The Townsend Express at the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum
The Townsend Express established in 2025 is not only a child's wonderland but it also symbolizes the history of the Little River Railroad that ran along this very trial. The Townsend River Walk & Arboretum's main path is actually built over the Little River Railroad track bed which then became State Route 73 and was eventually abandoned when it was rebuilt above it where US 321 now is situated.
The train is constructed of 5 wooden cars, each 8 feet long, that include: The Townsend Express Engine, Smokemont Coal Car, Tremont Log Car, Elkmont Dining Car and a the Caboose.
The Townsend Express Engine leads the train and is adorned with a cast iron bell that children, playing the engineer, can actually ring by pulling on the cord inside the engine.
The Smokemont Coal Car, equipped with seating, was named after the logging and sawmill community in North Carolina owned by Champion Fiber Company. Smokemont was vital for the operation of the Champion’s paper mill in Canton, NC. The operation was sold the US Government to help establish the Smoky Mountains National Park and by 1940 the town was abandoned.
The Tremont Log Car, complete with logs, was named for the second largest logging camp operated by the The Little River Company owned by Col. W.B. Townsend. This camp was the center of operation for log harvesting of the timber of the Middle Fork watershed.
The Elkmont Dining Car, complete with dining table, was named for the largest logging camps operated by The Little River Company. It was a true company town for the logging company but also was a recreation community complete with hotel for the The Little River Railroad "Excursions" and land was sold for summer home sites. The railroad served Elkmont until 1926. Have the kids enjoy a picnic on this car to recreate the experiences of the Little River Railroad "Excursions" .
The last car, of course, is the Caboose. It is fitted with several windows, a seating area and a copula..
Read additional history of both Elkmont and Tremont in this interesting short article by Robin Bible - Stringtowns: Early Logging Communities In The Great Smoky Mountains.
The Little River Railroad
The Little River Railroad was established around 1901 by Col. W B Townsend not only for logging communities in Elkmont and Tremont but also to transport passengers for recreation retreats and summer homes in Elkmont. Col Townsend, unlike many logging companies, used a standard gauge track so that his trains could connect with the main lines from Knoxville and Maryville. This innovation allowed Appalachian Club and "Excursion" passengers to travel into Elkmont easily. By 1939 the the last load of logs was brought out of the mountains to the sawmill by The Little River Railroad.
For additional historical information visit: The Little River Railroad Museum and a very good article by Family Garden Trains
The Little River Railroad in 1916 From Maryville To the Appalachian Club in Elkmont
The Little River Railroad was abandoned around 1939 with many of the track beds turned into roads such as State Route 73 and many of the roads and hiking trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
1916 Map and Train Schedule of the Little River Railroad & Knoxville Railroad
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