Tennessee Central Railway Museum in Nashville, Tennessee

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Nashville, Tennessee · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesExcursions on select Saturdays; hobby shop open Saturdays 10 am to 2 pm

The Tennessee Central Railway Museum is a volunteer, nonprofit living history museum in Nashville that keeps a train of 1940s and 1950s streamlined passenger cars running east over the old Tennessee Central main line.

  • Excursions from Nashville since 1989
  • All-volunteer nonprofit
  • 1940s and 1950s streamlined coaches
  • Former Master Mechanic's office headquarters
  • Santa Express each December
  • Hobby shop open Saturdays

Tennessee Central Railway Museum at a glance

Hours
No regular weekday hours. Hobby shop Saturdays 10 am to 2 pm; excursions on select Saturdays
Admission
Excursion fares vary by trip; buy in advance online or by phone
Train rides
Themed Saturday excursions to Watertown and Lebanon (5 to 6 hours) plus shorter Santa Express and Ice Cream Express trains
Seasonal events
Santa Express, Fall Foliage Excursion, Fall Open House, Watertown Yard Sale Trips, Murder Mystery Trains, Easter Bunny Express, Ice Cream Express, Wine tasting trains
Plan for
1.5 hours for the Santa Express; about 6 hours for Watertown trips
Best for
Families on holiday trains and adults who enjoy a long vintage rail day
Best ages
Ages 3 and up for Santa and Ice Cream trains; older kids for six-hour trips

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

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Tennessee Central 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 Nashville.

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.

Keeping the Tennessee Central's passenger trains rolling east

The Tennessee Central Railway Museum is run entirely by volunteers as a nonprofit, with a mission to preserve, restore, interpret and operate historic railroad equipment so that guests can learn about America's railroads. The museum's about page says it has run passenger excursions from Nashville since 1989, carrying riders east to towns such as Lebanon, Watertown, Baxter, Cookeville and Monterey. Its home page dates its Nashville rail experiences to 1991, so the museum's own pages give slightly different starting points.

Those trips travel over the Nashville and Eastern Railroad, which follows the route of the former Tennessee Central Railway, and the museum publicly thanks the Nashville and Eastern and the R.J. Corman Railroad Group for their continued support.

The museum's headquarters is itself a piece of that railroad: the former Tennessee Central Railway Master Mechanic's office at 220 Willow Street, near downtown Nashville. Inside are offices, a library and railroad material that the museum describes as the largest collection of Tennessee Central Railway artifacts found anywhere.

Most Saturdays, volunteers are out restoring and maintaining the passenger cars, cabooses, freight cars and diesel locomotives. The museum's website also promotes Nashville Steam's effort to restore Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway No. 576, a locomotive it calls a Nashville legend.

Streamliners, cabooses and a Saturday hobby shop

The museum's main event is the excursion itself. Its passenger cars come from the late 1940s and early 1950s, and the museum says they once ran on name trains including the Chief, the Super Chief, the California Zephyr, the North Coast Limited, the Sunset Limited and the Congressional. Trains are usually made up of air-conditioned coaches, with refreshments and souvenirs sold on board and deluxe seating in special cars at extra cost. Vintage diesel electric locomotives from the same era pull them, and now and then a caboose rides on the end.

On Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm, the railroad hobby shop at Willow Street sells HO and N scale trains and supplies, and volunteers on hand often give tours of the grounds, except on days when an excursion is running. The museum has no regular weekday hours.

Don’t miss

  1. The stainless steel streamlinerThe museum's train of restored classic streamlined cars is the heart of every excursion and a rare chance to ride equipment from the last great era of American passenger trains.
  2. Cars from famous name trainsCoaches in the fleet once carried passengers on trains such as the Super Chief and the California Zephyr.
  3. Master Mechanic's officeThe museum's headquarters is the old Tennessee Central Master Mechanic's office, home to its library and Tennessee Central artifacts.
  4. The Watertown layoverMany excursions stop in historic downtown Watertown for lunch and shopping around the square before heading back to Nashville.
  5. Fall Open HouseListed for November 7, 2026, a good chance to see the equipment and meet the volunteers without a long ride.

Santa, ice cream and a real streamliner

The best fit for young children is the Santa Express, a 90-minute round trip with no layover that runs on Saturdays from late November through December. In spring, short 45-minute Ice Cream Express trains are listed for May 2027, and a two-hour Heroes and Villains Super Train for February. The Easter Bunny Express is a full six-hour trip to Watertown, better for kids who can handle a long day.

Some trains are adults only: wine tasting trips require riders to be 21 or older with valid ID. Only service animals as defined by the ADA are allowed on board, so pets stay home.

Plan your visit: tips for Tennessee Central Railway Museum

  • Tickets must be bought in advance; fall foliage trips have sold out.
  • The museum phone is not answered regularly. Email terry.bebout@tcry.org or call the ticket line at (615) 241-0436.
  • Wine trains are 21 and over with valid ID.
  • Only ADA service animals are allowed on board.
  • Weekend tours of the grounds are not offered on excursion days.

December is the busiest time for families: the Santa Express makes 90-minute round trips from Nashville on November 28 and December 5, 12 and 19, 2026, and Santa trains tend to fill quickly. For more holiday options across the state, see our list of Christmas train rides in Tennessee. The museum's 2027 calendar already lists Valentine's, Easter and Mother's Day trains, plus a Train Robbery Express in May.

An all-volunteer railroad

Volunteers run the trains, restore the cars and staff the Saturday hobby shop. The museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so donations are tax deductible, and it welcomes anyone interested in railroads to join. Riding an excursion, donating online or coming out on a Saturday to get your hands dirty as a volunteer all help keep the equipment on the rails.

Rail stops within a day's drive of Nashville

Head north about 61 miles to the Historic RailPark & Train Museum in Bowling Green, or southeast about 80 miles to the Cowan Railroad Museum. The Historic Monterey Depot Museum, about 83 miles east, sits in one of the towns the museum's excursions have served. See all of Tennessee's train museums for more.

Every train museum in Tennessee

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi dreaming about his toy turtle, green bone and yellow ball
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

A six-hour trip to Watertown and back is the kind of day where packing matters. In our book, Rally packs his own little bag before the train ride: his turtle toy, his green bone and his yellow ball. I love that a dog knows exactly what he needs for a trip with Mom and Dad. If your little one wants to pack their own bag for a train day, the train books for toddlers list has a few good companions.

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 Tennessee Central 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.

Tennessee Central Railway Museum: 20 questions before you ride

Where is the Tennessee Central Railway Museum?

The Tennessee Central Railway Museum is at 220 Willow Street, Nashville, TN 37210, just east of downtown Nashville. Its headquarters is in the former Tennessee Central Railway Master Mechanic's office, and the site serves as the base for its excursion trains. Check your ticket for boarding details before your trip.

What are the Tennessee Central Railway Museum hours?

As of October 2026, the museum has no regular weekday hours. Its railroad hobby shop is open Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm, and volunteers are usually around then to give tours, except on days when an excursion train is running. Train rides happen on select Saturdays listed on the excursions page.

How do I buy Tennessee Central Railway Museum tickets?

Tickets must be bought in advance through the Book a Trip button on tcry.org, which uses Etix as its official ticketing partner, or by phone at (615) 241-0436. The museum warns against buying from unofficial resellers. Popular trips sell out; both October 2026 Fall Foliage runs were already sold out.

How much does a Tennessee Central Railway Museum train ride cost?

Fares vary by excursion and seating, and the museum does not list a single price on its main pages. Deluxe seating in special cars costs extra on many trains. Select a trip through the Book a Trip link on tcry.org to see current prices, or call the ticket line at (615) 241-0436.

When is the Tennessee Central Railway Museum Santa Express?

As of October 2026, the Santa Express runs on November 28 and December 5, 12 and 19, 2026. Each trip is a round trip of about an hour and a half with no layover, which makes it the easiest holiday option for young children. Tickets are sold online in advance and through (615) 241-0436.

Does the Tennessee Central Railway Museum have a Christmas train?

Yes. Its Christmas train is the Santa Express, a 90-minute ride out of Nashville with Santa on board, offered on four Saturdays from late November through mid December. It is the museum's main holiday event, so book early. The excursions page on tcry.org lists the dates and ticket links each year.

What upcoming events does the Tennessee Central Railway Museum have?

As of October 2026, the schedule lists a Fall Open House on November 7 and the Santa Express in late November and December. Early 2027 dates include a Valentine's wine train, a Heroes and Villains Super Train, a murder mystery trip to Lebanon, the Easter Bunny Express, a yard sale train, Ice Cream Express trains and a Train Robbery Express.

What are the Tennessee Central Railway Museum wine tasting trains?

Wine tasting trips are six-hour excursions to Watertown on the restored streamliner. Winery staff pour tastings in a complimentary glass you receive when boarding, and wine is sold on board. The train stops in Watertown for lunch and shopping. Riders must be 21 or older and bring valid ID, so these trips are adults only.

Where does the Tennessee Central Railway Museum train go?

Excursions head east from Nashville on the Nashville and Eastern Railroad, the former Tennessee Central Railway. Most current trips go to Watertown, a 90-mile round trip with a lunch stop, and some go to Lebanon. Over the years the museum has also run trains to Baxter, Cookeville and Monterey.

What passenger cars does the Tennessee Central Railway Museum have?

The museum's passenger train dates from the late 1940s and early 1950s. Its cars once ran on famous name trains including the Chief, the Super Chief, the California Zephyr, the North Coast Limited, the Sunset Limited and the Congressional. Most are air-conditioned coaches, with deluxe special cars available at extra cost.

What locomotives pull Tennessee Central Railway Museum trains?

Vintage diesel electric locomotives, most from the same era as the passenger cars, power the museum's trains. The collection also includes cabooses, which sometimes ride on the end of passenger trains, and freight cars used for storage. The museum's website also promotes the Nashville Steam restoration of NC&StL No. 576.

How long is a Tennessee Central Railway Museum excursion?

It depends on the trip. Watertown runs take about six hours, Lebanon trips about five, the Santa Express about an hour and a half, and the Ice Cream Express about 45 minutes. Longer trips include a layover for lunch and shopping, so plan a full day for those.

Is there food on the Tennessee Central Railway Museum train?

Refreshments and souvenirs are usually sold on board. On the Watertown and Lebanon trips, the train stops so riders can eat at local restaurants in town before returning. Some special trains, such as the Mardi Gras excursion, have had a cash bar that takes credit cards. Check each trip description when you book.

Is the Tennessee Central Railway Museum good for kids?

Yes, on the right trip. The Santa Express runs about 90 minutes and the Ice Cream Express about 45 minutes, both with no layover, which suits young children. The Easter Bunny Express is a six-hour Watertown trip, better for older kids. Wine trains are 21 and over, so check each trip's description before you book.

Can I bring my dog on the Tennessee Central Railway Museum train?

No. The museum allows only service animals as defined under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. For the comfort and safety of other passengers, pets and comfort animals are not permitted on board. Plan pet care before an all-day Watertown trip.

Where do you park for the Tennessee Central Railway Museum?

The museum does not post parking details on its website. Its base is at 220 Willow Street near downtown Nashville, and boarding information comes with your ticket. Email terry.bebout@tcry.org or call the ticket line at (615) 241-0436 before your trip to confirm where to park.

Can I tour the Tennessee Central Railway Museum without riding?

Yes, on most Saturdays. Volunteers are normally on site from 10 am to 2 pm while the hobby shop is open and can give tours, except on excursion days when they are running the train. The Fall Open House, listed for November 7, 2026, is another good time to see the equipment.

What is in the Tennessee Central Railway Museum hobby shop?

The museum's railroad hobby shop carries HO and N scale model trains and supplies. As of October 2026, it is open Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm at 220 Willow Street. Purchases help support the volunteer-run museum, and it is a handy stop for model railroaders in the Nashville area.

How do I contact the Tennessee Central Railway Museum?

The museum says its main phone is not answered regularly and the best contact is email at terry.bebout@tcry.org. For tickets, call (615) 241-0436, where a ticket office is available. The mailing address is 220 Willow Street, Nashville, TN 37210-2159.

How can I volunteer at the Tennessee Central Railway Museum?

The museum is all volunteer and welcomes anyone interested in railroads to join. Volunteers work most Saturdays restoring and maintaining passenger cars, cabooses, freight cars and locomotives, and they also crew the excursions. Use the volunteer link on tcry.org or email terry.bebout@tcry.org. Tax-deductible donations are also welcome.

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