The Holiday Season is a perfect time for travel through middle Tennessee, when the leaves are off the trees and the rolling countryside can be seen for miles. And what better way to enjoy the late fall scenery than aboard an old-fashioned rail excursion with family and friends traveling up to the Cumberland Plateau.
The “Hilltop Holiday Express” will depart Nashville on Saturday, November 27th for a 180-mile roundtrip excursion to Cookeville, Tennessee. The 1950’s ‘Streamliner’ will depart at 8 a.m. from the old Tennessee Central Railway yard just east of downtown Nashville and travel through the picturesque farms and small villages of middle Tennessee. The train’s route will pass through the towns of Mt. Juliet, Lebanon, Watertown, and Lancaster, following the banks of the scenic Caney Fork River through remote Buffalo Valley before climbing the rugged five-mile grade to the top of the Cumberland Plateau.
Arriving in Cookeville around noon, passengers will have time to stretch their legs and tour the historic Tennessee Central Railroad Depot and museum featuring century-old relics from the era of steam railroads. Rail fans and modelers will enjoy seeing the museum’s operating model layouts, and there will also be time to browse the nearby shops and antique stores for some early Christmas shopping.
After a two-hour layover in Cookeville, the ‘Special’ will chase the setting sun back to Nashville with a scheduled arrival at 6 pm. Along the way, passengers will be treated to glimpses of the Christmas lights of small towns and farmhouses as dusk settles over the Tennessee hills.
A choice of affordable accommodations includes comfortable Deluxe Coach seats from $59 to $79, as well as First Class lounge and rooftop ‘Vista-Dome’ seating from $119 to $149. A complimentary hot lunch and beverage is included in the price of all tickets, and First Class passengers will also enjoy complimentary beverages throughout the trip.
For reservations or more details, contact Southern Rail Charters, LLC at 205-335-3457 or visit www.southernrailcharters.com on the Internet.