During the regular season, departures are scheduled at 2pm & 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays. In extreme circumstances (such as bad weather), a train ride may be cancelled at management’s discretion.

Tickets:
• Available tickets go on sale at the ticket booth located at the train a half hour before departure times.
• In most cases tickets do not have to be purchased in advance. However, if you do not have paid reservations we cannot guarantee you a space. Please check in advance, particularly if you are traveling.
• Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling (865) 524-9411 or online reservations. Tickets can be rescheduled for another train, but cannot be refunded.
• At the train, the Rambler accepts local checks, cash, Visa, Master Card, Discover, and American Express. When making online reservations, please pay with Visa or Mastercard.

Drinks:
• The drinks we offer include: Coca-Cola products and bottled water.

General:

• Restrooms are available on board the Rambler.

• Smoking, firearms, weapons, and alcoholic beverages are not allowed.

How long is the ride?

The ride lasts around 90 minutes. We make every effort to keep on schedule but with older equipment, we can run a few minutes behind. Please arrive 30 minutes early to purchase tickets and find your seats to help keep us on schedule.

Is the Rambler Handicap Accessible?
Yes but on a limited basis. We have a wheelchair available for passenger use. Please let us know in advance if you or anyone in your party will need the wheelchair. We board wheelchair passengers on our open-air car using a wheelchair lift. Because of our vintage equipment, wheelchair passengers are sometimes limited to the open-air car. At this time we do not have a handicap accessible restroom, but there is one available on Volunteer Landing near the Calhoun’s restaurant.

Passengers who have difficulty walking or have other special needs can be assisted by our conductor. Please identify yourself to one of our staff so that we may best accommodate you.

There is no drop off at the boarding location. Everyone must walk at least 500 yards from the parking lot to the train. If you need assistance, please call (865) 524-9411 to arrange a wheelchair or golf cart to help you from the parking lot to the train.

Are there restrooms available?
Yes. There are two restrooms available in our merchandise car.

Are the cars air-conditioned?
Our express car, Resourceful, where drinks and novelties are purchased is air-conditioned. The coach car, Trustworthy, is air-conditioned with closed windows. Intrepid, the second coach car, and caboose are not air-conditioned, but they do have windows that can be opened.

What should I bring to a birthday party?
Cupcakes or cookie-cakes are more manageable for a train excursion than traditional cakes.

We may suggest that birthday gifts be opened either before or after the train ride as transporting gifts can be cumbersome for parents. Please note that children attending birthday parties must be chaperoned. You may borrow our cart, if necessary, or you might consider bringing your own.

Is Alcohol allowed?
Because our train is a family event, alcoholic beverages are not permitted aboard the Rambler.

Safety is our first priority. Therefore we remind all passengers that Rambler staff reserves the right to deny boarding or services to passengers who are impaired or causing a public disturbance.

Is Smoking allowed?
Due to the publicly shared spaces and the hazards of starting a fire on our right of way, smoking is not allowed onboard the Rambler. The only thing allowed to smoke is our steam engine.

Are pets allowed?
Only seeing eye/service dogs are allowed on the train.

Who owns the Three Rivers Rambler track?
The track is owned by the Knoxville & Holston River Railroad (KXHR) who purchased it from Norfolk Southern.

KXHR is responsible for maintaining the track and bridges and operating all the trains. The Federal Railroad Administration and Tennessee Department of Transportation inspect the track to see that it meets safety standards.

Who owns the KXHR?
The KXHR is owned by Gulf & Ohio Railways, a Knoxville based company with shortline railroads in Alabama, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Gulf & Ohio Railways is a family owned business that has been hauling freight since 1985.

What do Shortlines do?
America’s big railroads (like Norfolk Southern and CSX) are very good at hauling large trains at high speeds between larger cities. They prefer to have shortlines, like KXHR, handle the small trains that pick up and deliver freight for local customers. There are more than 500 small railroads like the KXHR in the U.S., most of which serve businesses in the outlying communities.