5 Railroad Museums Worth Checking Out in East Tennessee

From Chattanooga to the Tri-Cities of Kingsport, Johnson City, and Bristol, Tennessee has a long and rich history with the railroads that helped build the area. Whether you’re interested in trains or simply want to learn more about the history of the area, make some plans to check out these top railroad museums in East Tennessee.

Watauga Valley Railroad Historical Society & Museum

The Watauga Valley Railroad Historical Society & Museum offers a variety of interesting activities worth exploring. If you head to the town of Jonesborough, you can take a tour of the historic Chuckey train depot, which has been restored and now serves as a museum. The historical society also offers excursions on the picturesque Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, which has been a popular location for filming movies, including “The Fugitive,” “My Fellow Americans,” and “Forces of Nature.”

George L. Carter Railroad Museum

Located on the campus of East Tennessee State University, the George L. Carter Railroad Museum draws thousands of visitors every year to view the railroad memorabilia, toy trains, operating displays, and more. The Dr. Fred J. Alsop III Gallery has displays of railroad charts, photos and paintings, and three operating model train layouts. The Charles Ken Marsh Gallery recreates the route that brought ore from Cranberry, North Carolina, to Johnson City, Tennessee. Finally, even the smallest engineers can have fun in the Little Engineers Room, which is a railroad-themed playroom.

Little River Railroad Museum

In 1901, W.B. Townsend created the Little River Lumber Company and Little River Railroad to cut timber from the forests in the Great Smoky Mountains and transport it around the country. The lumber company and railroad went on to become one of the largest commercial logging operations in the area. Today, the Little River Railroad Museum showcases this history with its museum and outside exhibits. You can view a vintage caboose, two vintage flatcars, a steam engine, and more outside of the museum. Inside the museum you’ll learn the story of Little River through photographs, tools, and other small artifacts.

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum

Take a trip to Chattanooga to explore the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. Often described as a moving museum, the Tennessee Valley Railroad offers interactive excursions that give an up-close look at history. Not only does the railroad offer regularly scheduled rides throughout the year, such as the Hiwassee Loop and Missionary Ridge Local, but you can also sign up for special excursions, like Dinner on the Diner, Halloween Eerie Express, and North Pole Limited.

Monterey Depot Museum

Tucked away in the small town of Monterey is the Monterey Depot Museum. Although the museum offers history about train service in the area and how it impacted jobs and industries, you’ll learn about more than just trains when you visit. The museum also has displays that look at the lives of the Native Americans, coal miners, and timber cutters who once lived in the area.

Whether you want to view model trains or head out on a real excursion, you’ll find plenty of enjoyable activities at these railroad museums in East Tennessee.

Image by Michael Krämer from Pixabay

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