Southern Appalachia
Railway Museum
Southern Appalachia Railway Museum (SARM) is a non-profit organization interested in restoring and operating historic railway equipment and in preserving the rich history of railways in the southern Appalachian region.

Run entirely by volunteers, the museum:

  • restores and maintains railroad equipment, and
  • runs excursion rail tours through Heritage Center and into the surrounding hills and valleys.

Fees from tours, membership dues, and private donations help fund the organization’s activities, including their ownership of a 12-car rolling stock. The museum also provides training to members interested in becoming train conductors, brakemen, or engineers, following state and federal regulations.

One of the biggest goals of the organization is to build a 5,000 square foot facility at ETTP’s Heritage Center. SARM broke ground in March 2000 and plan completion by spring 2002.

The building will house:

  • a visitor’s center,
  • a display area,
  • a gift shop, and
  • a station.

The Museum has an extensive collection of railroad art and artifacts that will be displayed in the museum.

The museum currently operates out of a converted guardhouse at the Heritage Center. Named Wheat Union Station in honor of the original community at the site, the station was restored and turned into a ticket station in 1999. From this station, SARM runs "The Secret City Scenic Excursion Tour." The train passes through the historic U.S. Department of Energy site and travels along Poplar Creek and Highway 327. The round trip is about 13 miles and takes about 1 1/2 hours.



The trains used for the excursion tour are vintage 1950s Alco diesel locomotives pulling climate-controlled coach and dining cars restored from the 1940s. Tours run on selected weekends from March to December and have three to four departures per Saturday and Sunday.

Caboose rides may be chartered for up to 10 people. The entire train may be chartered for special events, as well. Knowledgeable guides host chartered trains and explain the history of Oak Ridge, as well as the railcar and other equipment at hand. SARM also operates a dinner train on a selected schedule.

More information on SARM and its train schedule and ticket bookings, access their web site at www.techscribes.com/sarm.