Three Rivers Rambler
Encyclopedia
The Three Rivers Rambler is a scenic train ride in Knoxville, Tennessee
along the Tennessee River
provided by the Knoxville and Holston River Railroad
, a subsidiary of Gulf and Ohio Railways
.
. The train then follows the landing down Neyland Drive, going past the County Building, and under the Henley Street and Gay Street Bridge
s. The train passes the Star of Knoxville riverboat
and the locomotive's watertower and shed at the end of Volunteer Landing, where it parallels the Knox County Greenways down the river to Governor Ned McWherter Riverside Landing Park. Beyond McWherter Park the train goes through the General Shale Brick Company and the Knoxville Utilities Board water treatment
plant. The train then follows the river for a ways past Knoxville Downtown Island Airport
, before turning away from the river and going under Riverside Drive
and past the Hines Compost Company. The train then reaches Three Rivers Trestle, where the French Broad River
and the Holston River
come together to form the Tennessee River. The train slows on the bridge to allow passengers to take pictures of the osprey
nest built above the tracks. Once on the other side of the river the train reaches the quarry at Marbledale, where the locomotive uncouples and runs around the train and then pulls it back along the same route in reverse. The trip takes an average of 90 minutes.
of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. She is a 2-8-0
and run on select days of the year and the Christmas Express in November and December.
is a 2-8-0
built by Schenectady Locomotive Works
in 1890. She was donated to the city of Knoxville in 1953. In 2008 she was donated to Gulf & Ohio Railways for restoration. She began pulling trains on July 3, 2010.
switcher built in 1947. She worked as Southern, Norfolk Southern
, and RJ Corman #1007 before being acquired by Gulf & Ohio for use as the motive power on the Rambler when #203 is not running.
built in 1954. She used to be the primary power for the Rambler until the end of the 2008 season when she was sent to the K&HR's K line south of the river and was replaced by #4. She still wears her Three Rivers Rambler lettering and can often be seen from Volunteer Landing across the river at Holston Gases.
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
along the Tennessee River
Tennessee River
The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. It is approximately 652 miles long and is located in the southeastern United States in the Tennessee Valley. The river was once popularly known as the Cherokee River, among other names...
provided by the Knoxville and Holston River Railroad
Knoxville and Holston River Railroad
The Knoxville and Holston River Railroad operates over within Knoxville and Marbledale, Tennessee. This short line railroad was created in 1998 and is currently owned by Gulf and Ohio Railways. The railroad also hosts a tourist train run by Gulf & Ohio Railways, the Three Rivers Rambler....
, a subsidiary of Gulf and Ohio Railways
Gulf and Ohio Railways
Gulf & Ohio Railways is a holding company for seven different short-line railroads in the Southern United States, as well as a tourist-oriented passenger train, and locomotive leasing and repair service through Knoxville Locomotive Works...
.
The Ride
The ride starts at the boarding area in Volunteer Landing in the downtown riverfront area, near Neyland StadiumNeyland Stadium
Neyland Stadium is a sports stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. It serves primarily as the home of the Tennessee Volunteers football team, but is also used to host large conventions and has been a site for several NFL exhibition games. The stadium's official capacity is 102,455...
. The train then follows the landing down Neyland Drive, going past the County Building, and under the Henley Street and Gay Street Bridge
Gay Street Bridge
The Gay Street Bridge is a vehicle bridge that crosses the Tennessee River in Knoxville, Tennessee. Completed in 1898, the bridge is the oldest of four vehicle bridges connecting Downtown Knoxville with South Knoxville, the other three being the Henley Street Bridge, the Buck Karnes Bridge , and...
s. The train passes the Star of Knoxville riverboat
Riverboat
A riverboat is a ship built boat designed for inland navigation on lakes, rivers, and artificial waterways. They are generally equipped and outfitted as work boats in one of the carrying trades, for freight or people transport, including luxury units constructed for entertainment enterprises, such...
and the locomotive's watertower and shed at the end of Volunteer Landing, where it parallels the Knox County Greenways down the river to Governor Ned McWherter Riverside Landing Park. Beyond McWherter Park the train goes through the General Shale Brick Company and the Knoxville Utilities Board water treatment
Water treatment
Water treatment describes those processes used to make water more acceptable for a desired end-use. These can include use as drinking water, industrial processes, medical and many other uses. The goal of all water treatment process is to remove existing contaminants in the water, or reduce the...
plant. The train then follows the river for a ways past Knoxville Downtown Island Airport
Knoxville Downtown Island Airport
Knoxville Downtown Island Airport or Knoxville Downtown Island Home Airport , often referred to as Island Home Airport, is a general aviation airport located approximately one-half mile east of downtown Knoxville, in Knox County, Tennessee, United States.Although most U.S...
, before turning away from the river and going under Riverside Drive
Riverside Drive
A number of cities around the world have a Riverside Drive.In the United States:*Riverside Drive *Riverside Drive *Riverside Drive *Riverside Drive...
and past the Hines Compost Company. The train then reaches Three Rivers Trestle, where the French Broad River
French Broad River
The French Broad River flows from near the village of Rosman in Transylvania County, North Carolina, into the state of Tennessee. Its confluence with the Holston River at Knoxville is the beginning of the Tennessee River....
and the Holston River
Holston River
The Holston River is a major river system of southwestern Virginia and east Tennessee. The three major forks of the Holston rise in southwestern Virginia and have their confluence near Kingsport, Tennessee. The North Fork flows southwest from Sharon Springs in Bland County, Virginia...
come together to form the Tennessee River. The train slows on the bridge to allow passengers to take pictures of the osprey
Osprey
The Osprey , sometimes known as the sea hawk or fish eagle, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey. It is a large raptor, reaching more than in length and across the wings...
nest built above the tracks. Once on the other side of the river the train reaches the quarry at Marbledale, where the locomotive uncouples and runs around the train and then pulls it back along the same route in reverse. The trip takes an average of 90 minutes.
Washington & Lincolnton #203
Washington & Lincolnton #203, Lindy, was built in 1925 by the Baldwin Locomotive WorksBaldwin Locomotive Works
The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of...
of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. She is a 2-8-0
2-8-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-8-0 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and no trailing wheels...
and run on select days of the year and the Christmas Express in November and December.
Southern Railway #154
Southern Railway #154Southern Railway 154
Southern Railway 154 is a steam locomotive built in 1890 by the Schenectady Locomotive Works for the Southern Railway. It is a 2-8-0 Consolidation of Southern's G class.- External links :* http://www.southern154.com/photos/154asheville.jpg...
is a 2-8-0
2-8-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-8-0 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and no trailing wheels...
built by Schenectady Locomotive Works
Schenectady Locomotive Works
The Schenectady Locomotive Works built railroad locomotives from its founding in 1848 through its merger into American Locomotive Company in 1901.After the 1901 merger, ALCO made the Schenectady plant its headquarters in Schenectady, New York....
in 1890. She was donated to the city of Knoxville in 1953. In 2008 she was donated to Gulf & Ohio Railways for restoration. She began pulling trains on July 3, 2010.
Chattanooga Traction Company #4
Chattanooga Traction Company #4 is an EMD SW1EMD SW1
The EMD SW1 was a diesel-electric switcher locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between December 1938 and November 1953. Final assembly was at EMD's plant at La Grange, Illinois. The SW1 was the second generation of 600 hp switcher from EMD, succeeding the SW and SC...
switcher built in 1947. She worked as Southern, Norfolk Southern
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
, and RJ Corman #1007 before being acquired by Gulf & Ohio for use as the motive power on the Rambler when #203 is not running.
Three Rivers Rambler #9
Locomotive #9 is a rare EMD SW600EMD SW600
An EMD SW600 is a diesel switcher locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between February 1954 and January 1962. Power was provided by an EMD 567C 6-cylinder engine, which generated 600 horsepower .-Original owners:...
built in 1954. She used to be the primary power for the Rambler until the end of the 2008 season when she was sent to the K&HR's K line south of the river and was replaced by #4. She still wears her Three Rivers Rambler lettering and can often be seen from Volunteer Landing across the river at Holston Gases.
Intrepid #879
1931-Coach Car; includes folding seats so passengers can face forward on the return leg of the trip.External links
- http://www.threeriversrambler.com/
- http://www.southern154.com/
- http://www.gulfandohio.com/