The Great Smoky Mountain Railway

We took the Chipmunk on a grand adventure yesterday and I think we had every bit as much fun as he did.  The Great Smoky Mountain Railway is located in Bryson City, NC.  It's an easy three hour drive for us and worth every minute in the car.  This weekend is Railfest 2012 and there were trains everywhere!

They had a nice little craft and local art market set up, railway museum, several train and local book shops, and of course, the main attraction;  the big trains.

The Chipmunk saw diesel engines, freight trains, Pullman cars, caboose (cabooses?  cabeese?), miniature trains, model trains, Thomas Trains, a real live working steam engine, and pulling the train was the best of all!

 The Little Engine That Could




He can't take his eyes off of it!




 In truth, this was pulling the train. They had the Little Engine as the last car.  This one was by far my favorite!






The scenery outside the train was really beautiful




The scenery inside the train needed a nap, but was FAR too excited to take one!




Almost.....




Nope!  Got his second wind and he's good to go for a while :)










I think he could have used some toothpicks here to help prop his eyes open.



It was a truly wonderful day and one that I'm sure we'll repeat over and over again!!