Notice: The G.L. Carter Railroad Museum is currently closed to the public. Museum to reopen in an off-campus location during late Fall of this year. More details to come...
Big Train Show
June 2024
The Eighth Annual Big Train Show will take place in June 2024 on the campus of East Tennessee State University in the Ballad Health Athletics Center (Mini-Dome). The show will feature vendors, layouts, and exhibits from across the United States.
For information call Roget Teinert: 423-791-4937 or Bill Smith: 423-491-0623
Heritage Days
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Scheduled for the last Saturday of each month these special events commemorate a particular railroad, area railroads, special railroad types, or those of a particular region of the United States with museum displays and operating model trains representing the heritage theme.
- Annual calendar of these events is prepared and posted in January.
May 2023 Heritage Day
- May 27, 2023 (10:00 am - 3:00 pm)
- 21st Century Powerfest!
Birthday Parties
Bookings are not available at this time.
- Families can schedule birthday parties for their children, friends and family
- Party packages include:
- 1 hour reserved play time in the museum’s Little Engineers Room
- 1-2 hours in a decorated party room (building on campus, but not in the museum)
- Party railroad-themed toys/hats/neckerchiefs available at extra cost
Rail Excursions
- Spring and Fall rail excursions are scheduled to area railroads as day trips for the public
- Excursion packages include:
- Roundtrip bus ride from ETSU on modern, restroom-equipped motor coaches
- Ride on trains pulled by steam and/or diesel locomotives in scenic areas
- Other highlights such as museum tickets, meals, boat rides, etc. as included in the excursion to a particular railroad.
- Bryson City, NC - Oct. 8, 2023
- For more information download the Excursion Press Release.
- Reserve your seat today: Ticket Order Form.
Special Tours
- Special tours of the museum can be arranged by contacting the director for groups
who cannot visit the museum during its regularly scheduled hours of operation.
Special Events
- The museum’s Cope Memorial Traveling layout is often used to represent the railroad museum and its affiliated organizations at public events such as Johnson City’s Blue Plum Festival and Jonesborough Days.