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Discount - AAA

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Beverages Available

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Snack Bar/Shop

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Accessible

Public Restroom

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Rates - $$

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Now Open?

business

Diesel Engine Triple 7

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

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HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE and we never even made it to the excursion. My family was supposed to enjoy the excursion this coming Saturday but Mother Nature had different plans and decided she wanted to possibly douse the entire state of NC with either snow or ice. Considering I live on the opposite end of the state from the depot, we felt it was not a smart idea to risk our lives to drive on the roads nor get up there and get stranded. I called customer service and they said I could not get a refund because I was inside the 5 day grace period. Excuse me, but I had no clue on Monday that the storm was coming. Therefore, how was I supposed to know to cancel. They have no consideration for the safety of their customers. It's all about the money. I will never consider doing this again and I can promise you I will spread the word as much as I can how inconsiderate they are and the terrible customer service I received. Had I tried to cancel for a personal reason, that would be different, but considering this is totally out of my control, they should be ashamed!

They do not care about their customers safety

The reviews on this excursion did not lie. If you're taking this train for views, you're not going to get them the train follows track carved into the valley so the views are limited and one side of the train is bumped up against a wall. We went in the fall, but I could see in the summer. You would really not see anything but green.
If you are childless, do yourself the service and buy a first class ticket which comes with your meal an indoor climate control seating. The meal was delicious and I could not believe it was train food.
The train stops in Dillsboro, North Carolina. This is a small town full of stores reasonably priced considering it's a tourist trap
We got lucky and on the way back into Tennessee in Cherokee. We were able to see herds of elk feeding at dusk.

Ok if you have time to kill

Thank you for a wonderful experience!  My family and I took our first Polar Express ride  on November 23, 2025 and I highly recommend.  Reading of the story, Singing/Dancing, hot cocoa served at the perfect temperature, a chocolate chip cookie, a Golden ticket, a visit to the North Pole complete with lighted houses/bakery, dancing elves and a visit from santa who hands each child a silver bell (adults are handed a bell by the staff) all combine for a perfect , magical experience.  
I would suggest arriving at least an hour before departure time as  there are several photo ops, a Polar Express store,  a model train museum and shop, live music, s'mores (additional cost) and several more stores/booths as well as a booth to get photos with Santa.
We look forward to making this an annual trip for our granddaughter who is just 2 months old.
We ordered merchandise when tickets were purchased and we picked  those items up at the register in the museum shop.
When entering the plaza/depot area, look for a sign that will tell you what boarding station you will need to find when it is time to board the train; this is listed by the name of the car that you purchased tickets for (pic attached).

A wonderful, magical experience

My wife and I took the Tuckasegee River Excursion on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad to celebrate our 34th wedding anniversary, and it was a truly wonderful experience from start to finish.
We traveled on November 8, and the fall colors were still vibrant — a beautiful backdrop for the journey. We chose to ride in a dining car and both enjoyed the grilled chicken lunch, which was tasty and well-prepared. The staff was friendly and attentive, making the ride even more enjoyable.
The layover in Dillsboro was a highlight — it’s a charming little town with plenty of unique shops to explore. On the return trip, we were treated to pumpkin cheesecake, which was absolutely delicious and a perfect seasonal touch.
We highly recommend this excursion to anyone looking for a relaxing and scenic adventure. We’re already looking forward to trying the Nantahala Gorge Excursion and hope to experience the Polar Express one day too!

A Scenic and Memorable Anniversary Ride

A couples trip with Mom and Dad.  Overall a nice time to spend with the parents.  One time on the train is enough.  My biggest disappointment was they served “lunch” at 9:30am.  We left Bryson at 9 am and had a big breakfast at a local cafe.  We paid extra to have a table with 4 seats and “lunch” was provided.  Any who, just a heads up.

Lunch served at 9:30 am

Travel through fertile valleys and down into mountain gorges. Offering 4 to 4.5 hour round-trip and special events in the beautiful Western North Carolina Mountains. Depot is in Bryson City, NC.

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Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

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