations, and have their staff perform the winning team's fight song on their historic turntable!
Not one to back down from a challenge, Colorado Railroad Museum staff quickly accepted! Partnering with local businesses, the Museum put together an impressive counteroffer. If the Broncos lost, the North Carolina Transportation Museum staff would receive a catered meal from John Elway's restaurant featuring the uniquely Colorado delicacy, Rocky Mountain Oysters, along with a keg of Colorado Native Beer from the Coors Brewery.
With the stakes officially established, both museums began sharing videos on social media in the days leading up to the big game. Colorado Railroad Museum staff and visitors joined in the fun, offering bold score predictions and plenty of friendly smack talk. While the Panthers were heavily favored, the Broncos weren't about to be counted out!
On February 7, 2016, the Denver Broncos pulled off the upset, defeating the Carolina Panthers 24–10 to claim their third Super Bowl championship! With the outcome settled, it was time for the North Carolina Transportation Museum to make good on its promise.
True to their word, the staff decorated their trains with Denver Broncos flags and colors for a weekend of operations. They also gathered atop their historic turntable to perform the Broncos' fight song. Well, sort of! In a bit of good-natured shade directed toward their Colorado counterparts, the North Carolina staff pointed out that the fight song hadn't been performed publicly since the 1950s and that nobody seemed to remember the music. Rather than attempt a traditional performance, they treated viewers to a rather entertaining dramatic reading of the Broncos fight song!
With the North Carolina Transportation Museum having fulfilled its end of the bargain, Colorado Railroad Museum staff finally got to enjoy their victory feast! The final video shared for the Turntable Challenge featured Museum staff members enjoying the North Carolina specialties sent in celebration of the Panthers' defeat: slow-roasted, pit-cooked pulled pork barbecue, Cheerwine (a regional cherry-flavored soda), and Krispy Kreme doughnuts, which originated in North Carolina.
The Museum staff enjoyed their well-earned victory meal aboard historic Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Business Car No. 96, raising a glass to the Broncos, their Super Bowl victory, and their good sports over in North Carolina!
The Turntable Challenge was a fun example of how two railroad museums could bring their collections, staff, and social media audiences together through a little friendly competition. While the Broncos may have won Super Bowl 50, both museums came away winners, sharing their railroad equipment, regional traditions, and a memorable moment of camaraderie with their followers.
And, of course, the Colorado Railroad Museum will always appreciate a challenge that ends with a Broncos victory and barbecue aboard a historic railroad business car!
