Tennessee Halloween Train Rides

Published: October 15, 2025

Tennessee’s rail heritage comes alive each October with pumpkins, costumes, and the kind of fall color that makes a train window feel like a movie screen. If you’re looking for a Halloween outing that blends nostalgia with just the right amount of spooky fun, a themed train ride is hard to beat. Below are the best-known Halloween train experiences in Tennessee, what to expect from each, and practical tips for planning your trip. Offerings can change from year to year, so always check the operators’ official sites before you book.

Locations

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum’s Halloween Eerie Express

The Halloween Eerie Express at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (TVRM) is a long-running family favorite. It layers classic railroading with Halloween fun that’s intentionally more charming than chilling, making it ideal for younger riders, multigenerational groups, and anyone who prefers harvest vibes to horror.

What to expect:

A themed version of TVRM’s Missionary Ridge Local

The ride typically follows the museum’s historic route between Grand Junction and East Chattanooga, passing through a pre-1900s tunnel and, conditions permitting, pausing for a turntable demonstration. Watching a locomotive spin on the turntable is a crowd-pleaser for kids and railfans alike.

Station-side festivities at Grand Junction

In recent seasons, TVRM has paired the train trip with Halloween activities back at the station, such as trick-or-treat stations, a family-friendly fun house or mini-maze, carnival-style games, and meet-and-greets with costumed characters. Expect a festive backdrop for photos.

Kid-friendly atmosphere

The Eerie Express is designed to be spooky-lite: think pumpkins, lights, and giggles over jump scares. Costumes are encouraged, but keep props simple and family-appropriate.

Timing

The train portion is roughly an hour, while the complete experience (ride plus activities) usually runs a couple of hours. Departures tend to concentrate on October weekends and selected evenings.

Planning tips:

Book early. Prime dates sell out, especially the late-October weekend evenings.

Arrive 30–45 minutes before departure. There’s a lot to see on the grounds, and check-in lines move faster if you’re not rushing.

Bring layers. Evenings can cool quickly in the valley.

Accessibility. TVRM operates vintage equipment, so accessibility varies by car. If mobility is a concern, call ahead to confirm accommodations and boarding assistance.

Tennessee Central Railway Museum’s Halloween Excursions (Nashville)

Based in Nashville, the Tennessee Central Railway Museum (TCRM) offers seasonal day trips aboard restored mid-century passenger cars over the Nashville & Eastern line. Each year’s schedule is unique, but fall often includes Halloween-themed excursions—most notably their Rails, Wizards & Spells Adventure, held throughout October.

What to expect: Step into a whimsical world where vintage railroading meets magical mischief. Enjoy a scenic ride with immersive characters, enchanting storylines, and family-friendly fun. Young apprentices and seasoned spellcasters alike can don costumes, collect clues, and unlock surprises along the route. Expect themed décor, live entertainment, playful challenges, and memorable photo moments at the depot and onboard. It’s an ideal outing for families, fans of fantasy, and anyone who loves trains with a twist. Create memories, spark imaginations, and let the rails carry you on a spellbinding journey.

Classic streamliner ambiance

TCRM’s fleet includes vintage coaches that evoke the golden age of rail travel, complete with picture windows for fall foliage views.

Dollywood Express during Great Pumpkin LumiNights (Pigeon Forge)

While the Dollywood Express isn’t a dedicated “haunted train,” it becomes an atmospheric star during Dollywood’s Harvest Festival and Great Pumpkin LumiNights. A ride behind the park’s coal-fired steam locomotives at dusk, with the Smokies silhouetted and the park glowing in thousands of illuminated pumpkins and whimsical displays, is pure seasonal magic.

What to expect:

A scenic, sensory ride. The sights, smells, and sounds of a real steam train paired with towering pumpkin sculptures and creative light installations set a cozy, not-creepy mood. It’s ideal for families and anyone who wants the Halloween spirit without the scares.

Frequent departures. Trains run throughout the day; twilight and evening departures are most atmospheric during LumiNights.

Planning tips:

Go early on a weekday if you can. Crowds swell on weekends.

Hit the train before the evening rush. Then circle back to enjoy LumiNights on foot once it’s fully dark.

Stroller strategy. Park your stroller in designated areas near the depot to board more smoothly.

Final Thoughts

Tennessee’s Halloween train scene shines because it blends authentic railroading with fall traditions—steam whistles echoing over pumpkin displays, candy corn shared in a vintage coach, a turntable show the kids will talk about all year.

For a family-first celebration, the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum’s Halloween Eerie Express is a standout. For theater on the rails and a day out from Nashville, keep an eye on the Tennessee Central Railway Museum’s Halloween excursions.

And for an autumn night that glows, ride the Dollywood Express during Great Pumpkin LumiNights. Dates and details can change each season, so check the official calendars and book early. Then sit back, listen for the whistle, and enjoy Halloween by rail in the Volunteer State.