SAM Shortline Excursion Train in Cordele, Georgia
Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesTrains run on scheduled dates; none in January or August
The SAM Shortline Excursion Train is Georgia's only rolling state park: vintage air-conditioned passenger cars that carry riders from Georgia Veterans State Park across Lake Blackshear and through Southwest Georgia farm country to President Jimmy Carter's hometown of Plains.
- Georgia's only rolling state park
- 1949 vintage air-conditioned cars
- Crosses Lake Blackshear
- Rides to Jimmy Carter's Plains
- Day Out With Thomas in March
- Departs Cordele and Americus
SAM Shortline Excursion Train at a glance
- Hours
- Scheduled trains only, mostly Saturdays; no trains in January or August
- Admission
- Varies by trip and seat; group rates from $33.99 child coach to $43.99 deluxe
- Train rides
- Presidential Flyer to Plains, plus themed and dinner trains; check the calendar
- Seasonal events
- Day Out With Thomas, Halloween Express, Cordele Holiday Train, Candy Cane Express, Plains Christmas Lighting, Plains Trains & Fireworks, Peanut Express, Cordele Railfan Festival, Murder Mystery Dinner Train, Valentine's Dinner Train, Wine and Cheese Train
- Plan for
- Most of a day for Plains trips; 1 to 2.5 hours for short trains
- Best for
- Families, small-town explorers and holiday outings
- Best ages
- Ages 2 and up
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
- Address105 9th Ave E, Cordele, GA 31015(opens in a new tab)
- Phone(229) 276-0755
- Emailsamshortline@dnr.ga.gov
- Websitesamshortline.com(opens in a new tab)
Follow SAM Shortline Excursion Train
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Taking the kids to SAM Shortline Excursion Train? Bring Rally along.
In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Cordele.
Rally Takes the Train
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A state park on rails through Carter country
Most state parks stay put. The SAM Shortline moves, which is why Georgia calls it its only rolling state park. Run under the Georgia Department of Natural Resources from a main office on 9th Avenue East in Cordele, it pairs classic railroad travel with the history of the small towns of Southwest Georgia.
The signature trip, the Presidential Flyer, boards at the depot in Georgia Veterans State Park near Cordele. The train rolls across Lake Blackshear and west through farm country, running along the Highway 280 corridor to Plains and Archery, the home ground of President Jimmy Carter, then back again. Other trains leave from the Jackson Street Train Station in Americus. Riders sit in air-conditioned cars dating to 1949, each with its own character and big windows for the scenery.
Over the years the railroad has woven itself into the region's calendar, running special trains for the Peanut Festival in Plains, the Watermelon Festival and the Fourth of July. A support group, the Friends of the SAM, backs the line, and visiting private railcars sometimes join the train. The Dearing, built by Pullman in 1925 as a sleeper on the Oriental Limited, was renamed by its owners for a grandfather who worked as a Georgia Railroad agent at the Dearing depot. The JP Henderson was Pullman's first all-stainless-steel car, built in 1953 for the Texas Special, and the Wisconsin was built in 1946 as a business car for the president of the Milwaukee Road.
Riding the SAM: classes, stops and layovers
A SAM Shortline day is about the ride and the towns at the end of it. Climb aboard at Georgia Veterans State Park or in Americus, pick your class of service, and settle in by the big windows as the train crosses Lake Blackshear. In Plains, riders explore President Carter's hometown, browse the Main Street shops and sample peanut butter treats before the trip home.
Each class of seating offers different amenities and prices, from coach to deluxe and dinner seating. Shorter trips such as the hour-and-a-half Wine and Cheese Train and the one-hour Cordele Holiday Train stay close to home, while the Murder Mystery Dinner Train out of Americus lasts about two and a half hours.
Don’t miss
- The Lake Blackshear crossingTrips from Georgia Veterans State Park roll right across the lake, one of the best views of the day.
- The Presidential FlyerThe railroad's classic run to Plains and Archery, with time to explore Jimmy Carter's hometown.
- The 1949 passenger carsThe air-conditioned vintage cars vary in style, so it is worth walking through to compare them.
- Visiting private carsCars like the 1925 Pullman Dearing, the stainless-steel JP Henderson and the Milwaukee Road's Wisconsin sometimes run with the train.
- Cordele Railfan FestivalA November festival for rail fans in Cordele, scheduled for November 14 in 2026.
Santa, Thomas and a costume train to Plains
The kids' calendar is the best reason to book. In March, Day Out With Thomas lets families ride behind Thomas the Tank Engine. On Halloween the Halloween Express heads to Plains for Trunk or Treat on Main Street, with costumes encouraged and a candy treat on board. In December, the one-hour Cordele Holiday Train brings Santa on board with a gift for every passenger, plus holiday music, hot chocolate and cookies.
The Candy Cane Express and Plains Christmas Lighting trips also carry Santa, with a two-hour layover in Plains. Since the cars are air-conditioned, summer rides stay comfortable.
Plan your visit: tips for SAM Shortline Excursion Train
- Check the calendar first: trains run on set dates, mostly Saturdays.
- Groups of 20 or more get group rates on regular and some event trains.
- Group rates do not apply to the Cordele Holiday Train, dinner trains, Railfan Festival or Wine and Cheese Train.
- Popular trains sell out; the October 2026 Wine and Cheese Train did.
- Confirm your boarding point: Georgia Veterans State Park or Americus.
Holidays are a big part of the SAM Shortline year. The Halloween Express runs to Plains on October 31, 2026, for Trunk or Treat on Main Street, and December brings the Candy Cane Express, the Plains Christmas Lighting train with its Christmas parade layover, and the Cordele Holiday Train with Santa on board. See our guides to Halloween train rides in Georgia and Georgia Christmas trains for more.
A state park with friends
The SAM Shortline is part of Georgia's state park system, and its office reaches riders at samshortline@dnr.ga.gov. A support group, the Friends of the SAM, helps the railroad, and private car owners bring their restored cars to ride along. Buying tickets, booking a group trip and joining the Friends are the best ways to keep the trains rolling.
Other rail stops in South Georgia
The Thronateeska Heritage Center in Albany, about 34 miles away, keeps railroad history alive in its historic depot. Farther afield, the Folkston Funnel train-watching platform is about 131 miles southeast, and the Georgia Coastal Railway is about 147 miles. Browse Georgia train museums and rides to plan more.
- Thronateeska Heritage Center / Wetherbee Planetarium railroad exhibitsAlbany, GA · about 34 mi
- Stone Mountain Scenic RailroadStone Mountain, GA · about 130 mi
- Folkston Funnel Train Viewing PlatformFolkston, GA · about 131 mi
- Southeastern Railway MuseumDuluth, GA · about 141 mi
- Georgia Coastal RailwaySt. Marys, GA · about 147 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
The Plains Christmas Lighting train makes me smile, because it is all about a dark evening that suddenly fills with light. Our book has a moment like that: the train slips into a dark tunnel, and then comes a big bright light and happy cheers. My mom imagined that scene for Rally before she passed in 2021, and I wrote it the way she told it. Her story is on our story page.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)More for train families
- Train museums in Georgia: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Georgia
- Halloween train rides in Georgia
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at SAM Shortline Excursion Train?
We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.
Sources
- SAM Shortline Excursion Train official website(opens in a new tab)
- SAM Shortline Excursion Train on Facebook(opens in a new tab)
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
SAM Shortline: 20 questions before you ride
Where does the SAM Shortline Excursion Train leave from in Cordele, GA?
Most excursions board at the depot in Georgia Veterans State Park near Cordele. Some trips, including the Murder Mystery Dinner Train, leave from the Jackson Street Train Station in Americus. The main office is at 105 9th Ave E, Cordele, GA 31015. Check your ticket for the boarding point, or call (229) 276-0755.
How much are SAM Shortline tickets?
Prices vary by trip and class of seating, and each special event lists its own fares. As of October 2026, the Halloween Express runs $43.99 to $123.99 per person, the Wine and Cheese Train $93.99, and the Murder Mystery Dinner Train $35 coach or $142.99 dinner seating. Full pricing is on samshortline.com.
Does the SAM Shortline offer group rates?
Yes, for groups of 20 or more. As of October 2026, group rates are $36.99 for adult coach, $33.99 for child coach (ages 2 to 12) and $43.99 for deluxe. They do not apply to the Cordele Holiday Train, dinner trains, the Railfan Festival or the Wine and Cheese Train. Email the group form to SAMShortline@dnr.ga.gov.
What is the SAM Shortline schedule?
The SAM Shortline runs on set dates, mostly Saturdays with some Fridays, from February through December. As of October 2026, no trains are scheduled in January or August. The railroad's website has a month-by-month calendar listing every excursion, so check it before planning a trip.
What is the Presidential Flyer on the SAM Shortline?
The Presidential Flyer is the railroad's signature excursion. Riding in air-conditioned 1949 vintage cars, you travel from Georgia Veterans State Park across Lake Blackshear to Plains and Archery and back. In Plains, President Jimmy Carter's hometown, riders can shop and sample peanut butter treats.
Why is the SAM Shortline called a rolling state park?
The SAM Shortline is part of Georgia's state park system, and it is Georgia's only rolling state park. Instead of a fixed park with trails, the park experience is the train itself, combining classic rail travel with the history of the Southwest Georgia towns along the line.
Does the SAM Shortline have Day Out With Thomas?
Yes. Day Out With Thomas lets families ride behind Thomas the Tank Engine. In 2026 it ran on three March weekends, Saturdays and Sundays from March 14 to March 29. Watch the railroad's calendar for the next season's dates and ticket release.
Does the SAM Shortline run a Christmas train?
Yes, several. As of October 2026, the Plains Christmas Lighting train runs November 28, the Candy Cane Express December 4 and 5, and the Cordele Holiday Train December 11, 12, 18 and 19. Santa rides each one. The Cordele Holiday Train is a one-hour ride with hot chocolate, cookies and a gift for every passenger.
What is the SAM Shortline Halloween Express?
The Halloween Express departs Georgia Veterans State Park for Plains, where riders get an hour and a half layover for Trunk or Treat on Main Street and time to shop. Costumes are encouraged, and every passenger gets a candy treat on board. As of October 2026, it runs Saturday, October 31.
Does the SAM Shortline have a dinner train?
Yes. The Murder Mystery Dinner Train departs Americus for a two and a half hour interactive ride where guests try to solve the crime, and a Valentine's Dinner Train runs on February 14. As of October 2026, the next Murder Mystery Dinner Train is November 21.
What is the SAM Shortline Wine and Cheese Train?
It is an hour and a half round trip in historic air-conditioned cars, with a wine tasting and cheese tray served on board. As of October 2026, the November 7 trip features Paulk Vineyards and departs Georgia Veterans State Park, priced at $93.99 per person. These trips often sell out.
What seating classes does the SAM Shortline offer?
The railroad offers several classes of service, each with different amenities and prices, including coach, deluxe and dinner seating. The vintage cars vary in style but all are climate controlled with large windows. The seating page on samshortline.com describes each class.
What tours and stops does the SAM Shortline make?
Trips run west from Cordele along the Highway 280 corridor toward Plains, with stops such as Archery and Plains on the Presidential Flyer. Special runs serve the Plains Peanut Festival, the Watermelon Festival and a Fourth of July fireworks trip. The Sumter Explorer and Plains Express also appear on the calendar.
Is the SAM Shortline good for kids?
Yes. Day Out With Thomas, the Halloween Express, the Cordele Holiday Train and the Candy Cane Express are all aimed at families, and the air-conditioned cars keep riders comfortable. Group rates list child fares for ages 2 to 12, and Plains trips give kids time to stretch their legs.
Does the SAM Shortline offer school field trips?
Yes, for school groups of 20 or more that submit an ST-5 form. As of October 2026, teachers and students ride for $18 and chaperones for $35. Homeschool groups, libraries and after-school programs do not qualify for school rates. Send the group request form to SAMShortline@dnr.ga.gov.
What historic railroad cars visit the SAM Shortline?
Visiting private cars include the Dearing, a 1925 Pullman sleeper that ran on the Oriental Limited; the JP Henderson, Pullman's first all-stainless-steel car, built in 1953 for the Texas Special; and the Wisconsin, built in 1946 for the president of the Milwaukee Road.
What is the Cordele Railfan Festival?
The Cordele Railfan Festival is the SAM Shortline's event for rail enthusiasts, held on Saturday, November 14 in 2026. Group rates do not apply to it. Check the railroad's calendar and event page for the program and tickets.
Does the SAM Shortline run on the Fourth of July?
Yes. Plains Trains and Fireworks travels from the Georgia Veterans State Park depot to Plains for a Southern style Independence Day celebration with kids' activities, shops, food vendors and fireworks at dusk. In 2026 it ran on June 27.
How do I contact the SAM Shortline?
Call the main office in Cordele at (229) 276-0755, email samshortline@dnr.ga.gov, or use the contact form on samshortline.com. The railroad also posts updates on its Facebook page. The office is at 105 9th Ave E, Cordele, GA 31015.
What is near the SAM Shortline Excursion Train?
The Thronateeska Heritage Center in Albany, with railroad exhibits, is about 34 miles away. The Folkston Funnel train viewing platform is about 131 miles southeast, and the Georgia Coastal Railway in St. Marys is about 147 miles away.
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