Hi all, I am in the Knoxville, TN area for the next three months. Can anyone steer me towards any shops that have a good selection of n scale? Layouts and museum suggestions would also be appreciated. I've done some internet searching and so for have not found anything. Knoxville, Maryville and surrounding areas are doable for me. Should I make a day to go to the NMRA headquarters? Thanks everyone.
Dave, this is off your question, but you'll be only two hours from Chattanooga and the Tennessee Valley Railway Museum.
The best hobby store I know of in Knoxville is the Hobbytown USA in Turkey Creek (my LHS). Oak Ridge has the Southern Applachian Railway Museum, but I'm not sure what its status is ever since they stopped running their tourist train. Knoxville has, I think, some of SARM's equipment along the River in Old Knoxville. I've not really railfanned in Knoxville, but if you find a good spot by the main there should be action for railfanning. Morristown has the NS main to Bristol and the S Line. I think the Clinton local and Alcoa locals both run out of Ktown, along with the Middlesboro local. Your'e welcome to come up to Middlesboro, and I could show you around.
Look in to riding the Three Rivers Rambler: http://www.threeriversrambler.com/ CSX's yard (former L&N) is on the perimeter of the U. of Tennessee campus, so maybe you can find a photo spot there. John Sevier Yard is the former SOU yard outside of town. Reduction in coal traffic has significantly reduced activity at the yard. The former L&N station at 700 Western Avenue still stands. It was a stub end terminal. The SOU station at 306 West Depot Street stands too. This may help you out as well: http://www.frograil.com/railroad/tn.php Wear orange and whistle Rocky Top.
