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Great Fall Getaways
5. Train rides through fall foliage
Experience a train ride through mountains and valleys to take in breathtaking fall scenery
The Summerville Steam Special
Chattanooga, Tennessee
The Summerville Steam Special. Image courtesy of Tennessee Valley Railroad |
Fall colors are a scenic highlight during the Summerville autumn trips.
This train follows a historic route from the Grand Junction depot in Chattanooga, Tennessee to Summerville, Georgia and return. Crossing the state line in Rossville, the train wanders through the outskirts of the Chickamauga & Chattanooga Military Park and then passes through the small Georgia towns of Chickamauga, Rock Spring, LaFayette, Trion, and finally Summerville. Departure for this all day trip is 9:00 A.M. and returns approximately 6:00 P.M. (all times Eastern)
There is optional dining service and a relaxing layover in Summerville to explore the town or get lunch. For many, the highlight of the day is listening to one of the steam locomotive pull the train through the Georgia foothills.
The train depot is located at 4119 Cromwell Rd, Chattanooga, TN.
Accommodations
My Old Kentucky Dinner Train - Bardstown, Kentucky
My Old Kentucky Dinner Train ride through fall foliage. Image courtesy of My Old Kentucky Dinner Train |
A fine dining experience like no other! While aboard the beautifully restored 1940s dining cars, experience a journey through the beautiful Kentucky countryside. You will pass through the Bernheim Forest over a wooden trestle bridge and by famous distilleries such as Four Roses and Jim Beam.
On the Lunch Train Excursion, you will enjoy a beautiful two-hour train ride through the Kentucky countryside while indulging in a gourmet three-course lunch with seafood, meat, and vegetarian options.
The Dinner Train Excursion is a two and a half-hour excursion - great for a romantic evening or for anyone celebrating a special occasion. Dine on delicious gourmet meal options for adults and children.
Bourbon Excursion is a 2.5 hour experience - Relax while you enjoy a ride through the beautiful central Kentucky countryside, with a gourmet four-course meal and a tasting of bourbon hosted by a master distiller.
Hop aboard the Murder Mystery Train by Murder and Merriment. This memorable journey is sure to keep you guessing! Enjoy a gourmet four-course meal and a live murder mystery show performed by Murder and Merriment while riding on this 3 hour trek.
For more information and pricing, visit My Old Kentucky Dinner Train.
Accommodations
Cass Scenic Bald Knob Trip
Cass, West Virginia
Train ride through fall foliage. Image courtesy of Cass Scenic Railroad |
The long haul of 11 miles to Bald Knob takes about four and a half hours for this 22-mile round trip. Panoramas of the lofty Appalachians become more beautiful as the train climbs higher and higher. Passengers suddenly realize they are entering a completely different world, mainly because of the change in trees, flowers and atmosphere. By climbing the 2,390 feet from Cass (2452-feet) to Bald Knob (4842-feet) on Back Allegheny Mountain and second highest point in West Virginia, passengers have made the equivalent to an 800 mile trip to Canada in climate because of the higher altitude. Here are found spruce trees, snowshoe hares and other plants and animals typical in the far north.
The rustic overlook affords one of the most awesome, overwhelming spectacles in the east. Dwarfed by distance and almost lost in the vastness of the panorama is the giant Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope, the world’s largest fully steerable radio telescope, at the Green Bank Observatory in the valley near the foot of the mountain. A remarkable contrast between the wilderness at Bald Knob and today’s space-age facilities!
A “King of the Road” hobo lunch will be provided to enjoy with your ride as well. The hobo lunch consists of a cold sandwich (lunch meat, cheese, etc. all separated in plastic wrap), chips, cookie, and bottled water. A ride on the Cass Scenic Railroad is an unforgettable experience for the whole family.
The Bald Knob train features open-air cars (they have roofs but are open on the sides) and seating is at traditional wooden benches.
For more information and pricing, visit mountainrailwv.com.
The Cass Depot is located at 12363 Cass Road, Cass, WV 24927
Accommodations
The Autumn Leaf Rambler
Central Virginia
The Autumn Leaf Rambler. Image courtesy of The Old Dominion Chapter of the NRHS |
Experience the relaxation of the bygone days of traveling by train from your seat in either the reclining seat coaches or the open-air sightseeing cars. Departing from the picturesque Dillwyn Station, the vintage diesel powered train winds through the rolling hills, pastoral farmland, and deep forests of an unspoiled landscape in the heart of Central Virginia. The 3-hour round trip covers 16 miles of the Buckingham Branch Railroad, departing and returning from Dillwyn and features a breathtaking view of the James River from the bridge at Bremo Bluff. The ideal family outing and a way to slow down from today's always connected lifestyle!
The train features classic coaches from railroading’s mid 20th century heyday and unique open-air sightseeing cars to provide an experience unavailable elsewhere in Virginia.
For more information and pricing, visit olddominionchapter.com.
Accommodations 
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