Holiday Express set to chug its way up Cumberland Plateau
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The Hilltop Holiday Express will depart Nashville this Nov. 27 for a 180-mile, round-trip excursion to Cookeville. The 1950s Streamliner will leave 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 train will chase the setting sun back to Nashville with a scheduled arrival at 6 p.m. 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 seating from $119 to $149. A 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 Marvin Clemons with Southern Rail Charters at 205-335-3457 or visit www.southernrailcharters.com on the Internet.