Events
Big Train Show
June 3-4, 2022
The Seventh Annual Big Train Show will take place June 3-4, 2022 on the campus of East Tennessee State University in the ETSU Athletics Center (Mini-Dome). The show will feature vendors, layouts, and exhibits from across the United States. While at the show, be sure to check out the George L. Carter Railroad Museum!
Vendor Registration Form: click here to download
Layout Registration Form: click here
For information call Roget Teinert: 423-791-4937 or Gary Emmert: 903-452-5012
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
July 2022 Heritage Day
- July 30, 2022 (10:00 am - 3:00 pm)
- Northeast Heavyweights
Birthday Parties
Bookings are not available at this time due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 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 - October 2022, Great Smoky Mountains Railroad day-trip.
- More information to be posted at a later date, check back for details.
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.