The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway takes passengers on a trip through the Murphy Junction area of Georgia in a vintage train. The 26-mile route runs along the Toccoa River, which becomes the Ocoee River at the tour's final rest stop in Copperhill, Tennessee. The four-hour trip takes place over a rail line that originally traveled from Blue Ridge, Georgia to Murphy, North Carolina. The official passenger railroad stopped trips in the 1960s. Today's Blue Ridge rail guests enjoy a trip from a depot in the mountain town through the forests and scenery of northeast Georgia into Tennessee. Layovers in the adjoining towns of McCaysville, Georgia and Copperhill, Tennessee give visitors two hours to explore antique stores and enjoy a snack. After the trip, visitors can take a tour of the engine. The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway operates between March 13th and December 31st. During the Christmas holidays, riders can take the whole family on a special one-hour Santa Express trip. The ride features a visit from Santa, caroling, and photo opportunities with Santa and Mrs. Claus. There's also a longer, four-hour night excursion to a small "Santa's Village" in McCaysville and Copperhill during the holiday season.
Operated by the Georgia Department of Resources Division of State Parks and Historic Sites, the Southwest Georgia Excursion (SAM) Trains host a number of tours in their air-conditioned, vintage cars. The tours begin in the town of Cordele, but passengers can embark at other depots along the way. Other platform stops are in Georgia Veterans State Park, Leslie, Americus, Plains and Archery. Passengers may visit a number of historical sites along the route. Georgia Veterans' State Park is home to a military museum, the Lake Blackshear Resort and Golf Club and many campsites. The five-story Victorian design Windsor Hotel in Americus occupies a city block. In Plains, passengers can disembark to visit President Carter's Campaign Museum. Customers can choose from unassigned coach seats, reserved Premium tables in the Americus car, and the Hawkins Adults-only Car.
One of the largest exposed granite domes, or monadnock, in the United States, is located in Stone Mountain, Georgia, near Atlanta. The site has become a popular vacation destination for families in the area, and features an amusement park, campsites, laser show, concerts and other events. Visitors can ride on an open-air locomotive from the 1940s by visiting the Railroad Depot at the Crossroads section of the park. The trip lasts 30 minutes and is included in the cost of a one-day park pass. The train conductor relates stories about train adventures as the locomotive makes a five-mile trek around the mountain.
