Blue Ridge Scenic Railway
Nestled in the beautiful little town of Blue Ridge, Georgia is the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. A great way to get ready for Christmas on the Santa Express of take a look at the amazing fall colors in the Chattahooche National Forest.
The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway is located just an hour outside Helen, Georgia
and the Unicoi State Park which I also highly recommend.
Our family took a ride on the train on a warm summer day and had the best time making memories in our open air car. Our ride began in Blue Ridge, Georgia and took us on a 4 hour ride that spanned 26 miles roundtrip. On our ride to McCaysville, Georgia and Copperhill, Tennessee we enjoyed some incredible views of the Toccoa River. We were able to catch glimpse of some families out enjoying the beautiful scenery while they floated the river.
When we reached McCaysville and Copperhill we were able to get off and enjoy two hours to sightsee and get some lunch. The kids got a kick out of standing with one foot in Tennessee and one in Georgia. McCaysville has some awesome restaurants, shopping, and a grocery store all in walking distance to the train depot. Just don’t get too caught up in your time here… you don’t want to miss the train and have to hitchhike back to Blue Ridge.
What You Need to Know When Buying Your Tickets
When buying your tickets, please note they offer discounts for military and veterans, first responders (including volunteers), and teachers. You will need to have proof of employment for your discount to apply. You can purchase group tickets for discounts as well. You price will vary depending on the train ride you take, ages of the riders, and what type train car you wish to ride in. Blue Ridge Scenic Railway also offers gift certificates. You can check their website for the most up to date ticket prices. or you can call their ticket office 877-413-TRAIN (8724) You can purchase your tickets online here.
Train Times
The train times will vary depending on the day of the week or if you are riding a special train. There are several special trains throughout the year. Santa Express, New Year’s Eve, Easter Eggspress, Firecracker, Fall Foliage, and Harvest Festival are some of their specialty trains offered throughout the year. The regular train schedule is generally from Thursday – Sunday.
Picking Up Your Tickets
You will need to arrive to the train depot (their address is 241 Depot Street, Blue Ridge Georgia) in Blue Ridge an hour before your train departs and get your tickets (you can pick up your tickets as early as 2 hours before departure). The train will be open for boarding 45 minutes prior to departure. If you are riding as a large group and you want to sit together, make sure you arrive early. Train cars are assigned, but seats are on a first come first served basis. Sitting on the right side of the train as you are leaving will give you a great view of the river, but you will be asked to switch sides on your way back to Blue Ridge and you will get a great view of the mountains and many cabins/chalets along the track. We were riding on a day when we were able to move about the train freely and switch sides as we wanted.
The train will leave on time, and missed trips are non-refundable. So I urge you to come early. There are several businesses on the track where you can spend your time waiting. We enjoyed some coffee and donuts at a coffee shop. There are restrooms near the train station. (And there was one on the train, which was huge for this mama that had a potty training toddler.)
The Train Cars
As I said, we rode on a warm summer day. We were in an open air car, so we were aware there would be no air conditioning. BUT, it was plenty breezy and with all the air blowing in our movement down the tracks we were all quite comfortable. If it was cooler weather, you may want to dress in layers!
They also offer vintage cars, climate-controlled cars, and for those riders over 18 there is closed coach primer.
Riding on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway was a great way to spend our day. Our entire family had a blast and we all look forward to going back again soon. I would love to hear from you about Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. Have you taken a ride on one of the specialty trains?
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