Chris Parker and I came down the highway knowing that the Heritage Center was on the left and saw a sign saying "Train Rides Today". We turned off the highway and found more signs that directed us to the parking lot and Wheat station. I picked up the tickets for our train ride then met John Humphrey, one of the founding members of the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum. I had learned about this train ride from Bart and Sarah Jennings on my first rare mileage trip with them on the Idaho Northern Railroad. John, Chris and I talked while we waited for the train to arrive. There were air conditioning problems with one of the coaches so they were a little late.
Southern Appalachia Railway MuseumTurn the clock back to and return to the heyday of passenger railroading with the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum's Secret City Scenic Excursion Train. Trains depart from the Heritage Center (formerly K-25) near Oak Ridge, Tennessee, an historic Department of Energy facility where research and development plunged the United States into the Atomic Age. The train winds along Poplar Creek and Highway 327 in the beautiful hills and valleys of East Tennessee. The northern portion of the route was featured in the movie "October Sky". Additional route and facility history is available, as are views of a typical trip. Each round trip travels approximately 14 miles and lasts about one hour. Trains are pulled by 1950's vintage diesel locomotives. Seating is in an air-conditioned coach and a dining car, both restored from the 1940's era of passenger railroading. An open-air concession car has souvenirs and snacks for sale. Ticket prices are $19 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under. Lap children two and under are free. Group rates are available for groups of 15 or more. Advance reservations for all seats are highly recommended. Tickets will be sold the day of each trip if space is available. Please note that non-US citizens are required to provide passport and visa information prior to boarding the train.
The train arrived with a consist of former Louisvile and Nashville GP30 1030, Southern Railway caboose X-261, Southern Railway baggage car 543, former Algoma Central coach 663, Southern Railway coach "Fort Oglethorpe", Southern Railway dining car 3164 and former Delaware and Hudson C420 2064.
Southern Appalachia Railway Museum GP30 1030, ex. Columbia and Silver Creek Railroad 3059, exx. Pine Belt Southern Railroad Company 3059, exxx. Southern Alabama Railway 3059, exxxx. Seaboard 1030, nee Louisville and Nashville 1030 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1963.
Southern Appalachaia Railway Museum C-420 2064, ex. Vintage Locomotives 2064, exx. Arkansas and Missouri 311, exxx. Adirondack Railway Preservation Society 2064, exxxx. Delaware and Hudson 408 nee Lehigh Valley 408 built by American Locomotive Company in 1964.
We walked around the train to wait our turn to board.
The forward end of the train.
As passengers boarded, they were searched by base security for our trip through the "Secret City Complex". When I say "searched", I mean far better than any airport I have been through, as they went through every pocket in my backpack. Once cleared, we could board the train and Chris and I found our assigned seats in the Algoma Central coach.
The train started off by going north passing Wheat station.
A locomotive down the tracks. As we entered Secret City, no pictures were allowed to be taken while we traversed the property
Once through the other gate, one could resume photography you can see the largest U-shaped building in the world when constructed.
The road leading into the Secret City.
We then crossed Poplar Creek.
Passing the vegetation after crossing the creek.
Passing the foundation for the original checkpoint location for the Secret City.
Re-crossing the road.
Rrolling along the highway.
The road into Secret City.
The train crossed Poplar Creek.
Interior of Southern baggage car 543.
Interior of Southern Railway diner 3164.
Interior of Southern Railway coach 664 "Fort Oglethorpe".
We had now reached Blair, the northern point of our trip and here is the connection with the Norfolk Southern.
The old guard tower location.
Returning south along the highway that paralleled our route.
Our train later crossed Poplar Creek.
About to enter the gate so no more pictures until we get through the property again.
Once we cleared the gate, some of the stored locomotives on the property, after which we passed Wheat station.
We continued onward, approaching the "holding pond" for the "Secret City".
Rounding the curve by the holding pond.
Tagged geese were enjoying themselves.
Further down the tracks, Watt's Bar Lake came into view.
At our southern turnaround point at Watt's Bar Lake.
Some interesting railroad parts.
Chris and John were with me in the baggage car.
We passed the pond on our return journey.
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We reversed into Wheat station.
Chris and John once again. I detrained for more pictures.
Southern Appalachaia Railway Museum C-420 2064.
Passengers and children had an opportunity to honk the horn of GP30 1030.
Southern Appalachia Railway Museum GP30 1030.
Southern Appalachia Railway Museum caboose X261, nee Southern Railway X261 built by Gantt Manufacturing in 1973.
Southern Appalachia Railway Museum baggage car 543, nee Southern Railway 543 built by St. Louis Car company in 1942. It was originally used in Railway Express Agency service. After passenger service ended on the Southern, it was assigned to derrick service in the late 1970's and was used as a storage and power supply car for crews working with the derrick crane during derailment cleanup and project work. One of its assignments was Knoxville. In 1996, it was auctioned off and sold to Louisville Scrap Metal in Roanoke. The Southern Appalachia Railway Museum bought the car and returned it to Knoxville later that year. In 1998, its interior was restored and a sales counter installed.
Southern Appalachia Railway Museum coach 663, ex. Algoma Central 663, nee Central of Georgia 663 built by American Car and Foundry in 1947.
Southern Appalachia Railway Museum coach 664 "Fort Oglethorpe, nee Central of Georgia 664 built by Budd Company in 1947. A sister car to "Fort McPherson", it ran daily between Atlanta and Columbus, Georgia on the Man O'War trains, then became Southern property when it merged with the Central of Georgia on June 18, 1963. The "Fort Oglethorpe" was donated to the museum in 1990 and returned to service in 1993, when it ran for several years on special mainline excursions on Norfolk Southern and at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga.
Southern Appalachia Railway Museum dining car 3164, nee Southern Railway 3164 built by Pullman Company in 1924. It seats 44 passengers at 11 tables. The car worked both the Carolina Special (which ran through Blair, Tennessee) and the Tennessean through Knoxville. For many years, it was based at Knoxville working between Knoxville and Washington, DC.
On November 11, 1958, the 83-ton car was knocked into the Southern station in downtown Knoxville where it wound up inside the building. Despite damage to both the car and the building both were repaired and returned to service. It was retired by Southern Railway in 1970 and passed through the hands of a number of private collectors before being acquired by several members of SARM in 1996. From 1996 to 1999, SARM volunteers worked to restore the interior (the tables and chairs are original), exterior and running gear. The car returned to service in April 1999 on the Secret City Scenic Excursion Train. It is also used by the Dinner Train at Oak Ridge for charter trips and regularly-scheduled dinner trains.
Another view of our train. Chris then told me that he had lost his glasses but was not sure where so John and I offered him our services and drove out along the line past Poplar Creek and started to walk the tracks. All three of us must have walked over five miles of track, but we had no luck in finding them. Chris then decided it was time to give up and a big well-hearted thank you to us for trying, after which he found a Lenscrafters at a mall in Knoxville. We decided to photograph the 3:00 departure before we left. After showing a pair of ladies to the train, we went back to the road crossing by Poplar Creek.
The train ran by our location. Chris and I drove to the mall in Knoxville and we waited for his new glasses to be made then drove through Oakridge to US 27, on which we proceeded north. Norfolk Southern's Rathole line than came into our view and we decided to pull into Glen Mary to see if we could catch any trains. It did not take long.
A southbound Norfolk Southern freight waiting at Glen Mary. Next a northbound freight came but also stopped.
Then a southbound Norfolk Southern train crossed over to continue its journey.
The northbound waited and now who would be next to move?
The northbound freight went by us first.
The southbound train was finally turned loose and we had enjoyed some great train watching here this early evening. We continued north on US 27, stopping at Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken in Oneida for dinner. After a most fulfilling meal, we drove the rest of the way to Stearns, Kentucky to the Big South Fork Motor Inn for our two-night stay there.
8/19/2007 We arose up and drove south to Oneida to Walmart for some items and breakfast at MacDonald's then drove to grade crossing at Ratcliff.
Ratcliff Control Point on the Norfolk Southern.
A northbound Norfolk Southern freight, after which we proceeded north on US 27 back into Kentucky to Norwood.
A northbound Norfolk Southern train at Norwood. We then returned south.
A stop was made at the Cumberland River bridge for a picture.
Our next stop was the bridge on Keno Road.
There was some very interesting rock strata here.
For some unknown reason, people throw their old computers off the Keno Road bridge.
Chris on that bridge. In an attempt to find a train, we decided to stop at the Cave Springs Road bridge.
The views from theree.
We next went to the next bridge north to check out its photo angles, which were good but had a lack of trains. We made our way back to Stearns, but saw a Boone National Forest Sign for "The Arch" so decided to explore, driving to the parking lot and I walked down the trail all the way to the bottom where I found "The Arch".
Perhaps the most famous arch in Daniel Boone National Forest is Natural Arch. Located in the Natural Arch Scenic Area, this 100 foot long sandstone arch stands out as a spectacular feature. The scenic area offers multiple trails for visitors to get close-up views of the arch. There is also an overlook which provides panoramic views of the formation.
With time not on my side, I walked up the 165 steps in seven minutes and we drove back to Stearns for our next train ride.
