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The Watauga Valley Railroad Historical Society & Museum is once again pleased to announce another Autumn Leaf Rail Excursion through the scenic Hiwassee River Gorge of East Tennessee. The excursion date is set for Sunday, October 13th, 2019 and will offer an opportunity to ride the rails through the one of the most beautiful river gorges in the United States as the railroad tracks travel along the Hiwassee River. An added feature is traversing the famous, spiral "Hiwassee Loop".
Hiwassee Loop
Your excursion train will travel through the Narrows, where the Hiwassee River flows through rock channels, and the Bald Mountain, or "Hiwassee Loop". The track actually passes over itself on a high trestle during a corkscrew climb up the mountain near Farner. Tracks along this route parallel the river for most of its length, providing views of the lower gorge. The trip is approximately 4.5 hours long.
Hiwassee Gorge
General Deluxe Coach seating is offered on this excursion, providing passengers with comfortable cushioned seats with large windows. Historic 1950's-era diesel locomotives will pull the vintage enclosed climate-controlled coaches with rest rooms in each car. We are excited to offer seating aboard the luxury cars, which offers two seating options: high-level Dome and comfortable Observation Lounge seating. Dome seating allows passengers a panoramic view of the passing scenery from high above the car. Observation Lounge seating gives passengers a unique view of the railroad over which we pass from the end of the car. Both seating options in the "Algonquin Park" provide passengers with the opportunity to experience the "glory days" of rail travel in the United States. Each option includes complimentary snack service.
Our passengers will have three boarding options for the train in Etowah, TN.
Maps will be provided to all locations.
Before placing your order, please consider where you will be traveling from, and select the best boarding location option for you. Your choice of boarding location will be shown on your confirmation form, and will guarantee you a seat on the bus from that particular location.
NOTE: After passengers order tickets online, they will receive a confirmation of their purchase. A map will be e-mailed to you with your confirmation form. Another confirmation will be emailed approximately three to four weeks after the ticket purchase and will include more information and a map to the boarding location selected.
Snack items are available for sale on the train including: soft drinks, coffee, water, chips, crackers, and candy bars. Souvenirs are also sold onboard including: t-shirts, caps, and books.
Lunch will be on your own at restaurants in Athens, TN prior to boarding the train in Etowah at 12:45 p.m. for a 1:00 p.m. departure. The train will arrive in Farner, TN at 3:30 p.m. for a short layover, leaving Farner at 3:45 p.m. Upon arrival back at Etowah, passengers will board their motor coach for the return trip home; anticipated arrival back at Morristown at 7:45 p.m., and Johnson City at 8:45 p.m. The motor coaches will make a food stop (again on your own) during this return trip. A loading ramp is available at train boarding location.
All transportation costs are included in the ticket price. The cost is the same whether guests drive to Etowah or ride the tour bus.
[IMPORTANT NOTE: Those ordering tickets separately, but who wish to be seated together, should specify this on the order form]
NOTE: Observation Lounge and Dome seating is very limited and will sell out quickly after tickets go on sale.
Each ticket includes train ride and motor coach to and from Etowah, TN. Meals are not included.
The railroad line was originally built to haul ore from the copper basin in Copperhill, TN. Regularly scheduled passenger trains operated over this line until 1968; the last freight train traveled the "Old Line" in 2001. The Tennessee Overhill Association took over ownership of the rail line in 2004. This will be a unique opportunity to ride on this historic railroad line.
Some Safety Rules:
Our train is a SMOKING/VAPOR-FREE train, which means, nowhere on the train, at all, is there a place to smoke/vapor. Once you board the train, the ONLY place you may get off to smoke or vapor, is at the end of the train trip at Hiwassee Gorge Ranger Station. Smoking/vaporing is not allowed on the tour busses. Please do NOT wear any high heel, or open-toe shoes on board the train. When the train moves, high heel shoes may cause someone to lose their balance and open-toe shoes are unsafe to wear on the train due to gaps between railroad cars. Appropriate clothing is strongly suggested. Safety is our number-one concern.
Disclaimer:
**This trip will not be handicap accessible. Historic and antiquated rail passenger equipment, like that used on this excursion, is exempt from ADA regulations under U.S. Code: Title 42: Section 12184. The passenger cars and station facilities used on this excursion were constructed before disability accessibility laws were adopted. Platforms, boarding areas, stairs, step-stools, seating, and especially doorways, passageways, aisles, and on-board restrooms may not accommodate all passengers. We will make all reasonable efforts to accommodate differently abled passengers who desire to ride this train. Please email us with your request if needed.
The Watauga Valley Railroad Historical Society and its representatives act only as agents for the passengers with respect to rail transportation, food service, and other services offered, and as such hold themselves free of any liability for any injury, delay, loss, equipment failure, substitution, or damage from any cause whatsoever. This includes schedule changes due to weather problems or any other factor. Railroad equipment may be substituted at anytime for some unforeseen reason.
The sponsoring organization is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and is operating the train trip to help fund restoration of railroad equipment, maintain its museum, and associated railroad historical projects. No part of the ticket cost is tax deductible. No refunds are allowed, but we will attempt to connect you with someone on the waiting list wanting to purchase tickets.