This museum showcases railroading in Georgia and the Southeast with exhibits and more than 90 pieces of rolling stock. Among the highlights are a business car used to help convince leaders to bring the 1996 Olympics to Atlanta, a private car once used by President Warren G. Harding, and one of the famous green and gold Southern Crescent passenger diesels. It also offers short train rides.
Choices
The 35-acre museum features a variety of buildings and displays. Included are excursion queen Savannah & Atlanta steam locomotive No. 750, the 1911 Pullman private car Superb used by President Harding, and the Marco Polo used by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. You’ll also find an Amtrak sleeper, a troop kitchen car, and a 1924 dining car. The RTE Building features a collection of stainless steel passenger cars and the MARTA diesel bus collection. You’ll have a choice of two train rides. A diesel-powered train ride takes you around the museum’s site aboard vintage cabooses. New is a former Seaboard Coast Line SD45-2 and a 1957 miniature train from the Birmingham Zoo.
When to go
The museum is open Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. Train rides are offered year-round. Special event days include Train or Treat, and Santa Arrives. Second Thursdays at the museum are geared toward preschool children and feature a different program each month
Good to know
The museum also operates a miniature train ride on the grounds.
Worth doing
From professional sports to botanical gardens and the zoo, take a few days and see all that the Atlanta area has to offer.
Don’t miss
View famous excursion engines Savannah & Atlanta Pacific type No. 750, known for appearing in the film Biloxi Blues. Also look for General II, which was rebuilt to resemble the General of Civil War fame.
Getting there
Located in Duluth, a northeast suburb of Atlanta. It is south of downtown Duluth. From Atlanta, take Interstate 85 (Exit 104) Pleasant Hill Road to Buford Highway. Turn right on Buford Highway and then left onto Peachtree Road to the museum.
Location: 3595 Buford Highway, Duluth, GA
Phone: 770-476-2013
Website: train-museum.org
E-mail: socialmedia@train-museum.org
