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Holiday Fun

Santa’s Arrival by Train Kicks Off Holiday Season at Southeastern Railway Museum

Santa and Mrs. Claus waving from a train caboose
photo courtesy of Southeastern Railway Museum

Just in time for the holidays, the Southeastern Railway Museum (SRM) in Duluth is welcoming the return of Mr. and Mrs. Claus on Saturday, November 16. The museum’s timetable reports the expected arrival of the festive couple on the #3 Local arriving on Track 22 at 1:00 p.m. Track 22 is the museum’s current passenger loading area in Building 2, adjacent to Southern locomotive 6901.

A professional photographer will be on-hand for the festive occasion, offering complimentary family portraits with Santa and a holiday scene in front of Norfolk Southern’s “Tugalo River” between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. After a quick collection of your contact info, they will snap the portraits and send them to you digitally.

Festival of Trees and holiday hours

Santa’s exciting arrival also opens the Duluth Fine Arts League’s annual Festival of Trees, showcasing a collection of holiday trees designed and installed by a variety of community-minded individuals and businesses. This year promises upwards of 70 trees decorating Building One.

Southeastern Railway Museum decorated with Christmas Trees
Festival of Trees, photo courtesy of Southeastern Railway Museum

To make it easier for more families to come out and enjoy the holiday scenes, SRM is offering new extended holiday hours. Between November 16 and December 29, the museum will be open Thursdays and Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5:00 p.m.

Christmas decorations at the Southeastern Railway Museum
photo courtesy of Southeastern Railway Museum

Beebe and Clegg photo exhibit

Running concurrently with the Festival of Trees is the ongoing exhibit Beebe and Clegg: Their Enduring Photographic Legacy through December 29. Featuring dramatic black & white images, Lucius Beebe and his life partner Charles Clegg introduced railroad photography and the world of railroading to wide popular audiences.

Their pioneering efforts over a quarter century established a broad market and wide appreciation for rail photography, leading to its far-reaching appeal in print today. With several prints never before seen by the public, the exhibition has been assembled by the Center for Railroad Photography and Art in Madison, Wisconsin.

Two men sitting on railroad tracks
Lucius Beebe (left) and Charles Clegg on the tracks of the Southern Pacific narrow gauge in the Owens Valley of California. Photo credit: Charles Clegg (by timer), courtesy of the California State Railroad Museum

Beebe and Clegg: Their Enduring Photographic Legacy is supported by a grant from the Gwinnett Creativity Fund. The 20 images and storyboards were staged by Steve Storey and Ora Ball of the museum and can be seen in the Building One exhibit hall.

Admission information

Normal museum admission includes the Festival of Trees, Santa’s arrival on November 16, the special Beebe and Clegg exhibit, the remaining collection of over 90 rail cars and locomotives, train rides and a walk through the deeply decorated Duluth railroad station.

Tickets are $18 for adults; $15 for seniors (ages 65+) and students (ages 13-21 with student ID); and $12 for ages 2-12 and can be purchased at the museum.

Nutcracker and holiday decorations at the Southeastern Railway Museum
photo courtesy of Southeastern Railway Museum

Holiday parties

In addition to the special holiday and photo exhibits, ongoing displays and train rides, SRM also has several unique event spaces and packages available, perfect for private holiday parties. Pricing and details can be found on the parties page of their website.

Train exhibit space at the Southeastern Railway Museum
photo courtesy of Southeastern Railway Museum

About the Southeastern Railway Museum

SRM occupies a 35-acre site in Duluth, Georgia, in northeast suburban Atlanta. In operation since 1970, SRM features about 90 items of rolling stock, including historic Pullman cars, classic diesel & steam locomotives, freight car, and even maintenance of way cars. 

The museum is operated by a community-based board as a separate 501(c)3 nonprofit organization of the Atlanta chapter of the National Railway Historical Society and receives operating funds from grants, donations, sponsors’ support, and gate receipts.

For more information, visit train-museum.org

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