Once you arrive at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN, it is hard not to get excited about all the fun rides and attractions that are available. There are certainly plenty of exciting rides for the thrill seeker in you to enjoy. However, if you like things at a slower pace, or you enjoy pieces of history, Dollywood has that, too. One of the rides that I truly enjoy when I visit Dollywood is the Dollywood Express. The Dollywood Express is an authentic steam engine train that takes guests on a 20-minute tour of the scenery in and around the theme park grounds.

All Aboard The Dollywood Express

The Dollywood Express is also a living piece of history. The locomotive that powers the train is a 1943 steam engine built for the U.S. military for service during World War II. It was during that time that it was deemed necessary to help upgrade America’s railway system, especially in Alaska. Therefore the War Department, now known as the Department of Defense, commissioned the building of these steam locomotives to help repair and supply the railway that once served the Klondike gold rush of the late 1800s. One of them was steam engine number 192, which served the U.S. Army until 1946, then served the White Pass and Youkon Railway until 1957, according to Wikipedia. It was there that she earned the name “Klondike Katie”, a name she is still known by today. She was sold to the theme park that would eventually become known as Dollywood in 1960.

Klondike Katie has a 2-8-2 wheel configuration. That is, it has 2 small wheels in the front, followed by 8 big wheels in the middle and 2 small wheels in the rear. She burns about two tons of coal a day. She takes riders on a 20 minute tour to the outskirts of Dollywood’s property and into the mountains that the theme park borders. There you can see not only a great amount of the park’s attractions, but also some of the most scenic views of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park available from the property. There are also cabins and, ah-em, outhouses set up on the tour to show visitors just what life was like back in the early settler’s days.

So, let’s review. You get a scenic tour of the Great Smoky Mountains area and the theme park that is Dollywood, you get a relaxing 20-minute journey that is full of history and tradition, and you get to see what is essentially a museum dedicated to the history of the Great Smoky Mountains, all in one ride! Oh, and did I mention that there is an outstanding chance of catching a glimpse of some of the native wildlife in the area? You could see squirrels, raccoons, deer and maybe even a bear along the way. Yes, take a few moments break from the excitement and fast-paced thrill rides that are abundant at Dollywood and hop aboard the Dollywood Express. Trust me, it is a ride that you will cherish for years to come. And it will make memories for your children that they cherish as well.

See the rest of our pictures of the Dollywood Express as well as our pictures of Dolly Parton, herself, on Flickr.

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