Hello all! I am in Gatlinburg for a week on vacation and want to know of any suggestions on model train shops or layouts in shops or museums to see in the area. I 've been to Bryson City before(wonderful Legacy layout). Thanks for any suggestions! I don't want to go to anyone's home.
Replies sorted oldest to newest
You wil probably get more response moving this to the 3-rail forum.
Doug
There is a nice 'postwar type' layout at a museum in Lake Lure NC called The Right Track Train Museum' or similar. This SE of Asheville about 45 minutes. Beautiful area.
The Smokies were deeded to the NPS by a logging company that operated the Little
River RR (a few signs of which, including a tunnel, still remain in the park). A huge mill was operated along that river between Townsend and Maryville. There is nothing there now but empty fields. When I explored the area several years ago, there was a (very) small museum with a Shay on the south side of the river (mill was on the north) in a collection of houses (I won't say a town). This area can be reached off the road
to the Cades Cove historical area in the park by taking the road to Maryville.
I remember just one train shop in Knoxville, in a mall, on the north side, off I-75, but that may be gone.
The Little River RR operated a famous 2-4-4-2 articulated, that I have been unsuccessful in cajoling any three rail manufacturer into offering. (with modifications, it went on to operate in the northwest) Also, odd for a logging road that moved mostly freight, they operated a Pacific. Naturally, that 2-4-4-2 has been done in several versions in HO and O scale brass.
Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership
