Iron horses weighing from 425,000 pounds to less than four ounces will congregate in Wartrace, the cradle of the Tennessee Walking Horse, on Saturday, April 26. The motorized cousins of the flesh and blood variety of old-time transportation— railroad locomotives, that is—will be on display in all shapes and sizes during the annual Dixie Line Days at the Walking Horse Hotel and other venues downtown.
The all-day train show will feature operating model trains, dealer swap tables, how-to-clinics for model railroaders, switching and model contests, Q & A with a steam locomotive engineer, live bluegrass music, food and door prizes.
As an added attraction, the roar of 12,500 horsepower in motion, courtesy of CSX Transportation, will be on display as full-sized, 10,000-ton freight trains rumble through the heart of Wartrace just yards from the show locations.
Dealers in used Lionel, American Flyer, and popular HO and N gauge brands of electric trains will be on hand to display their wares. Free how-to clinics covering the art of building scenery, layout wiring, and digital command control applications will be held. Operating model railroad layouts of various gauges will also be on display. The Walking Horse Hotel will provide lunch and offer snacks and drinks throughout the day.
Show hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 26. Admission is $5, or $3 for children under 12. Dixie Line Days is sponsored by The Dixie Flyer hobby shop in Wartrace and the Tennessee Valley Model Railroad Club from Murfreesboro. For information about renting dealer tables or entering model contests call (615) 428-7366 or e-mail contact@dixieflyertrains.com.
Wartrace is located on state Highway 64, 10 miles west of exit 97 off I-24 at Beechgrove, or eight miles east of Shelbyville.
