Southeast tourist railroads you must visit include museums full of regional history, logging railroads in the Allegheny Mountains, and everything in between. From Trains Magazine’s Tourist Trains Guidebook, here’s our list of tourist railroads, museums, and displays to experience across the region.
Southeast Tourist Railroads and Museums
Alabama
Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum – 1919 9th Street, Calera
As the official railroad museum of Alabama, Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum is home to a variety of historic equipment that’s displayed right next to the restored depot. Take in the museum’s full experience with a diesel-powered excursion over the 6.5-mile Calera & Shelby Railroad. Passengers will ride in either open-air cars or coaches over the former Louisville & Nashville Railroad’s Alabama Mineral line into dense forest during the round trip.
Arkansas
Arkansas & Missouri Railroad – 305 East Emma Avenue, Springdale; or 813 Main Street, Van Buren
In addition to being a freight short line, the Arkansas & Missouri Railroad has put together an impressive operation of excursions along the former St. Louis-San Francisco Railroad. Passengers ride in beautifully restored cars, ranging from coaches to domes, as they traverse northwest Arkansas’ Boston Mountains behind Alco-built diesel locomotives. Multiple trips are available year-round as they depart from either Springdale or Van Buren.
Florida
Gold Coast Railroad Museum – 12450 Southwest 152nd Street, Miami
Out of all the places to host a railroad museum, this one is uniquely located at a former World War II military airship base. Adding to the uniqueness is a collection of vintage equipment one wouldn’t have found in Florida during their regular service years. The most notable are streamlined passenger cars from the famous Chicago-San Francisco California Zephyr. On-site train rides are also offered on select Saturdays throughout the year.
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Georgia
Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive – 2829 Cherokee Street NW, Kennesaw
A historic event of the American Civil War’s Andrews Raid was the Great Locomotive Chase in 1862. Right in the middle of the chase was the once-captured Western & Atlantic steam locomotive General. The 1855-built 4-4-0 serves as a centerpiece to the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive that sits a few yards away from where the chase first began. The next-door tracks continue to serve as an active main line for CSX Transportation between Atlanta and Chattanooga, Tenn.
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Kentucky
Kentucky Railway Museum – 136 South Main Street, New Haven
An immaculate collection and operating railroad all wrapped in one museum from the replica New Haven Station. The Kentucky Railway Museum is home to more than 120 locomotives and rolling stock with Louisville & Nashville steam locomotive No. 152 serving as the headliner. Named the official steam locomotive of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the 4-6-2 is currently undergoing restoration to operation. In the meantime, diesel-powered excursions over the ex-L&N use former Monon BL-2 No. 32 and Santa Fe CF-7 No. 2546.
My Old Kentucky Dinner Train – 602 North 3rd Street, Bardstown
In promoting goodwill and building community support, R. J. Corman Railroad Group operates the My Old Kentucky Dinner Train along the company’s Bardstown Line. Departing from the historic depot in Bardstown, the streamliner of FP7 diesels and 1940s dining cars traverse the former Louisville & Nashville line to as far as Limestone Springs, Ky. The 2-hour lunch and dinner trips are the primary offerings, while murder mystery, bourbon tasting, and holiday-themed events are also included year-round.
Louisiana
New Orleans Streetcars
A combination of transportation history and practicality right in the Big Easy! Five streetcar routes serve the downtown and tourist areas with a vintage fleet of streetcars. The oldest operating equipment along the system dates back to 1896. Most of the routes provide a 24/7 service with connections to New Orleans’ Union Passenger Terminal, hotels, sports venues, and attractions such as the French Quarter and Jazz Museum.
Mississippi
Canton Train Museum – 108 Depot Drive, Canton
This 1890-built depot once served the legendary Panama Limited and City of New Orleans streamliners of the former Illinois Central. Today, the structure has been restored into a museum that is dedicated to the preservation of railroading history in the Canton area. Don’t forget to also visit downtown Canton itself, which once served as the setting for the film, O Brother, Where Art Thou.
North Carolina
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad – 45 Mitchell Street, Bryson City
The former Murphy Branch of the Southern Railway is a rugged piece of railroading in the Great Smoky Mountains. Operating today as one of the Southeast tourist railroads in the form of the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, steam- and diesel-powered excursions depart out of Bryson City year-round. One trip heads into the Nantahala Gorge along the Nantahala River, while the other follows the Tuckasegee River to Dillsboro, NC.
North Carolina Transportation Museum – 1 Samuel Spencer Drive, Spencer
This 60-acre campus is located at the historic Spencer Shops, once an important steam locomotive facility for the Southern’s main line between Atlanta and Washington D.C. The 37-bay Bob Julian Roundhouse is located in the center of the museum and now houses the exhibits of North Carolina’s transportation history. The railroading side is impressive with train rides provided year-round around the museum.
South Carolina
South Carolina Railroad Museum – 110 Industrial Park Road, Winnsboro
The South Carolina Railroad Museum hosts the Rockton, Rion & Western Railroad, a former granite-hauled short line that today serves as the only tourist railroad in the state. Passengers can ride in either a historic SR dining car, passenger coach, open-air car, or caboose during a leisurely excursion over the scenic line. Don’t forget to check out the museum’s collection of track tools, artifacts, photographs and equipment from the Seaboard Air Line Railroad, Ringling Bros. Circus Train, and more.
Tennessee
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum – 4119 Cromwell Road, Chattanooga
A household name of all the Southeast tourist railroads is the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. A variety of steam- and diesel-powered excursions depart from either the museum’s Grand Junction station or Etowah, Tenn. Even during times when it’s considered “off-season” for many tourist railroads and museums, you’re certain to find a train ride right in Chattanooga. Of course, the ride becomes a special treat when it includes steam excursion-star: Southern Railway 2-8-2 No. 4501!
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Virginia
O. Winston Link Museum – 101 Shenandoah Avenue NE, Roanoke
A name forever linked to the art and history of steam railroad photography! Housed in the former Norfolk & Western Railway passenger station in downtown Roanoke, this museum is home to the collection of photographs and equipment that once surrounded the life and career of O. Winston Link, a commercial photographer and steam railroad aficionado. Of course, the highlight exhibit showcases famous images and sound recordings of N&W steam in the late 1950s.
Virginia Museum of Transportation – 303 Norfolk Ave SW, Roanoke
While this museum focuses on every aspect of transportation in the state, it’s the railroading side that shines. This isn’t a surprise as the Virginia Museum of Transportation is located at the former N&W freight station that once served what is still a railroad town. Norfolk & Western steam locomotives Nos. 611 and 1218 are the museum’s prized artifacts having both been Roanoke-built. The J-class, 4-8-4 former continues to operate today throughout the eastern U.S. Planned outings for No. 611 can be found on the museum’s website.
West Virginia
Cass Scenic Railroad – 12363 Cass Road, Cass
The experience of an authentic mountain logging line with an impressive roster of geared steam locomotives is all at the Cass Scenic Railroad! Excursions climb the Appalachians, full of 11% grades and switchbacks to Whittaker and Bald Knob. Special events like the Parade of Steam are scheduled throughout the year for the railroad to show off the largest fleet of operating Shay, Heisler, and Climax-type locomotives in the world.
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Other Southeast railroad sites to consider
During your visit to the Southeast region, consider also visiting these railroad sites:
Alabama
- Bridgeport Depot Museum – Bridgeport
- Decatur Union Depot – Decatur
- Foley Railroad Museum & Model Train Exhibit – Foley
- Fort Payne Depot Museum – Fort Payne
- Huntsville Depot & Museum – Huntsville
- Leeds Historic Depot – Leeds
- North Alabama Railroad Museum – Huntsville
- Scottsboro Depot Museum – Scottsboro
- Stevenson Railroad Depot Museum – Stevenson
- Tuscumbia Depot and Roundhouse – Tuscumbia
Arkansas
- Arkansas Railroad Museum – Pine Bluff
- Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Railway – Eureka Springs
- Fort Smith Trolley Museum – Fort Smith
- Frisco Depot Museum – Mammoth Spring
- METRO Streetcar – Little Rock
Florida
- Florida Railroad Museum – Parrish
- Sugar Express
- Murder Mystery Dinner Train – Fort Myers
- TECO Line Streetcar System
Georgia
- Atlanta History Center – Atlanta
- Blue Ridge Scenic Railway – Blue Ridge
- Georgia Coastal Railway – Kingsland
- Georgia State Railroad Museum – Savannah
- SAM Shortline – Cordele
- Southeastern Railway Museum – Duluth
Kentucky
- Big South Fork Scenic Railway – Stearns
- Bluegrass Scenic Railroad & Museum – Versailles
- Historic Railpark & Train Museum – Bowling Green
- Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation – Irvin
- Paducah Railroad Museum – Paducah
Louisiana
- DeQuincy Railroad Museum – DeQuincy
- Southern Forest Heritage Museum – Long Leaf
Mississippi
- McComb City Railroad Depot Museum – McComb
- Water Valley Casey Jones Railroad Museum – Water Valley
North Carolina
- Craggy Mountain Line – Asheville
- Wilmington Railroad Museum – Wilmington
- New Hope Valley Railway – New Hill
- Tweetsie Railroad – Blowing Rock
South Carolina
- The Best Friend Train Museum – Charleston
- Hub City Railroad Museum – Spartanburg
- The Railroad Historical Center – Greenwood
Tennessee
- Lookout Mountain Incline Railway – Chattanooga
- Tennessee Central Railway Museum – Nashville
- Three Rivers Rambler – Knoxville
Virginia
- C&O Railway Heritage Center – Clifton Forge
- Crewe Railroad Museum – Crewe
- Eastern Shore Railway Museum – Parksley
- Fairfax Station Railroad Museum – Fairfax Station
- Rappahannock Railroad Museum – Fredericksburg
- Richmond Railroad Museum – Richmond
- Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad Museum – Suffolk
- Virginia Scenic Railway – Staunton
West Virginia
- Autumn Colors Express – Huntington
- Princeton Railroad Museum – Princeton
- Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad – Elkins
- Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad – Romney
