Train Museums in Tennessee: Every Railroad Museum by Town
- 17 museums
- 13 towns
- 7 with train rides
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Chattanooga's Lookout Mountain Incline Railway has hauled riders up the face of the mountain since 1895 and calls itself one of the steepest passenger railways in the world. That climb is one stop among many in this state-by-state guide to train museums for families: this page covers 16 museums and rail sites in 13 Tennessee towns, from Memphis to Bristol. Type your town into the finder to see what is closest to you.
The big names are easy to spot. The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum runs vintage trains through a tunnel older than the Civil War, the Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum lets kids ring the bell on a 35-ton replica of engine 382, and the Dollywood Express puts a coal-fired steam train inside a theme park.
Smaller stops matter too. Depot museums in Cowan, Etowah and Monterey sit in towns the railroads shaped, and a few listings here are volunteer groups or event venues with limited public hours, so check each card before you drive.
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Every train museum in Tennessee, town by town
17 museums in 13 towns, A to Z by town. Tap any museum for its own page: the full story, what to see, what kids can do, hours, tickets, contact details and 20 answers to the questions families ask.
Bristol
Historic rail site
Historic Bristol Train Station
Bristol's restored 1902 depot, on the National Register and still beside an active rail line. Today it is an event and wedding venue rather than a museum, so view it from outside or contact the foundation before visiting.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsChattanooga: 3 train museums
Three rail stops sit within about eight miles of each other here: the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway and the old Southern Railway Terminal Station known as the Chattanooga Choo Choo.
Historic rail site
Chattanooga Choo Choo Historic Terminal Station
The former Southern Railway Terminal Station, listed on the National Register in 1974 and reborn as a hotel, dining and entertainment complex. A quick stop for rail history between the city's other train attractions; check its website for current details.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsHeritage railroad with a museum
Lookout Mountain Incline Railway
A historic funicular climbing about a mile up Lookout Mountain from St. Elmo, one of the steepest passenger railways in the world. Two counterbalanced cars pass midway, and new railcars welcome wheelchairs. Tickets at either station or online.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsHeritage railroad with a museum
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
A museum in motion: ride vintage coaches from Grand Junction Station through the Missionary Ridge Tunnel, watch the turntable turn, and tour the restoration shop. An exhibit hall, model railroad and long day trips to Georgia and the Hiwassee Gorge round it out.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsCowan
Depot museum
Cowan Railroad Museum
A small-town depot museum with a rare 1920 Porter 2-4-2 steam engine, an NC&StL caboose and a model railroad, right beside an active CSX mainline where helper engines push freight up the mountain. Open May to October, Thursday to Sunday.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsEtowah
Depot museum
L&N Depot & Museum
A restored Victorian depot from the town the L&N built, now home to the museum Growing Up With The L&N. CSX freight trains still pass right beside it, and it is open Tuesday to Saturday.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsJackson
Railroad museum
Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum
Walk through Casey Jones's family home, see the pocket watch he wore on his final run, and ring the bell on a 35-ton replica of engine 382. Open daily in Casey Jones Village, just off the interstate in Jackson.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsJohnson City
Railroad museum
Johnson City Railroad Experience
A downtown Johnson City museum about how railroads built the city, with a detailed N scale layout of the Tri-Cities, wooden train tables for kids and monthly preschool lessons. Tickets are $10 for adults and free under 5.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsJonesborough
Rail preservation group
Watauga Valley Railroad Historical Society & Museum
A volunteer railroad society in Jonesborough that operates the Chuckey Depot Museum in a 1906 Southern Railway depot, keeps a fleet of restored passenger cars ready for lease, and sponsors several train excursions a year.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsKnoxville
Heritage railroad with a museum
Three Rivers Rambler
Knoxville's tourist steam train, with 1925 coaches, an open air car and oil-fired engine No. 203 "Lindy". It currently runs only the Christmas Lantern Express, an 11-mile seasonal trip along the river, and tickets sell out from November.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsMemphis: 2 train museums
The Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum fills a suite inside Central Station, and the MATA Trolley runs vintage and replica streetcars down Main Street nearby.
Trolley and streetcar museum
MATA Trolley
Vintage and replica streetcars on fixed rails through downtown Memphis, run by the city's transit authority. The first line opened in 1993; check MATA's trolley map and service updates, since not every line always runs.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsRailroad museum
Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum
A small museum on the ground floor of Memphis Central Station focused on the city's railroad and trolley history. Hours on its older website are Friday to Sunday, and admission has been just a few dollars.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsMonterey
Depot museum
Monterey Depot Museum
A small, folksy museum in a replica depot in Monterey, mixing train memorabilia with coal mining history, local art and mountain stories. Hours are not posted online, so check the museum's Facebook page first.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsNashville
Heritage railroad with a museum
Tennessee Central Railway Museum
A volunteer-run museum whose real exhibit is the train: stainless steel streamliners that once ran on name trains like the California Zephyr, now making themed Saturday trips to Watertown and back. Tickets must be bought in advance.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsOak Ridge: 2 train museums
The Southern Appalachia Railway Museum keeps restoring Southern and L&N equipment here, though its Secret City Scenic Excursion Train no longer runs, so neither has regular public hours.
Rail preservation group
Southern Appalachia Railway Museum
A volunteer railway preservation group that once ran the Secret City Scenic Excursion Train. Excursions are paused while it looks for a new home, but restoration of its Southern and L&N equipment continues, and members are welcome.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsHeritage railroad with a museumClosed
Secret City Scenic Excursion Train
Oak Ridge's former excursion train, once run by the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum on a seven-mile branch line. The museum says it no longer runs the train, though its volunteers keep restoring locomotives and coaches.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsPigeon Forge
Heritage railroad with a museum
Dollywood Express
A genuine 110-ton steam locomotive pulling open cars on a 20-minute, five-mile loop through the Smoky Mountain foothills. The ride is included with Dollywood admission; board at the Train Depot in The Village, first come, first served.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsCompare every Tennessee train museum side by side
Type, train rides, admission, hours and who each one suits, in one table. Tap a column to sort it, or a museum to open its page.
| Hours | Best for | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Historic Bristol Train StationBristol | Historic site | No | No admission; venue rentals by arrangement | No public museum hours posted; open for booked events | Rail history fans, wedding and event planners |
| Chattanooga Choo Choo Historic Terminal StationChattanooga | Historic site | No | Not posted in published listings; check the Choo Choo website | Not posted in published listings; check the Choo Choo website | Rail history fans and families touring Chattanooga's train sites |
| Lookout Mountain Incline RailwayChattanooga | Heritage railroad | Yes | Round trip: adults and seniors $24.99, ages 3 to 12 $12.99, 2 and under free | Through October 31: Mon to Fri 9 am to 6 pm, Sat and Sun 9 am to 7 pm; last car leaves 40 minutes before close | Families, first-time Chattanooga visitors, anyone who loves a view |
| Tennessee Valley Railroad MuseumChattanooga | Heritage railroad | Yes | Exhibit only: adults $10, ages 2 to 12 $6, under 2 free. Included with any train ticket | Varies by ride; office Mon to Fri 9 am to 4:30 pm. No trains on Mondays in October 2026 | Families of all ages and serious steam fans |
| Cowan Railroad MuseumCowan | Depot museum | No | $4 per person, $2 per child, $10 per family; free for members, military families and school or camp groups | May through October: Thu to Sat 10 am to 4 pm, Sun 1 pm to 4 pm | Train watchers, families on a short stop, Tennessee rail history fans |
| L&N Depot & MuseumEtowah | Depot museum | No | Not posted; call (423) 263-7840 | Tuesday to Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm, Saturday 9 am to 5 pm, closed Sunday and Monday | History lovers, rail fans and families who like watching trains |
| Casey Jones Home & Railroad MuseumJackson | Railroad museum | No | Adults $12, seniors 60+ $11, ages 4 to 10 $8, 3 and under free | Mon to Sat 9 am to 5 pm, Sun 1 pm to 5 pm | Families with young train fans, history and Civil War buffs, road-trippers on I-40 |
| Johnson City Railroad ExperienceJohnson City | Railroad museum | No | General $10, ages 5 to 12 $8, under 5 free, Honored Heroes $8, groups $7 | Closed Sunday and Monday; check the website or Facebook for current hours | Families with young kids, school groups and local history fans |
| Watauga Valley Railroad Historical Society & MuseumJonesborough | Preservation group | Yes | Not posted online | Chuckey Depot Museum hours not posted online; call (423) 753-5797 | Rail fans, history lovers and families who want to ride an excursion |
| Three Rivers RamblerKnoxville | Heritage railroad | Yes | 2026 Christmas Lantern Express: adults $60, seniors 55+ $55, ages 5 to 14 $40, ages 2 to 4 $20, infants free | No regular weekday hours; trains run on the posted Christmas Lantern Express schedule | Families with young children at Christmas |
| MATA TrolleyMemphis | Trolley museum | Yes | Transit fare; MATA lists current fares on its website | Service times vary by line; check MATA's trolley map and service updates | Families exploring downtown Memphis by streetcar |
| Memphis Railroad & Trolley MuseumMemphis | Railroad museum | No | Older site lists adults $3, under 12 $1, 3 and under free | Older site lists Friday and Saturday 10 am to 5 pm, Sunday noon to 5 pm | Rail fans and families exploring downtown Memphis |
| Monterey Depot MuseumMonterey | Depot museum | No | Not posted online; ask before you go | Not posted online; check the museum's Facebook page | Travelers interested in Upper Cumberland history |
| Tennessee Central Railway MuseumNashville | Heritage railroad | Yes | Excursion fares vary by trip; buy in advance online or by phone | No regular weekday hours. Hobby shop Saturdays 10 am to 2 pm; excursions on select Saturdays | Families on holiday trains and adults who enjoy a long vintage rail day |
| Southern Appalachia Railway MuseumOak Ridge | Preservation group | No | No public admission; memberships from $20 | No regular public hours; follow the museum's Facebook page for news | Rail fans, Southern Railway and L&N enthusiasts, would-be volunteers |
| Dollywood ExpressPigeon Forge | Heritage railroad | Yes | Included with Dollywood theme park admission; no separate train ticket | Follows Dollywood park hours; departure times are limited and posted daily | Families and anyone visiting Dollywood |
| Secret City Scenic Excursion TrainOak Ridge | Heritage railroad | No | No tickets on sale | No public hours; the excursions have ended | Rail fans following Oak Ridge railroad preservation |
No museum on this page matches every filter you picked.
Quick picks: where to start in Tennessee
Best first visit with a toddler
Johnson City Railroad Experience
Johnson City
Kids under 5 get in free, wooden train tables wait in the play area, and monthly Little Engineer Lessons are built for preschoolers.
Biggest collection
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
Chattanooga
Steam, diesel and passenger equipment from the late 1800s on, plus the 65-minute Missionary Ridge Local through a pre-Civil War tunnel.
Most unusual ride
Lookout Mountain Incline Railway
Chattanooga
Two counterbalanced cars pass each other halfway up about a mile of steep track, and the new railcars take wheelchairs.
Rainy day road trip stop
Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum
Jackson
An indoor visit just off the interstate, open seven days a week, with Casey's own pocket watch and a replica engine 382 to climb into.
Best for train watching
Etowah
CSX freight trains roll along the main line right beside the 1906 Victorian depot, and crews change at the yard office just up the track.
Low-cost city stop
Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum
Memphis
Its older website lists admission at $3 for adults and $1 for kids under 12, inside Memphis Central Station on South Main.
Map of every train museum in Tennessee
A state built where the rails came together
Several Tennessee towns exist because a railroad put them there. Johnson City grew up around Henry Johnson's water tank in the 1850s. Bristol began where the Virginia & Tennessee and the East Tennessee & Virginia met in 1856, and because the two lines used different track gauges, passengers, livestock and freight had to switch trains at the state line. In the early 1900s the Louisville & Nashville laid out Etowah from scratch as a crew change terminal, and by 1927 more than 2,000 men worked in its shops.
The big cities were rail hubs as well. Memphis Central Station once handled more than 50 passenger trains a day, Jackson had ties to the Illinois Central, the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio and the L&N, and in Chattanooga the Missionary Ridge Tunnel was cut before the Civil War. In Cowan, helper engines still push heavy freight up the mountain grade on the old Nashville to Chattanooga route.
Each museum tells a piece of that story. Visit the Johnson City Railroad Experience for a city founded by rail, the L&N Depot & Museum for life in a company railroad town, the Historic Bristol Train Station for the gauge break, the Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum for the river city's junction days, and the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum for the steam and diesel equipment that ran it all.
Day trips that pair Tennessee rail stops
Trip 1
Chattanooga by rail, top to bottom
- Lookout Mountain Incline RailwayChattanooga
- Chattanooga Choo Choo Historic Terminal StationChattanooga
- Tennessee Valley Railroad MuseumChattanooga
Start with a morning ride up Lookout Mountain on the Incline, then drive about three miles to see the old Southern Railway Terminal Station at the Chattanooga Choo Choo. Finish at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, about six miles away, with the Missionary Ridge Local and the exhibit hall. Book the train ahead, since weekend seats often sell out.
Trip 2
Tri-Cities railroad towns
- Johnson City Railroad ExperienceJohnson City
- Watauga Valley Railroad Historical Society & MuseumJonesborough
- Historic Bristol Train StationBristol
Spend the morning at the Johnson City Railroad Experience and its N scale model of the Tri-Cities. The Watauga Valley society's Chuckey Depot Museum in Jonesborough is about seven miles off, so call ahead for its hours. End about 21 miles away at the Historic Bristol Train Station, admiring the 1902 depot from outside.
Trip 3
Downtown Memphis on rails
- MATA TrolleyMemphis
- Memphis Railroad & Trolley MuseumMemphis
Ride a vintage or replica MATA streetcar down Main Street, then stop at the Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum in Central Station to learn the city's railroad and trolley story. Check MATA's service updates and the museum's weekend hours before you set out.
How far is it? Drive times from Tennessee's big cities
These times are approximate and assume no traffic, so add a cushion for stops and city driving.
| Museum | From Nashville | From Memphis | From Knoxville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Central Railway MuseumNashville | 10 min | ||
| Cowan Railroad MuseumCowan | 1 hr 50 min | ||
| Tennessee Valley Railroad MuseumChattanooga | 2 hr 40 min | ||
| Casey Jones Home & Railroad MuseumJackson | 2 hr 45 min | 1 hr 45 min | |
| Memphis Railroad & Trolley MuseumMemphis | 10 min | ||
| Dollywood ExpressPigeon Forge | 35 min | ||
| L&N Depot & MuseumEtowah | 1 hr 15 min | ||
| Johnson City Railroad ExperienceJohnson City | 2 hr 5 min | ||
| Lookout Mountain Incline RailwayChattanooga | 2 hr 20 min |
Good to know before you go
- At the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, arrive 30 to 45 minutes early, since trains are not held for late riders, and check your ticket: Hiwassee trips leave from Delano, not Chattanooga.
- Cowan's museum sits beside an active CSX mainline. Keep kids well back from the track, cross only at the signaled crossing on Cumberland Street, and remember it is closed November through April.
- Cinders from the Dollywood Express steam engine can drift into the open cars, so bring sunglasses for small children and plan on a 20-minute wait to board.
- The Three Rivers Rambler currently runs only the Christmas Lantern Express, and tickets start selling out in November. The open air car is outdoors in any weather.
- Tennessee Central Railway Museum tickets must be bought in advance. The Santa Express lasts about 90 minutes, while Watertown trips take five to six hours.
- Johnson City Railroad Experience lets kids under 5 in free and is closed Sunday and Monday.
- Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum hours and prices come from its older website, so call before you go.
Holiday trains and seasonal days at Tennessee museums
Fall and winter bring Tennessee's busiest train calendars. As of October 2026, the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum runs Rails, Wizards & Spells through October 25, pairing a Missionary Ridge Local ride with an Enchanted Forest, and its calendar also lists Day Out With Thomas and holiday trains into winter. In Knoxville the Three Rivers Rambler focuses on its Christmas Lantern Express, and in Nashville the Tennessee Central Railway Museum runs a 90-minute Santa Express on Saturdays from late November through December. The Dollywood Express keeps running through the park's Harvest Festival and Smoky Mountain Christmas seasons. Compare dates in our roundup of Halloween and fall train rides in Tennessee, and see Tennessee Christmas train rides for families before holiday seats sell out.
Train museums just over the Tennessee line
From Nashville, it is about 1 hr 25 min north to Bowling Green and the Historic RailPark & Train Museum, set in a 1925 L&N depot with guided tours of restored railcars; see more on our Kentucky train museums page. From Knoxville, the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City is about 1 hr away across the mountains, with Nantahala Gorge trips and The Polar Express, listed with our North Carolina train museums. And from Chattanooga, the Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth, which holds Georgia's largest collection of rolling stock, is about 2 hr 15 min south on our Georgia train museums page.
Rally and the dark tunnel
Rally's favorite part of the train ride is the tunnel. Everything goes dark, and then there is a big bright light and everyone cheers. I thought of that page when I read about the Missionary Ridge Tunnel in Chattanooga, which is older than the Civil War. My mom dreamed up Rally's story before she died in 2021, and my kids, who are learning to read, still shout at that part. If your little ones want to color Rally before a Tennessee train day, print our Rally coloring pages, and you can read how the book began on our story page.
A train book for the drive
Amtrak serves Memphis Central Station, the same building as the Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum, so browse our guide to Amtrak routes with kids if you would like to arrive by train.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. They fit in a folder with a few crayons for the drive to the museum or the wait for the next train ride.
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 every state: search all 50 by town
- Christmas train rides in Tennessee: Santa trains and holiday rides
- Halloween train rides in Tennessee: pumpkin trains for next October
- Every Amtrak route with kids: find a train by city or station
- Train books for toddlers for the drive home
Tennessee train museum questions parents ask
What is the biggest train museum in Tennessee?
The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga has the largest collection on this page. Founded in 1961, it keeps steam and diesel locomotives running on real track, with equipment from the late 1800s through the mid 20th century. Its exhibit hall opened in 2021, and one listing puts the grounds at about 16 acres. Trains leave from Grand Junction Station in Chattanooga and from Delano for the Hiwassee River Gorge trips.
Are there any free train museums in Tennessee?
None of the Tennessee museums on this page list free general admission, but several are free for some visitors. The Johnson City Railroad Experience is free for kids under 5, and the Cowan Railroad Museum is free for members, military families and school or camp groups. The Memphis Railroad and Trolley Museum's older website lists adults at $3 and kids under 12 at $1, which makes it one of the cheapest stops.
Where can kids ride a real train in Tennessee?
The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga runs trains through much of the year, starting with the 65-minute Missionary Ridge Local. The Lookout Mountain Incline Railway climbs about a mile up the mountain, and the Dollywood Express circles the park on a five-mile steam loop. Seasonal options include the Three Rivers Rambler's Christmas Lantern Express in Knoxville and Tennessee Central Railway Museum excursions from Nashville, while the MATA Trolley runs streetcars in Memphis.
Which Tennessee train museum is best for toddlers?
The Johnson City Railroad Experience is the strongest toddler pick in Tennessee. Children under 5 visit free, the play area has wooden tracks with Thomas and friends, and Little Engineer Lessons each month are designed for preschoolers. The Casey Jones Home and Railroad Museum in Jackson is another good choice, since little ones can climb into a replica of engine 382, ring its bell and watch railroad movies in the kids' theater.
Is there a train museum in Nashville?
Yes, the Tennessee Central Railway Museum is based near downtown Nashville on Willow Street. It is a volunteer nonprofit whose main exhibit is its train of 1940s and 1950s streamlined coaches, which makes themed Saturday trips east toward Watertown and Lebanon. There are no regular weekday hours, but the hobby shop opens Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm. Excursion tickets must be bought in advance.
Are there train museums near Knoxville?
Yes, Knoxville has the Three Rivers Rambler, a steam excursion train that leaves from University Commons. As of October 2026 it runs only the Christmas Lantern Express, an 11-mile round trip along the Tennessee River. The Dollywood Express in Pigeon Forge is about 35 minutes away by car, and the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum in Oak Ridge restores locomotives and coaches, though it has no regular public hours.
Is there a railroad museum in Memphis?
Yes, the Memphis Railroad and Trolley Museum occupies a ground floor suite in Memphis Central Station on South Main Street. It covers the city's railroad history and its trolleys, and it was started with help from local model railroaders. Its older website lists hours of Friday and Saturday 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday noon to 5 pm, so call ahead to confirm before you visit.
What train things can families do in Chattanooga?
Chattanooga has three rail stops within about eight miles of each other. Ride the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway up the mountain from St. Elmo, take the Missionary Ridge Local at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, and see the former Southern Railway Terminal Station at the Chattanooga Choo Choo. Together they make a full day, and the Cowan Railroad Museum is about 40 miles away for a second day.
Is there a train museum in Johnson City, Tennessee?
Yes, the Johnson City Railroad Experience is downtown at 207 North Boone Street. It tells how railroads founded the city and features an N scale model of the whole Tri-Cities region, a 7,000-volume railroad library and play areas for young kids. General admission is $10 and kids under 5 are free. The Watauga Valley society's Chuckey Depot Museum in nearby Jonesborough is about seven miles away.
How long is the Missionary Ridge Local in Chattanooga?
The Missionary Ridge Local at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum lasts about 65 minutes. Riders travel in vintage passenger cars through the 986-foot Missionary Ridge Tunnel, watch a turntable demonstration and tour the restoration shop. As of October 2026, fares start at $26, and exhibit admission is included with any train ticket. It is the museum's easiest ride for young children.
Can you climb on the engine at the Casey Jones museum in Jackson?
Yes, visitors can climb aboard the 35-ton replica of engine 382 outside the Casey Jones Home and Railroad Museum. Kids can try the levers and ring the bell, which is the highlight for many young visitors. The museum also shows the pocket watch Casey wore on his final run and lets you walk through his family home. It is open Monday to Saturday 9 am to 5 pm and Sunday 1 pm to 5 pm.
Is the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway running again after the fire?
Yes, the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway is carrying riders again after a December 2024 wildfire severely damaged it. Its owner, the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority, restored the line, and it now runs brand new railcars designed to allow wheelchairs. As of October 2026, round trips cost $24.99 for adults and $12.99 for ages 3 to 12, and the posted hours run through October 31.
Is the Three Rivers Rambler running in 2026?
Yes, but only for the Christmas Lantern Express, the seasonal trip the Three Rivers Rambler has focused on in recent seasons. The 2026 fares are $60 for adults, $40 for ages 5 to 14 and $20 for ages 2 to 4, with infants free. Tickets begin selling out in November. Steam engine No. 203, nicknamed Lindy, pulls the 1925 coaches while No. 154 is being rebuilt.
Where is Southern Railway 4501 now?
Southern Railway 4501 lives at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga. Co-founder Paul Merriman bought the 2-8-2 in 1964 for $5,000 of his own money, and its excursions helped fund the young museum. Volunteers and shop crews finished its second restoration in September 2014. The locomotive also appeared in the film October Sky.
What is special about Southern E-8 No. 6913 in Oak Ridge?
Southern Railway No. 6913 is one of only four Southern E-8 diesels left, and the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum in Oak Ridge owns it. The volunteer group has restored regional railroad equipment since 1990 and also owns L&N ALCO C-420 No. 1315. The museum has no regular public hours, so following its Facebook page is the best way to learn about events.
Are there Santa trains in Tennessee?
Yes, Tennessee has several holiday trains. The Tennessee Central Railway Museum runs a 90-minute Santa Express from Nashville on Saturdays from late November through December, and the Three Rivers Rambler runs the Christmas Lantern Express in Knoxville. The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum lists holiday trains into winter, and the Dollywood Express runs during Smoky Mountain Christmas at the park. Book early, since these sell out.
Is there a Day Out With Thomas in Tennessee?
The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga lists Day Out With Thomas on its event calendar. Check its website for current dates and fares, since special event trains there often sell out. For a smaller Thomas fix any time of year, the Johnson City Railroad Experience has wooden train tables where Thomas, Percy, James and Gordon wait for young engineers.
Why did the L&N Railroad build the town of Etowah?
The Louisville and Nashville Railroad built Etowah in the early 1900s as a terminal on a more direct Cincinnati to Atlanta line. It needed a place to change crews, service steam engines and house its Atlanta Division, so it bought land for a depot, shops and a workers' town. The depot, finished in 1906, was the first permanent building, and by 1927 more than 2,000 men worked in the shops.
Is the Cowan Railroad Museum open in the winter?
No, the Cowan Railroad Museum is open only from May through October. In season it opens Thursday to Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm and Sunday from 1 pm to 4 pm. Admission is $4 per person, $2 per child or $10 per family. Even in the off season, the active CSX mainline beside the depot still carries freight, sometimes with helper engines pushing up the grade.
Does the Secret City Scenic Excursion Train still run in Oak Ridge?
No, the Secret City Scenic Excursion Train no longer runs. The Southern Appalachia Railway Museum, which operated it on seven miles of former Southern Railway branch line starting at the K-25 site, says the excursions stopped while it looks for a new home. Its volunteers are still restoring locomotives and coaches, and memberships start at $20.
Keep exploring
More family train guides from Rally
- DirectoryRailway Museum Directory650 train museums in all 50 states, with hours, tickets and train rides.
- HolidayChristmas Train RidesSanta trains and holiday light rides, sorted by state and town.
- OctoberHalloween Train RidesPumpkin trains and not-too-spooky rides for little ones, by state.
- NovemberThanksgiving Train RidesHoliday weekend train trips the whole family can share.
- AmtrakAmtrak With KidsWhich Amtrak routes work best with babies, toddlers and big kids.
- Plan a tripTrain Trips With KidsEvery Amtrak route, stop by stop, planned for families.