If I was heading to Baltimore, I would be seeing the Museum roundhouse there. Instead, the family is driving from near Va. Beach to Huntsville AL. Doing a loop from VA through Nashville and then south, coming home through Asheville NC. Without going a long way out of the way, anything that I just HAVE to see railroad wise? Always up for a museum or similar. I will be retiring soon and won’t get to do another one of these trips anytime soon so want to make the most of it. Where should I stop? What will I regret if I miss it? I couldn’t believe my wife actually asked me to post this so I am taking advantage of it…
I don’t know if Memphis, Tennessee is too out of the way. I lived in that area and there is great train watching. Have fun on your trip.
are you going to be going near Chattanooga? There are a few train related places there
Probably a little out of the way for Memphis but Chattanooga is exactly on the path headed home. Anything particular there to see?
How much of a hard core rail fan are you? If the on-line mapping program of your given route is accurate, a lot of the trip is along the former N&W right of way. I could spend two weeks looking at all the stuff from Roanoke to Bristol.
There is the O-Winston Link Museum in Roanoke. The locoshops in Roanoke. The whole Abingdon branch now called the Virginia creeper trail, to West Jefferson NC.
When is this trip supposed to be? The N&W #611 is supposed to be moved on May 24th from the Virigina Museum of Transportation to the roundhouse in Spencer NC to begin its restoration.
Coming east from Asheville, I’d take route 40 to Statesville, then 70 to Salisbury. Spencer, the home of the NORTH CAROLINA TRANSPORTATION MUSEUM, is just east of Salisbury. Continue home via I-85 to Durham. After that, you probably know the roads a lot better than I do.
I am more hard core than my wife will let me be on this trip (and live.) We are traveling May 2 and have to be in Huntsville on the 5th. Leaving there on the 8th and need to be home within a week. Just saw the Transportation Museum website though and thats a good place for the way home. Thanks! Love to see 611 move but can’t swing it. I will be looking for the photo op sites alone the old N&W though. So far, its looking good.
The Tennessee Valley RR and museum is off I-75 just north of Chattanooga and worth it if you have a couple of hours. They run a steam excursion every day and turn the loco (2-8-0?) around on the tt, with a tour of the shops. Nice trip that takes about 1 hour.
Also, the Chattanooga Choo Choo is the old Southern Railway station with train exhibits outside, a great model rr upstairs and also a good restaurant inside the beatiful station. Well worth it and it is locaated in Chattanooga, just off I-75/I-24 (follow signs). You can also spend the night in one of the Pullman cars at the station. Good luck on your trip. Both of these are worth the stop if ‘everyone’ is willing to take the time.
-Bob
I got a thumbs up, so we will be stopping there for a number of hours.
If you are in Ashville, NC, the Biltmore Estate is a must see. Not RR orientated, but a beautiful mansion and one of the largest houses in the US. They did build a small railroad in teh site when it was being built just to move materials around.
Image results from Yahoo
https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=A0LEV1ni.0tTChEA3zpXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTB0ZWxxbDA5BHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2JmMQR2dGlkA1ZJUDM1OF8x?_adv_prop=image&fr=slv1-&va=biltmore+estate#index=srp
Also, as you travel through the NC area, be on the lookout for the CSX main line that runs from SC into TN. It is the old Clinchfield RR. When I was in the Spruce Pine area a few years ago, they were running 4 to 5 trains an hour in both directions 24/7 on a single track with many passing sidings. Mostly 80-100 car coal trains. If this Yahoo map link works correctly, you can see the route of the RR as it goes from the coastal plain into the mountains in the area of Spruce Pine, NC. The horseshoe curve if visible from the Blue Ridge Parkway between Little Switzerand and Altapas
https://maps.yahoo.com/#/place/?lat=35.88877193467697&lon=-82.00607299804687&q=Spruce%20Pine%2C%20NC%2028777&bb=35.951885710091446%2C-82.11336135864258%2C35.8258861803564%2C-81.89878463745117&addr=Spruce%20Pine%2C%20NC%2028777
Thanks. The reason we are heading through Asheville was particularly for Biltmore. It is a must see. I will look for the CSX, but having grown up in Newport News close to their coal terminal there, CSX and C&O have always been something I saw often. I am really trying for something I am not used to, but you never know until you see it. Thanks though!!
There is an old roundhouse in Huntsville:
I have done all of the following and recommend each one.
In Nashville, TN … The Tennesse Cetral Railroad Museum is worthwhile. There is a well preserved NC&StL 4-8-4 in a Nashivlle city park. The old Union Station is now a hotel and restaurant as well as a good place to watch CSX trains
In Alabama, the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum south of Birmingham is worth seeing.
In KY … My Old Kentucky Dinner Train in Bardstown and the KY Ry Museum in New Haven.
In NC … The Great Smokey Mountain Railroad is a spectacular trip. Near Ashville. Huge Lionel train exhibit next to station for train ride.
Below is in the Heart of Dixie RR Museum.
Below is 4-8-4 in Nashville city park
Belwo is Great Smokey Mountain RR
Below is Nashville Union Station (Now hotel)
Besides the Tenn Valley RR museum in Chattanooga (which BTW has an excellent collection of various passenger cars, steam, and roundhouse) and the ChooChoo mentioned earlier, Chattanooga is a vacation destination itself. The Tenn Aquarium is a must see (they have I think one of the largest freshwater acquariums and a salt water acquarium – I have a diver friend who works the shark feedings). Rock City is a must see garden collection. There is also the inclined railway up Lookout Mtn and Ruby Falls (though I wasn’t that impressed honestly). If you are into history, there are two Civil War Military Parks there (Battle of Lookout Mountain & Chickamauga). Easily spend a couple days in Chattanooga.
Huntsville has an small RR museum but is much better known for the Space Center exhibit. If you are coming down from Nashville on the way to Huntsville, Lynchburg is home to Jack Daniels Distillary. Even if you don’t partake, the tour is fascinating. It’s not far off I24 and is a direct 45 min shot to Huntsville from there.
If you’re doing the loop Nashville to Huntsville and back to Asheville, you might try Nashville to Lynchburg to Huntsville and then back via Chattanooga (though honestly Lynchburn and Chattanooga are easy drives from a base in Huntsville). From Chattanooga, you have a choice of up to Knoxville via 75 or go over the mountains to Ocoee (where the 96 Olympic white water was held, then follow the old Murphy branch/Great Smokey Mtn RR back to Asheville. And of course Biltmore is the great thing there.
When I was living in Tennessee, I had to travel from Memphis to Knoxville. On the way we passed through the Nashville Union Station. It’s a must see and is full of rich L&N history. Enjoy your trip.[:)]
I think we are going to need a longer vacation. I appreciate all the input from everyone. The good news is that my wife said “don’t you think we should buy a really good camera since we are going to do this?” It could only be better if she suggested we build a bigger layout. Thanks to all!
Well we are back. Went to the Tennesee Valley Railroad Museum, the Kentucky Railway Museum, and the Chattanooga Station (turned hotel/restaurant.) Thanks to everyone for the great suggestions. My wife thinks RRs are the male equivalent of playing dolls, but she even said SHE enjoyed seeing the old ghosts. Stopped for lots of pictures and will post them once we decompress.