Southern Appalachia Railway Museum in Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Oak Ridge, Tennessee · Updated October 19, 2026 · 11 min read

Rail preservation groupNo regular public hours; the Secret City excursion train is not running while the museum seeks a new home

The Southern Appalachia Railway Museum is a volunteer, nonprofit group in Oak Ridge that has collected and restored the region's railroad equipment since 1990, with the goal of keeping it looking and running the way it did in service.

  • Incorporated in May 1990
  • Southern E-8 No. 6913
  • L&N ALCO C-420 No. 1315
  • Restoring L&N coach 3264
  • Leases cars to other tourist railroads
  • Membership from $20

Southern Appalachia Railway Museum at a glance

Hours
No regular public hours; follow the museum's Facebook page for news
Admission
No public admission; memberships from $20
Best for
Rail fans, Southern Railway and L&N enthusiasts, would-be volunteers

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Southern Appalachia Railway Museum? 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.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from 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.

Restoring the South's passenger trains to look and run as they did

A small group of people who wanted to save the region's railroad history incorporated the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum in May 1990. Their plan was to collect regional railroad equipment, artifacts and records, and to restore equipment to operating condition while keeping its original appearance as closely as possible. In the museum's words, the equipment should look and operate as it did in service.

The museum was once headquartered in Knoxville's Middlebrook Industrial Park before moving its collection to Oak Ridge. There it ran the Secret City Scenic Excursion Train over about 7 miles of former Southern Railway branch line, from the K-25 site in Oak Ridge to an interchange with Norfolk Southern at Blair. The museum says it is no longer running that excursion and is still looking for a new location, noting that things move slowly in railroading.

In the meantime, SARM volunteers have kept busy. Leasing the museum's passenger cars to other tourist railroads now pays operating costs and funds restoration. In 2025 crews stripped walls, flooring and kitchen equipment out of L&N coach 3264, left over from its last job in Pan Am Railways wreck train service, and the museum is now acquiring seats for it. The board describes 2026 as especially promising, with ongoing leases and possible chances to restore and display several cars and locomotives in Oak Ridge.

Where to see SARM's equipment today

The museum does not currently keep public hours or run its own trains, so there is no regular visit to plan. The best way to see its work is through its Facebook page and website, which share restoration progress, and on other tourist railroads where SARM passenger cars are leased into service. The museum has also started selling railroad signals to the public, mostly of Southern Railway heritage, with some from the L&N, Santa Fe and Burlington.

The collection centers on equipment from the railroads that served the region. Highlights include Southern Railway E-8 No. 6913, a 1953 passenger diesel, and Louisville & Nashville ALCO C-420 No. 1315, alongside L&N coach 3264 and other passenger cars that the museum hopes to restore and display in Oak Ridge.

Don’t miss

  1. Southern Railway E-8 No. 6913One of only four Southern E-8 diesels still in existence, delivered in December 1953 and named the Lyman Hall for the 1976 Bicentennial. Volunteers brought it home from storage in Binghamton, New York, for restoration.
  2. L&N ALCO C-420 No. 1315Built in September 1966, it was the last C-420 and apparently the last ALCO of any kind built for the L&N. Restored and repainted, it debuted on September 21, 2008.
  3. L&N coach 3264A passenger car being rebuilt after its final assignment in Pan Am Railways wreck train service.
  4. Railroad signals for saleMostly Southern Railway signals, plus some L&N, Santa Fe and Burlington pieces, offered to the public to support the museum.

For young rail fans and families who like to get involved

With no public hours or rides right now, SARM is not a drop-in stop for small children. For a train ride in the area, families can look at the Three Rivers Rambler in Knoxville. The museum welcomes members of all ages and backgrounds, though, and it offers a youth membership for those under 18 and a family membership for two adults and two children, a good fit for a teenager who wants to learn restoration work alongside volunteers.

Plan your visit: tips for Southern Appalachia Railway Museum

  • The Secret City Excursion train is not running, so do not plan a ride.
  • Use the contact form on sarmrail.org or email secretcityrailroad@gmail.com with questions.
  • Ask about the railroad signals the museum sells to the public.
  • Membership dues help cover members working on equipment.

A volunteer board and membership

SARM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit run by volunteers and a board of directors, and it relies on its members. Help is always needed with rebuilding rolling stock, fundraising, sales, cataloging, computer work and souvenir design. Memberships are $30 a year regular, $20 youth and $75 family, with a lifetime option, and can be paid at sarmrail.org/membership or mailed to SARM, P.O. Box 6756, Oak Ridge, TN 37831. Tax-deductible donations are welcome too.

Rail outings near Oak Ridge

The Secret City Scenic Excursion Train page covers the museum's former ride, about 9 miles away. For a train you can ride now, the Three Rivers Rambler is about 25 miles away in Knoxville, and the Dollywood Express about 49 miles. See all train museums in Tennessee.

Every train museum in Tennessee

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of a dad lifting Rally the corgi up the big stairs of a red train car
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Volunteers here are hunting for seats for an old L&N coach so it can carry passengers again, and I think about who will climb aboard someday. In our book, the train steps are far too big for Rally's short corgi legs, so Dad lifts him up with Mom right there. Every restored car is a new set of steps for some small traveler. Our train books for toddlers list is a good start while you wait.

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
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

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.

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More for train families

Work or volunteer at Southern Appalachia Railway Museum?

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

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Southern Appalachia Railway Museum: 20 common questions

What is the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum?

The Southern Appalachia Railway Museum, or SARM, is a volunteer nonprofit in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, that preserves the region's railroad history. It collects locomotives, rolling stock, artifacts and records, and restores equipment to operating condition while keeping its original look. It was incorporated in May 1990.

What is the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum address?

The museum's mailing address is SARM, P.O. Box 6756, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831. It does not post a street address for visitors because it has no public site or regular hours at this time. Use the contact form on sarmrail.org or email secretcityrailroad@gmail.com with questions.

Is the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum open to visitors?

Not on a regular basis. As of October 2026, the museum does not post public hours, and it says it is no longer running the Secret City Excursion train while it looks for a new location. Volunteers continue restoration and maintenance. Follow its Facebook page for any open house or display news.

Is the Secret City Scenic Excursion Train still running?

No. The Southern Appalachia Railway Museum says it is no longer running the Secret City Excursion train and is still looking for a new location for its operations. It notes that things move slowly in railroading. Check sarmrail.org and the museum's Facebook page for updates.

What is on the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum roster?

The museum's equipment page highlights Southern Railway E-8 No. 6913, a 1953 passenger diesel, and Louisville & Nashville ALCO C-420 No. 1315. It is also restoring L&N coach 3264 and owns other passenger cars, some leased to tourist railroads. See the equipment page on sarmrail.org for details.

What is Southern Railway 6913?

No. 6913 is a Southern Railway E-8 passenger diesel built by EMD and delivered in December 1953, one of only four Southern E-8s left. It ran in mainline passenger service for 26 years, was named the Lyman Hall for the 1976 Bicentennial, and went to New Jersey Transit in 1979 before SARM acquired it.

What is L&N 1315?

L&N 1315 is an ALCO C-420 built in September 1966, the last C-420 and apparently the last ALCO of any type built for the Louisville & Nashville. Retired in 1982, it passed through several owners before joining the Vintage Locomotives fleet and being assigned to SARM. It was rebuilt and debuted on September 21, 2008.

When was the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum founded?

The museum was incorporated in May 1990 by a small group of people who wanted to preserve the region's railroad history. From the start, its goal was to restore equipment to operating condition while keeping its original appearance, so it would look and run as it did in service.

Where did the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum trains run?

The museum's excursions ran over about 7 miles of former Southern Railway branch line from the K-25 site in Oak Ridge to an interchange with Norfolk Southern at Blair, Tennessee, and back. Those trips were known as the Secret City Scenic Excursion Train. They are not running now.

Was the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum ever in Knoxville?

Yes. A rail history site notes that the museum was at one time headquartered in Knoxville's Middlebrook Industrial Park before moving its collection to Oak Ridge. Some listings still place it in Knoxville, but its mailing address and operations are in Oak Ridge.

How does the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum pay for restoration?

The museum leases its passenger equipment to other tourist railroads, which covers operating costs and funds restoration projects. Membership dues, donations and sales also help. The museum is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, so donations are tax deductible.

What restoration is the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum working on?

Volunteers are rebuilding L&N coach 3264, removing walls, flooring and kitchen appliances from its last assignment in Pan Am Railways wreck train service, and the museum is acquiring seats for it. Southern E-8 No. 6913 also needs new glass, body panels, wiring and its Southern paint scheme restored.

Does the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum sell railroad signals?

Yes. The museum has begun offering railroad signals for sale to the public. Most are of Southern Railway heritage, with some from the L&N, Santa Fe and Burlington. Contact the museum through sarmrail.org or by email to ask what is available.

How much is a Southern Appalachia Railway Museum membership?

As of October 2026, regular membership is $30 a year, youth membership for those under 18 is $20, and family membership for up to two adults and two children is $75. A lifetime membership is also offered. Join at sarmrail.org/membership or mail payment to P.O. Box 6756, Oak Ridge, TN 37831.

How can I volunteer with the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum?

Join as a member. SARM always needs help rebuilding rolling stock, fundraising, sales, data cataloging, computer work and souvenir design, and membership also helps cover you when working on equipment. The museum welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds, or just moral support.

Can kids join the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum?

Yes. The museum offers a youth membership at $20 a year for anyone under 18, and a $75 family membership for two adults and two children with full member privileges. That makes it a good option for a teenager who wants hands-on time with real locomotives.

Can I see Southern Appalachia Railway Museum cars on other railroads?

Possibly. The museum leases its passenger equipment to other tourist railroads, so its cars may be in service elsewhere. It does not list where on its home page. Ask through the contact form on sarmrail.org or follow its Facebook page to find out where its equipment is running.

Will the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum display equipment in Oak Ridge?

The museum's board says 2026 offers opportunities to potentially restore and display several cars and locomotives in Oak Ridge. No dates or location are posted yet. Watch the museum's website and Facebook page for announcements.

How do I contact the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum?

Use the contact form on sarmrail.org or email secretcityrailroad@gmail.com. Mail goes to SARM, P.O. Box 6756, Oak Ridge, TN 37831. The museum's Facebook page, under the secretcityrailroad name, also posts news and restoration updates, and it is often the quickest way to see what volunteers are working on.

What train rides are near Oak Ridge, Tennessee?

With SARM's excursions paused, the nearest active ride is the Three Rivers Rambler in Knoxville, about 25 miles away, which runs a seasonal Christmas Lantern Express. The Dollywood Express in Pigeon Forge is about 49 miles away, and the Big South Fork Scenic Railway in Kentucky about 53 miles.

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Kelsey Cecil
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