From pre-Civil War trains to the golden era of passenger trains of the 1950s, the train has been a key part of Tennessee's history. There are two major museums that operate historic trains, one in Nashville and one in Chattanooga. There are several other trains that make short trips in the state, many of them historic in nature, at other locations.
It's not always just a train ride though, as several trains offer dinner theater, murder mysteries, Civil War reenactments and train robberies as part of your trip.
The Tennessee Valley Railroad is the largest operating historic railroad in the southeast. The company offers daily train excursions from its home base in Chattanooga daily April through October, and on weekends through Thanksgiving weekend.
Three rides are available. The shortest is the Missionary Ridge Local, which is a 55-minute ride through Civil War historic sites and includes a tour of the railroad shop.
A longer ride is the Chickamauga Turn, a ride to Chckamauga, Georgia, which is a six-hour ride with the return trip.
There is also the Dixie Land Excursion, which is a day-long trip on a 1950s-era restored train. The trip includes a restored dining car from 1924. This train makes special trips of varying lengths.
There is also an extensive railroad museum at the home depot.
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
4119 Cromwell Road
Chattanooga, TN 37411
423-894-8028
tvrail.com
The Tennessee Central Railway Museum operates out of Nashville and seeks to keep alive the history of the golden era of trains. Using restored trains from the 1950s, the train makes trips to Monterrey, which is in the eastern part of the state.
You may take the train as far as Monterrey, 110 miles away, or stop at any of the scheduled stops along the way. Return trains bring you back to Nashville.
Trips can include the mile-long yard sale in Watertown, the spring dogwood festival in Monterrey or take in a murder mystery, a Civil War battle or be part of a train robbery.
There is also a North Pole express with Santa in December. Advance ticket purchase and reservations are recommended.
Tennessee Central Railway Museum
220 Willow Street
Nashville, TN 37210
866-468-7630
tcry.org/
The Southern Appalachia Railway Museum is headquartered in "Secret City," also known as Oak Ridge, where the atomic bomb was developed.
The museum has a wide variety of train memorabilia, and their main trip is the Secret City Scenic Excursion, which leaves Oak Ridge and winds through the hills of East Tennessee along Poplar Creek and Highway 327. It is the railroad that was built to ship in materials for secret military work that was being done on uranium.
The trains are 1950- era restored trains and usually run day-long trips.
There is a 1940s-era dining car.
The train runs on first and third Saturdays April through September. October through December it runs on selected weekends.
Southern Appalachia Railway Museum
2010 Highway
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
865-241-2140
techscribes.com/sarm/
