Find a train ride in the Southern USA…
Y’all aboard! It’s a familiar refrain heard across the south. Southern rail legacy differs markedly from the rest of the country. 19th century realities of agriculture, isolation, and poverty helped to shape a disjointed map of fragmented railroads. The antebellum economy impeded rail development and war went on to crush it – a one-two punch from which the region still suffers. But for railfans, it is these very circumstances which have yielded the sorts of quixotic shortlines and lyrical mountain routes that make scenic train rides so well loved.
Mountain railroads dot the Appalachian range. Climbing steep grades and making valley plunges, they curl along thrashing streams and disappear amid hills and hollers, taking in historic and recreational attractions along their way.
Poised amid the Appalachian’s vast Allegheny Mountains, West Virginia’s Cass Scenic Railroad offers a rare composite of nature’s solitude and industrial age intrigue. The old logging railroad takes in an authentic logger’s ghost town on its climb to Bald Knob – near highest summit in the Allegheny Range.
Up on Blue Ridge, you need only listen for the shrill tweets to find the Tweetsie Railroad — the classic North Carolina rail park that takes its name from the sound of its steam engine train’s whistle. A day trip to the Tweetsie is a rite of passage for kids in these parts — especially come fall, when one of the south’s top Halloween attractions, the Tweetsie Ghost Train, hits the tracks.
The Great Smoky Mountains Railway’s scenic train ride shows off its namesake region gorges and is one of the few US railroads that offers hikers easy access to the famous 2,200 miles (3,500 km) Appalachian Trail.
Back down to earth, My Old Kentucky Dinner Train and the Seminole Gulf Railway’s Murder Mystery Dinner Train in Florida are among rail attractions where foodies can track down a heaping helping of Southern hospitality. In New Orlean’s, Tennessee William’s long-lost Streetcar to Desire is no more, but the city retains enough of its original streetcar system to delight train spotter and literati alike.
Find a train ride in the Southern USA…
Find a train ride in the Southern USA…
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Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum
Calera, Alabama
The official railway of the state of Alabama welcomes visitors on a 10 mi (16 km) scenic train ride through the forests of Shelby County aboard the Calera & Shelby Railroad. Highlights include cab rides, caboose rides, Ozan Vineyard Wine Train, and train museum. Trains operate seasonally. Telephone: +1 (205) 668-3435.
North Alabama Railroad Museum
Huntsville, Alabama
A restored depot at a former mainline crossroads is the departure point for this 90-minute rail excursion through Alabama’s Blue Ridge Country. Over 30 heritage locomotives, coaches and utility cars are displayed. Highlights include train museum. Limited days of operation. Telephone: +1 (256) 851-6276.
Wales West Railways
Silverhill, Alabama
Encircling a Welsh-themed RV resort of the same name, America’s only authentic Welsh Victorian 2 ft narrow gauge railway is complemented by a 7.5 in gauge miniature railway. Highlights include family fun park activities, three acre lake for fishing and pedal-boating, and full hook-up RV sites. Trains operate year-round. Telephone: +1 (888) 569-5337.
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Arkansas & Missouri Railroad
Springdale, Arkansas
Through Northwest Arkansas, the A&M clears high trestles and a mountain tunnel on its awesome Ozark run to the top of the scenic Boston Mountains and into the historic Arkansas River Basin. Highlights include caboose rides. Trains operate seasonally. Telephone:+1 (800) 687-8600.
Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Railway
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Scenic train rides through the Ozark Hills and an active rail yard bring Arkansas’s railroading heritage to life. A popular dining excursion is also scheduled. Highlights include lunch and dinner trips, exhibits of railroad memorabilia, and a working roundtable. Trains operate seasonally. Telephone: +1 (479) 253-9623.
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Florida Railroad Museum
Parrish, Florida
Visitors “ride the exhibits” along a 6 mi (10 km) preservation stretch of the historic Seaboard Air Line Railway through rural Manatee County. Highlights include locomotives, coaches and cabooses in various stages of restoration. Trains operate year-round. Telephone: +1 (941) 776-0906.
Miami Metromover
MDT – Miami-Dade Transit
Miami. Florida
The Magic City’s resurgent downtown has embraced this elevated people mover in a way other cities have not. Its uber cool fleet of elevated trains glides above the palms, in and out of towers, and offers dazzling ocean views. A great way to navigate between downtown venues, attractions and hotels; it’s also just a lot of fun! Highlights include that its free to ride. Trains operate year-round. Telephone: +1 (305) 468-5900.
Gold Coast Railroad Museum
Miami, Florida
The hangars of a former Navy air base house the museum’s rare and extensive collection of rolling stock and equipment including the Ferdinand Magellan Presidential Rail Car. Standard diesel demonstration runs and children’s railway are featured. Highlights include train museum, crew-for-a-day program, and caboose and cab rides. Trains operate year-round. Telephone: +1 (305) 253-0063.
Murder Mystery Dinner Train
Seminole Gulf Railway
Fort Myers, Florida
A Gulf Coast favorite, this 3.5-hour excursion treats guests to a five-course dinner prepared by an on-board chef, plus the live performance of a comical murder mystery, and scenic Caloosahatchee River crossing. Highlights include overnight hotel packages. Trains operate year-round. Telephone: +1 (800) 736-4853.
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Georgia Coastal Railway
St. Marys/Kingsland, Georgia
Guests sample railroading’s Golden Age on this scenic train ride through Georgia’s coastal marsh lands. Vintage 1940s passenger cars are featured. Highlights include Saturday Pizza Express, Wild West, and other theme trains. Trains operate year-round. Telephone: +1 (904) 370-3744.
SAM Shortline Excursion Train
Cordele, Georgia
Traveling through the rural countryside, stops include Georgia Veterans State Park, historic Leslie, Americus, Plains — home of President Jimmy Carter — and Archery. Highlights include an opportunities to tour Habitat for Humanity’s Global Village & Discovery Center and President Carter’s boyhood home. Trains operate seasonally. Telephone: +1 (229) 276-0755.
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Big South Fork Scenic Railway
Stearns, Kentucky
Within the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, the beauty of Appalachia is revealed along track once dedicated to hauling lumber and coal. Highlights include the restored Blue Heron Mining Camp — now a National Park Service interpretive center. Trains operate seasonally. Telephone: +1 (800) 462-5664.
Bluegrass Scenic Railroad & Museum
Versaillies, Kentucky
Coaches from rail’s golden age take passengers on a romantic excursion through the gorges and horse farms of Central Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region. Exhibits include a rare watchman’s shanty and a working telegraph set as well as historic locomotives and rolling stock including cabooses. Highlights include train museum. Trains operate seasonally. Telephone: +1 (800) 755-2476.
Kentucky Railway Museum
New Haven, Kentucky
“The Official Railway Museum of the Commonwealth of Kentucky” runs 22 mi (35 km) trips through the fields and forests of the historic Rolling Fork River Valley. Highlights include 3 model train layouts and historic rail exhibits. Trains operate seasonally. Telephone: +1 (800) 272-0152.
My Old Kentucky Dinner Train
Bardstown, Kentucky
Luncheon and dinner excursions depart historic Bardstown for a two-hour excursion through the Kentucky heartland. Southern hospitality abounds aboard restored circa 1940s dining cars where fine cuisine and gracious service are standard. Trains operate year-round. Telephone: +1 (866) 801-3463.
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New Orleans Streetcars
RTA – Regional Transit Authority
New Orleans, Louisiana
Though NOLA’s streetcar to Desire disappeared decades ago, the world’s oldest street railway lives on. Today, the 1834 St. Charles line — a National Historic Landmark — is joined by the more recently constructed Canal Street (Cemeteries and City Park/Museum branches), Rampart, and Riverfront lines. All four lines run along or cross Canal Street between the French Quarter and the Central Business District (CBD). Trains operate year-round. Telephone: +1 (504) 248-3900.
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Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Bryson City, North Carolina
Vintage trainsets cross soaring Fontana Trestle with some continuing to spectacular Nantahala River Gorge. Separate Tuckasegee River excursions pass through historic Cowee Tunnel. Highlights include adults-only Carolina Shine Moonshine Experience and cab rides; rail/raft, rail/zipline and overnight packages. Telephone: +1 (800) 872-4681.
New Hope Valley Railway — North Carolina Railroad Museum
New Hill, North Carolina
In the heart of the Raleigh–Durham–Chapel Hill Triangle, the NHVRy hosts a popular series of excursions along a century-old line once used to haul timber and tobacco. Highlights include a guest engineer program, caboose rentals and a G-scale garden railroad. Limited days of operation. Telephone: +1 (919) 362-5416.
North Carolina Transportation Museum
Spencer, North Carolina
An antique diesel pulls heritage coaches around a 57 acre (24 hectare) yard containing an extensive multi-modal transportation collection. Highlights include cab and turntable rides and caboose rental. Trains operate year-round. Telephone: +1 (704) 636-2889.
Tweetsie Railroad
Blowing Rock, North Carolina
Named for the “tweet tweet” of its whistle and pulled by historic steam engine train No. 12, the train does a 3 mi (4 km) turn through a wild west theme park. Highlights include rides, shows and a steam locomotive repair yard. Trains operate seasonally. Telephone: +1 (800) 526-5740.
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Rockton, Rion and Western Railroad
South Carolina Railroad Museum
Winnsboro, South Carolina
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the train museum’s rural railroad dates back more than a century. Today’s 10 mi (16 km) round-trip runs along track first laid to haul granite from a nearby quarry. Highlights include an open-air car; also a large collection of historic locomotives and rolling stock. Trains operate seasonally. Telephone: +1 (803) 712-4135.
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Lookout Mountain Incline Railway (CARTA)
Chattanooga, Tennessee
The steepest passenger railway in the world, “America’s Most Amazing Mile” has thrilled travelers for over a century. The Upper Station observation deck is the mountain’s highest overlook. Highlights include a Lookout Mountain Incline Railway/Rock City/Ruby Falls package. Trains operate seasonally. Telephone: +1 (423) 821-4224.
Tennessee Central Railway Museum
Nashville, Tennessee
Half-day and full-day themed streamliner excursions ease through the Cumberland Mountain foothills of Middle Tennessee, many featuring winery layover and tour. Highlights include dome coach seating. Limited days of operation. Telephone: +1 (615) 244-9001.
Tennessee Valley Railroad
Chattanooga, Tennessee
In under an hour, Missionary Ridge Local guests ride through a Civil War tunnel and watch a turntable rotate the locomotive for the return trip. Steam Special is a scenic day trip adventure with a layover in to Summerville, Georgia. Separate Hiwassee Loop river gorge tour departs Etowah, Tennessee. Trains operate seasonally. Telephone: +1 (423) 894-8028 (EXT 0).
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James River Rambler
Dillwyn, Virginia
Through the rolling hills and deep forests of Central Virginia, the Rambler’s vintage diesels haul classic coaches along a heritage route. Highlights include open-air sightseeing cars. Limited days of operation. Telephone: +1 (804) 231-4324.
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Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad
Cass and other depots, West Virginia
The world’s largest fleet of Shay steam locomotives operate along a 1901 logging railroad in Cass Scenic Railroad State Park. Most popular is the half-day Cass Scenic Railroad round-trip to Bald Knob summit. Other trips include diesel-hauled Tygart Flyer and Cheat Mountain Salamander high country wilderness tours; Durbin Rocket to Monongahela National Forest and steam engine train trip to Whittaker logging camp. Highlights include onboard dining and caboose overnights. Trains operate seasonally. Telephone: +1 (304) 636-9477.
Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad
Romney, West Virginia
Excursions follow the South Branch Potomac River past farm and forest and into “The Trough,” a narrow and secluded mountain valley where, high above their natural habitat, American bald eagles soar. Highlights include meal service and open-air cars. Trains operate seasonally. Telephone: +1 (304) 424-0736.
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