Toccoa’s Train Day Happening Saturday

Just a reminder for those of you who love trains, Toccoa is celebrating their annual Train Day on Saturday.

The railroad has been an important part of the history of Toccoa and to honor this history, the City of Toccoa has planned several events that day.

The first event takes place super early, at 6:15a when City officials and anyone else who cares to will be on hand to welcome the Amtrak Crescent Line when it rolls into the historic train depot.

Anyone unable to attend can tune in to our sister station in Toccoa, WNEG and listen to live coverage live as the train arrives.

Visitors getting off the train will be welcomed with bags of information about Toccoa and then several City officials and others will get on the train and ride it to Gainesville and hand out information to the riders.

Then at 10a, the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon tying at the depot, as a celebration of the work that has recently been done by Amtrak as well as the work that has been done at the Welcome Center.

The Northeast Georgia N Scale Model Railroad Club will also have a train display in the Mitchell Allen Room in the Currahee Military Museum.

The display will be open from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. There is no entrance fee but do request that everyone wear a mask.

Throughout the day, there will be drawings for several prizes including round trip train tickets to Atlanta.

Attendees can register that morning at the Train Depot.

The rail line was completed in 1873 when Toccoa was called Dry Pond, and connected the City to Atlanta and Greenville, South Carolina.

In 1878 it became known as the Elberton Air Line Railway connecting Toccoa to Elberton.

The rail line through Toccoa City created a conducive environment for developing, allowing for buildings to be constructed downtown.

In 1917, a double rail track was laid, eventually permitting trains to travel every 15 minutes day and night during World War II. Over the years, thousands have come to Toccoa by way of the railroad.

Today, the City of Toccoa is serviced by Amtrak and Norfolk Southern Railway and is one of three stops in Georgia along the Crescent line.