What to see in the Smokey Mountians

Jim I was there last year it's a very nice place to visit, you must go to Dollywood and ride the steam engine that they have it's awesome. It's a beautiful long ride through the park. There's also a lot to do in the next town over which is called Pigeon forge

go see the Titanic show and the upside down house, There's so much to do there, it's a great trip. Thanks, Alex

Go to dolly wood I live about an hour from there. Dollywood is located in pigeon forge TN find the street address and put it into your GPS and it will take you about 10-15 minutes to be there. Dollywood has 2 Narrow Gauge Mikado's and there both from the White Pass and Yukon! They have lots of rides including America's First Winged coaster and I've rode it 3 times but there's so much to do just look it up on the web. but its worth the money!

Lots and lots of touristy stuff to do in Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, really whatever strikes your fancy.   If you have a sports car or a motorcycle you may want to head the hour or so west to Deal's Gap aka the Tail of the Dragon.  Personally I just like to enjoy the scenery.

 

By all means, you should definitely go to Dollywood. They have 2 mikados, and if you like steam locomotives, then you will no doubt love the ride! We ride it every time we go. Plus, the scenery is really nice, especially when you get to the top of the mountain, you'll see part of the great smokey mountains! I love it, and it's by far my favorite ride in all of Dollywood.

Little River Road from the Park entrance to Townsend is mostly on the right of way of the Little River Railroad.

 

http://www.littleriverrailroad.org/

 

The town of Elkmont was served by the railroad:

 

http://www.littleriverrailroad.org/scenes.htm

 

And the Cades Cove area is a must-see.  Go as early as you can to avoid the crowds.

Just after dawn, or just prior to sunset is a good time to be in Cade's Cove, for sometimes then herds of deer can be seen in the valley (and by then herds of humans may not have arrived yet, or have left for the day).  And when you get home, start

bombarding the manufacturers with emails and letters asking for a three rail model of the Little River RR's famous 2-4-4-2 articulated, because I have wanted one for years.

Been a long time since I was there so I am sure you have good advice above.

 

The Little River RR NUMBER 110 runs out of Coldwater Mi. The Train Terminal is located about 2 miles west of I-69 and about 4 or 5 blocks South of the main drag in Coldwater. Its a fun ride.

If you are on the Blue Ridge Parkway in northern NC, check out the Tweetsie RR in Boone / Blowing Rock area.  I was there on Sunday and had a great time.  They are one of the oldest theme parks in the country (founded in 1957).  They have two narrow gauge engine, the oldest number 12 built in 1917 that actually ran on the Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee RR narrow gauge line.  Their newest engine number 190 was built in 1943 for the Army Corp of engineers and ran on the White Pass and Ukon in Alaska. 

 

They have a three mile line with a staged train robbery and fort attack plus several shows (Can-can dancers show and a clogger dancer show) plus lots of rides for the children.  Best part for me was you can ride the train as much as you want.

 

Hope you have a wonderful trip,

Don

What is weird about the Tweetsie is that it goes around and around, not a Christmas

tree, but a hill.  At first, I didn't think I was seeing what I thought I was, but somebody got left behind on the trip I was on, and they looped the hill again to

pick them up.  BUT, thinking about the Smokies and the Little River Logging RR and its

2-4-4-2, I went to the '41 Loco. Cyclopedia to see if it showed other 2-4-4-2's built.  It just showed a B&O 4-4-4-4 (kind of unusual, semi-streamlined), and a Pennsy 6-4-4-6, S-1, which I think there has been no model offered..AMAZING..they don't miss much Pennsy.

I wondered if there were other X-4-4-X articulateds built, or are those three most

of a really rare group of eight drivered articulateds?

I wouldn't go to THE GREAT SMOKEY MOUNTAIN RAILROAD. Its not worth it, Its very expensive!

The web site for the Great Smoky Mtn. RR, which rins between Dillsboro & Bryson City, NC, is: www.gsmr.com We rode it a few yrs. ago & it was a beautiful trip.

I believe that the GSMR is now operated by the same company that runs the Durango & Silverton RR, in Colorado.

Asheville is a bit of a hike (hour and a half) but the Blue Ridge Parkway is an outstanding drive.  The Biltmore Estate was also outstanding.

I hate to bust your bubble, Dick. The GSMR has not run in Dillsboro to Bryson City in about five years since the steam engine came out of service. They run from Bryson City to the Nantahalla George outdoor center and return. I think it is not worth the price you pay. The price for open air car service is $97.00 A PERSON!

You can visit http://www.smokymountaintrains.com/ in Bryson City. The LIONEL Museum and O scale train layout is well worth the visit.

I erred in my comments above...I found somebody DID make the Pennsy S-1 in three rail...I think it was Third Rail.  I didn't ride the train out of Bryson City as I showed

up just as one was leaving town, and I wanted to scamper back across the mountains to the motel in Pigeon Forge before dark, so didn't check ticket prices. As for the Durango and Silverton, I rode it last some years ago, after riding it several times in the 1950's, and 1960's, when it was a "real railroad", (D&RGW), so wonder what its ticket prices are now?

Every time I've been in Durango recently, I have been with someone who has asthma

and allergy problems exacerbated by coal smoke, so have not bothered to check but

just driven up to Silverton.  Forest fires had shut down the Cumbres and Toltec when

I was there and time was right to ride it, so have never made that one.  How much is

it to ride these days? With forest fires in the area this summer, I wonder if it is running?  (also, there is a problem with what to do with your car, or you

can't ride the full trip) I do like to wander around that yard in Chama.