Three Rivers Rambler

Knoxville may not have passenger rail service, but it does have the Three Rivers Rambler, an excursion train providing historic tours, seasonal trips and events along the Tennessee River.

With a 1925 Baldwin locomotive steam engine, a red caboose and vintage cars originally used in the 1930s and ’40s, the Three Rivers Rambler regular season offers 11-mile, 90-minute rides from late spring throughout the summer.

Tickets for the Christmas Express ride have already sold out for December; its passengers will be treated to a holiday storytelling session and a visit from Santa Claus while aboard. The train also takes October excursions to view the changing leaves of autumn and is available for private charter for weddings and events. Cars can also be rented for birthday parties and “Railgates” during University of Tennessee home games. Adult tickets for most events range from $19 to $22, and the train departs from Volunteer Landing downtown. Three Rivers Rambler is privately owned by Gulf and Ohio Railways, with headquarters in Knoxville and is part of the Knoxville and Holston River Railroad.

“[It] is the only tourist excursion operation of Gulf and Ohio — all their other trains in the Southeast are freight trains,” marketing director Mike Schoenberger says. The company “operates eight shortline railroads in Alabama, North Carolina and Tennessee, a locomotive repair shop [as well as the] tourist train ride,” according to its Web site.

“Our theme events are the biggest hit, so some new ideas for 2008 include a wine and cheese train ride and maybe a Valentine’s Day-themed trip, but those are all in the works,” says Schoenberger. “We’d love people to join our e-mail newsletter and get updates about it and get a jump on Christmas reservations, so they won’t get left out next year.”