All aboard: Here are 4 rail excursions to see Georgia by train

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – For lovers of rail history, travel or nature, Georgia has several opportunities to see the sights of the Peach State’s grandeur from the comfort of the rails.

All aboard! Here are four tourist train rides in Georgia.

Blue Ridge Scenic Railway (Blue Ridge)

This excursion near the tip-top of the state offers a four-hour ride through the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. The trip spans 13 miles, making for a 26-mile roundtrip that only slightly outpaces the flow of the Toccoa River parallelling the line.

Riders may choose between the comfort of a closed coach or an open-air “gondola” style coach, or they can kick back in the reclining seats of the Premier Car.

There is even an opportunity for the real train buffs to ride in the locomotive’s cab.

There are only four trains left of the summer excursion season through Sept. 15. The autumn schedule will commence soon after.

Stone Mountain Park (Stone Mountain)

This 5-mile excursion leaves the Marketplace Depot in Crossroads and creeps along the foot of Stone Mountain and the surrounding countryside. There are plenty of open-air cars to ride in and feel the wind and hear the rhythm of the swaying train.

The ride lasts half an hour. Tickets can be purchased here.

Historic SAM Shortline

Stretching from Archery to Cordele, this train runs along the former Savannah, Americus & Montgomery Railway (SAM) and offers rides in original railcars constructed in America’s railroading heyday.

The railroad offers multiple themed excursion rides, including Murder Mystery Dinner trains, The Halloween Express and The Presidential Flyer , which travels to President Jimmy Carter’s hometown of Plains.

Visit the SAM Shortline’s website to learn the history of the railroad and book your next train ride.

Summerville Steam Special (Chattanooga, Tn. to Summerville, Ga.)

Though this trip requires a trek across the state border into Chattanooga, Tennessee, the bulk of this nine-hour roundtrip excursion is spent in the mountains of North Georgia. Crossing the state line in Rossville, the train creeps past derelict factories before parading through farmland, small towns and Civil War battlefields.

No Chattanooga Choo-Choo would be complete without dinner in the diner, and the Summerville Steam Special offers lunch in dining cars for riders.

The destination is Summerville, a humble historic town that can be taken in during the layover before the trip back.

What sets this trip apart is that the ride is powered by a century-old Southern Railway steam locomotive, lovingly preserved and meticulously maintained by crews at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga.

The ride is offered on select weekends in the summer and fall. Book your ticket here.