Secret City Scenic Excursion Train in Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Heritage railroad with a museumExcursions no longer running
The Secret City Scenic Excursion Train was the passenger ride of the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum, running over seven miles of former Southern Railway branch line between the K-25 site in Oak Ridge and Blair. The museum says the excursions have stopped while it searches for a new home.
- Excursions no longer running
- Run by Southern Appalachia Railway Museum
- Seven miles of branch line
- Former Southern Railway route
- Museum incorporated in May 1990
Secret City Scenic Excursion Train at a glance
- Hours
- No public hours; the excursions have ended
- Admission
- No tickets on sale
- Best for
- Rail fans following Oak Ridge railroad preservation
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
- AddressP.O. Box 6756, Oak Ridge, TN 37831(opens in a new tab)
- Emailsecretcityrailroad@gmail.com
- Websitesarmrail.org(opens in a new tab)
Follow Secret City Scenic Excursion Train
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Secret City Scenic 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 Oak Ridge.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $13.99 on Amazon.
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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
The Oak Ridge ride that a volunteer museum built
The Secret City Scenic Excursion Train was operated by the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum, a nonprofit a small group of rail fans incorporated in May 1990 to collect and preserve the region's railroad equipment, artifacts and records. Directory listings and railfan guides describe the museum's seven miles of track, a former Southern Railway branch line running from the K-25 facility in Oak Ridge to an interchange with Norfolk Southern at Blair, and the excursion train the museum ran along that route.
Today the museum's own contact page is plain about it: the Secret City Excursion train is no longer running, and the group is still looking for a new location. The volunteers have not stopped working, though. Leasing their passenger cars to other tourist railroads now pays the bills and funds restoration, and the museum has said 2026 could bring chances to restore and display several cars and locomotives in Oak Ridge. If you are hoping to ride, check the museum's website or Facebook page for any news before planning a trip.
What is left to see today
There is no ticket office, schedule or boarding area to visit right now. The equipment the museum cares for includes Louisville & Nashville 1315, an ALCO C-420 diesel built in 1966, former Southern Railway E-8 No. 6913, and L&N coach 3264, which volunteers have been stripping down for restoration. The museum does not post public viewing hours for any of it.
Don’t miss
- Southern Railway E-8 No. 6913The museum says it is one of only four Southern E-8 diesels left. Delivered in December 1953, it pulled mainline passenger trains for 26 years and was named the Lyman Hall in 1976.
- L&N 1315Built by ALCO in September 1966, it was the last C-420 built for the L&N. The museum rebuilt and painted it in 2008.
- L&N coach 3264Volunteers have removed its walls, flooring and kitchen gear from its last job in wreck train service and are now gathering seats for it.
For families hoping to ride
Because the Secret City train is no longer running, there is nothing here for families to board at the moment. Kids who want a train ride near Oak Ridge are better served by the operating railroads listed below, and families who love this line can follow the museum's Facebook page for news about a future home.
Plan your visit: tips for Secret City Scenic Excursion Train
- Do not drive to Oak Ridge expecting a ride; the museum says the train no longer runs.
- Watch the museum's website and Facebook page for news on a new location.
- Membership starts at $20 and helps fund restoration work.
The museum volunteers behind the train
The Southern Appalachia Railway Museum is a nonprofit run by members of all ages and backgrounds. Its volunteers rebuild rolling stock, raise funds, catalog records, design souvenirs and staff sales. Membership starts at $20 and can be renewed online or by mail to P.O. Box 6756, Oak Ridge, and the museum also sells vintage railroad signals, mostly of Southern Railway heritage, to raise money.
Where to ride and learn near Oak Ridge
The Southern Appalachia Railway Museum, which ran this train, has its own page about 9 miles away. For a ride that is running, the Three Rivers Rambler in Knoxville is about 19 miles off, and the Dollywood Express is about 44 miles away. See all of Tennessee's train museums and rides for more.
- Southern Appalachia Railway MuseumOak Ridge, TN · about 9 mi
- Three Rivers RamblerKnoxville, TN · about 19 mi
- Dollywood ExpressPigeon Forge, TN · about 44 mi
- Big South Fork Scenic RailwayStearns, KY · about 49 mi
- Historic L&N DepotEtowah, TN · about 50 mi
- Historic Monterey Depot MuseumMonterey, TN · about 57 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
In our book there is a dark tunnel, and then a big bright light and happy cheers. This little Oak Ridge line feels like it is in the dark part right now, with no excursions running, while volunteers keep restoring coaches and hoping for a new home. I like to think the bright end is still coming. My kids are learning to read, and I tell them waiting is part of every trip.
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
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- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Tennessee
- Halloween train rides in Tennessee
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Secret City Scenic 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
- Secret City Scenic Excursion Train official website(opens in a new tab)
- Secret City Scenic 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.
Secret City Scenic Excursion Train: 20 questions, answered honestly
Is the Secret City Scenic Excursion Train still running?
No. The Southern Appalachia Railway Museum, which operated it, says on its contact page that it is no longer running the Secret City Excursion train. The museum adds that it is still looking for a new location, so check its website or Facebook page for news before you plan a trip to Oak Ridge.
Who ran the Secret City Scenic Excursion Train?
The train was run by the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum, a nonprofit based in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Business listings describe the museum as the operator of the Secret City Scenic Excursion Train, and its Facebook page still uses the secretcityrailroad name. The museum was incorporated in May 1990 to preserve the region's railroad history.
Where did the Secret City Scenic Excursion Train run?
Railfan guides and encyclopedia listings describe the route as the museum's seven miles of former Southern Railway branch line, running from the K-25 facility in Oak Ridge to an interchange with Norfolk Southern at Blair, Tennessee, and back. The museum formerly ran its excursion train along that line using its own rolling stock.
How long was the Secret City train route?
The museum's track is described as about seven miles long, from the K-25 site in Oak Ridge to Blair, where it met Norfolk Southern. Excursions ran out along the line and back. Ride lengths and schedules from past seasons are not posted any longer, since the museum no longer runs the train.
Can I buy tickets for the Secret City Scenic Excursion Train?
No. There are no tickets on sale because the excursion train has ended. The museum's old ride page no longer exists on its website. If excursions ever return, the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum would announce it on sarmrail.org or its Facebook page, so those are the places to watch.
Will the Secret City train come back?
The museum has not announced a return date. It says it is still looking for a new location and that things move slowly in railroading. Its board has also written that 2026 holds the chance to restore and display several cars and locomotives in Oak Ridge. Follow the museum's Facebook page for updates.
What is the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum doing now?
The museum keeps restoring and maintaining its equipment. It leases its passenger cars to other tourist railroads, and that income funds operating costs and restoration projects. Recent work has focused on L&N coach 3264, and the museum has started selling vintage railroad signals to the public.
When was the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum founded?
The Southern Appalachia Railway Museum was incorporated in May 1990 by a small group who wanted to collect regional railroad equipment, artifacts and data. From the start the group believed equipment should be restored to operating condition while keeping its original look, so that it would appear and run as it did in service.
What is Southern Railway 6913?
Southern Railway No. 6913 is an E-8 passenger diesel the museum acquired, and the museum says it is one of only four Southern E-8s left. Delivered in December 1953, it worked mainline passenger trains for 26 years and was named the Lyman Hall for the 1976 Bicentennial. It needs extensive restoration.
What is L&N 1315?
L&N 1315 is an ALCO C-420 diesel built in September 1966, the last C-420 built for the Louisville & Nashville, and apparently its last ALCO of any type. It passed through several owners after retiring in 1982 and was assigned to the museum, which rebuilt and painted it in 2008.
What is L&N coach 3264?
L&N coach 3264 is a passenger car the museum is restoring. Volunteers have removed the walls, flooring and kitchen appliances left from its last assignment in Pan Am Railways wreck train service, and the museum says it is now working to acquire seats for the car.
Can I see the Secret City train equipment in Oak Ridge?
The museum does not post public viewing hours for its locomotives and cars. It has said 2026 may bring chances to restore and display several pieces in Oak Ridge, but no schedule is listed. Use the contact form on sarmrail.org or message its Facebook page to ask about any open days.
How do I contact the Secret City Scenic Excursion Train?
Contact the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum, which ran it. The museum has a question form on the contact page of sarmrail.org, an email address at secretcityrailroad@gmail.com, and a Facebook page. Its mailing address is P.O. Box 6756, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831.
How do I join the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum?
Memberships start at $20 and can be bought or renewed at sarmrail.org/membership, or by mailing payment to P.O. Box 6756, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831. The board has written that member support is what makes restoration and leasing possible, and it encourages lifetime memberships too.
Can I volunteer with the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum?
Yes. The museum says it always needs help with rebuilding rolling stock, fundraising, sales, cataloging records, computer work and souvenir design, and it welcomes members of all ages and backgrounds. Even moral support counts, it says. Start by joining as a member or sending a note through the website's contact form.
Does the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum sell railroad signals?
Yes. The museum has begun selling vintage railroad signals to the public. Most are of Southern Railway heritage, with some from the L&N, Santa Fe and Burlington. Sales help fund restoration. Ask about what is available through the contact form on sarmrail.org.
Was there a Christmas train on the Secret City line?
Holiday trips are not listed anywhere now, because the museum no longer runs its excursion train. For a Christmas ride near Oak Ridge, look at operating railroads in the region such as the Three Rivers Rambler in Knoxville or the Dollywood Express in Pigeon Forge, and check their own holiday schedules.
Where can I ride a train near Oak Ridge instead?
The Three Rivers Rambler in Knoxville is about 19 miles from Oak Ridge, the Dollywood Express in Pigeon Forge is about 44 miles away, and the Big South Fork Scenic Railway in Stearns, Kentucky, is about 49 miles. Check each one's season and ticket details before you go.
What happens to the passenger cars the museum restores?
Many of them go to work. The museum leases its passenger equipment to other tourist railroads, a strategy that it says covers its operating costs and pays for restoration. It aims to restore everything to operating condition while keeping each piece looking as it did in service.
Is the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum the same as the Secret City train?
They are linked but not the same thing. The museum is the nonprofit that collects and restores railroad equipment, and the Secret City Scenic Excursion Train was the passenger ride it ran on its Oak Ridge track. The museum still exists and is active, while the excursion ride has ended.
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