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The Watauga Valley Railroad Historical Society and Museum will sponsor a train excursion May 3 on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and enjoy the beauty of the spring season while riding the rails in vintage passenger railroad cars,” said Mike Tilley, president of the Watauga Valley Railroad Museum.

The one-day excursion will cover most of the operating trackage of the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. The track follows the route of the former Southern Railway’s Murphy Branch Line, established in 1891, with its 5% grade and many bridges. The scenic rail excursion will take passengers from the historic depot in Bryson City, North Carolina, through the beautiful countryside of Western North Carolina, into the breathtaking Nantahala Gorge, surrounded by the majestic Smoky Mountains, and back to Bryson City. Much of the route hugs the banks of the Little Tennessee and Nantahala rivers. It crosses Fontana Lake on a trestle spanning 780 feet, 100 feet above the lake.

Passengers ride in comfort in First Class, Crown Class, Tourist Coach, or Open-Air cars. All classes offer seating in classic antique restored passenger cars. There are restrooms throughout the train.

First Class cars are climate-controlled and feature large windows and lounge-car seating.

Crown Class cars offer large windows and climate control for passenger comfort.

Tourist Coach Class cars have ceiling fans and windows that open and close for fresh-air viewing.

Open-Air Coach cars are great for picture-taking and “experiencing” the ride and scenery.

The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad has become a favorite of film producers over the years. The train wreck scene in the 1993 movie The Fugitive, starring Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones, was filmed along the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. The railroad was used in the filming of the 1996 comedy My Fellow Americans, starring Jack Lemmon and James Garner, when they stumble onto a charter train full of UNC-Chapel Hill fans headed for the NCAA Final Four. Train scenes in the 1998 movie Forces of Nature, starring Ben Affleck and Sandra Bullock, were also filmed on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad.

Bryson City is a laid-back, non-touristy town of 1,300 with more stop signs than stoplights. It is an easy-to-stroll town with local bookstores, arts and crafts galleries with working artisans, a bike shop, two fly-fishing shops, a fly-fishing museum, a historical museum, an aquarium, a scenic train, two breweries, and a surprising variety of restaurants. Bryson City is only 10 miles from the famous Cherokee Indian Reservation.

Passengers have two options for arrival at the Bryson City Train Depot: They may either ride a chartered tour bus out of Johnson City or drive directly to Bryson City if that is more convenient. Please select the point of departure location on the order form when purchasing tickets. Free parking is provided both in Johnson City and Bryson City.

The train will depart Bryson City at 12:01 p.m. and arrive back in Bryson City between 4:15 and 4:45 p.m.

For passengers riding the motor coach from Johnson City, the bus will leave Johnson City at 7:30 a.m. and arrive back in Johnson City at 7:30 p.m.

First Class tickets are $175 and include a meal. (No passengers under age 21.) Crown Class tickets are $120 for adults and $95 for children (ages 2 to 12). Tourist Coach or Open-Air Coach Class tickets are $105 for adults and $86 for children (ages 2 to 12).

All classes of excursion tickets include free admission to the Smoky Mountain Lionel Train Museum before boarding the train. The museum boasts a collection of 7,000 Lionel engines, cars and accessories, an impressive operating layout, and a children’s activity center.

First Class tickets include a meal. Box lunch includes a sandwich, chips, cookie and drink. Box lunches must be pre-purchased with the ticket order and will be available trackside for pickup before boarding.

A small cooler is acceptable if you wish to bring food with you.

Tickets and pre-purchased meals must be ordered online by credit card at wataugavalleynrhs.org.

The excursion runs rain or shine. Every effort will be made to maintain an on-time schedule.