Southeastern Railway Museum
The Southeastern Railway Museum is a private nonprofit in Duluth, Georgia, designated as the state's Official Transportation History Museum. It operates the largest rolling stock collection in Georgia, offering admission with train rides, educational programs, memberships, events, and facility rentals to families, rail enthusiasts, schools, and community organizations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1970
- HeadquartersDuluth, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Southeastern Railway Museum does
The Southeastern Railway Museum is a private nonprofit founded in 1970 by the Atlanta Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society and operated from a single site at 3595 Buford Highway in Duluth, Georgia. It holds the official designation as Georgia's Transportation History Museum and maintains the largest collection of rolling stock in the state, including locomotives, passenger and freight cars, cabooses, transit vehicles, and Presidential Pullmans used by Presidents Harding and Roosevelt. The core offering is general museum admission ($13-$19, with one train ride included), supplemented by additional paid train rides, an annual membership program, educational programming (Second Thursday toddler sessions, summer camps), seasonal events (Festival of Trees, Wheels & Rails car show), facility rentals, film/TV location services, and a gift shop.
The museum runs on a hybrid revenue model combining transactional admission and ride tickets sold through the ThunderTix platform, recurring annual memberships managed via Wild Apricot, and a significant contributed-income layer comprising individual donations and corporate/foundation sponsorships (notably Norfolk Southern and the Pace Family Foundation). Operations are supported by 18 paid staff and approximately 14,000 volunteer hours per year, coordinated through Volgistics and partner organizations such as the Woodworkers Guild of Georgia. Distribution is single-site and regional, marketed through the museum's website, email newsletter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube channels, with brand reach amplified by community partnerships (Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, Rotary clubs, Little White House Warm Springs) and event sponsorships.
Southeastern Railway Museum firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Southeastern Railway Museum
- Legal name
- Southeastern Railway Museum
- Website
- https://southeasternrailwaymuseum.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1970
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Southeastern Railway Museum is a private nonprofit in Duluth, Georgia, designated as the state's Official Transportation History Museum. It operates the largest rolling stock collection in Georgia, offering admission with train rides, educational programs, memberships, events, and facility rentals to families, rail enthusiasts, schools, and community organizations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Southeastern Railway Museum industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Railroad and Transportation History Museum
- NAICS
- Museums (712110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation (487)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialty Museums (e.g., Maritime, Aviation, Sports, Music, Film) (THAJADAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Tourist/Scenic/Heritage Passenger Rail Operators (TLAFADAG), Museum & Landmark Guided Tours (Skip-the-line/Docent-led) (THAJAAAC)
Keywords
Where Southeastern Railway Museum is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Duluth
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Southeastern Railway Museum business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Admission Fees: Visitors pay admission fees to access the museum, with regular admission including one train ride on either the Historic Train or Park Train.
- Memberships: Annual membership program offering various tiers with benefits including special event access. Membership is good for one year including special events.
- Extra Train Rides: Additional train ride tickets available for purchase beyond the one included with admission.
- Gift Shop Sales: On-site gift shop selling railroad memorabilia and souvenirs.
- Event Rentals: Birthday parties, corporate events, and private rentals of museum facilities and grounds.
- Donations: Individual and corporate donations supporting the museum's preservation mission and restoration projects.
- Corporate/Foundation Sponsorships: Project sponsorships from corporations and foundations for specific restoration projects and events, such as Norfolk Southern and Pace Family Foundation funding for Southern Rwy 6901 restoration.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Adults (ages 13 and up) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Seniors (65+) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Students (13-21 with ID) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Children (ages 2-12) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Extra Train Rides |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Membership |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Private Event Reception (6901 Return) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Car Show Registration |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Southeastern Railway Museum product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Southeastern Railway Museum is a nonprofit transportation history museum that operates public exhibits of historic locomotives and rolling stock in Duluth, Georgia, and sells admission tickets that include a ride on the Historic Train or Park Train. The museum supplements admissions with seasonal events (Festival of Trees, Wheels & Rails car show), children's educational programs (Second Thursday toddler sessions and summer camps), docent-led Presidential Pullman tours, private event rentals, an on-site gift shop, and an annual membership program.
Product overview
The Southeastern Railway Museum is Georgia's Official Transportation History Museum offering a unified visitor experience centered on its extensive collection of historic railroad rolling stock. The core offering is general museum admission that includes access to exhibits and train rides (Historic Train and Park Train). Supporting offerings include educational programs such as the monthly Second Thursday toddler sessions and summer camps, seasonal events like the Festival of Trees, facility rentals for parties and events, special Pullman car tours, film production location services, and a gift shop. The museum also offers membership programs for ongoing supporter engagement.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Museum Admission General admission to the Southeastern Railway Museum providing access to exhibits and the rolling stock collection; includes one train ride on either the Historic Train or the Park Train. Targeted at individuals, families, and school groups.
- Historic Train Rides Guided rides on the museum's historic locomotives and rolling stock along museum tracks, with scheduled daily departures from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Included with general admission; extra ride tickets available for $4 each.
- Park Train Rides Family-friendly rides on the museum's narrow-gauge Park Train operating on a 1/3-mile loop track, generally running 25 minutes after the Historic Train and on demand. Included with admission.
- Rolling Stock Exhibits Self-guided access to Georgia's largest collection of historic railroad equipment, including locomotives, passenger and freight cars, cabooses, baggage/RPO cars, transit vehicles, and railroad memorabilia spanning more than a century of rail history.
- Second Thursday Toddler Program Monthly interactive pre-school program for children ages 2-4 featuring a monthly vehicle theme, story time, crafts, activities, and train rides.
- Classic Trains Summer Camp Week-long summer camp for children ages 5-12 featuring railroad-themed adventures, hands-on crafts, and museum exploration.
- Birthday Party and Event Hosting Rental of museum facilities for birthday parties, holiday celebrations, anniversaries, office events, and club gatherings, with access to train rides and exhibits. Booked through the museum's rental request form.
- Film and Television Production Location Rentals Location rental services for film, television, and photography productions seeking authentic railroad settings, including historic locomotives and rolling stock.
- Presidential Pullman Tours Docent-led tours of historic Presidential Pullman cars including Superb (used by President Warren Harding) and Marco Polo (used by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt).
- Annual Membership Program Annual membership supporting the museum's preservation and education mission, with multiple tiers providing benefits such as special event access and discounts. Managed through the Wild Apricot membership portal.
- Museum Gift Shop On-site and online retail shop selling railroad memorabilia, books, model railroad gear, souvenirs, and Steam Calendars.
- Festival of Trees Annual holiday event featuring 60-100+ community-decorated trees throughout the museum, Santa visits, and special activities during the November through early January season.
- Wheels & Rails Invitational Car Show Specialty car show and cruise-in event held at the museum, attracting classic car owners and enthusiasts; $20 registration fee for entrants.
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 14,000 volunteer hours of service provided annually
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Southeastern Railway Museum
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Southeastern Railway Museum technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Southeastern Railway Museum partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Woodworkers Guild of GeorgiaminorLends skilled volunteer hands for restoration and maintenance projects at the museum, providing expertise for ongoing preservation efforts.
- Georgia Trust for Historic PreservationcoreThe Trust selected the museum for their Places in Peril program based on the museum's collection of historic equipment. The program raises awareness about Georgia's significant historic resources and encourages community and corporate investment, education, restoration, and historic preservation.
- Integrated Insurance SolutionsminorSponsor of the Wheels & Rails Invitational Car Show & Cruise-in 2026 Evening Edition event.
- Leica GeosystemsminorSponsor of the Wheels & Rails Invitational Car Show & Cruise-in 2026 Evening Edition event.
- Ski Team RealtyminorSponsor of the Wheels & Rails Invitational Car Show & Cruise-in 2026 Evening Edition event.
- Snapology of SuwaneeminorSponsor of the Wheels & Rails Invitational Car Show & Cruise-in 2026 Evening Edition event.
- Sure BillminorSponsor of the Wheels & Rails Invitational Car Show & Cruise-in 2026 Evening Edition event.
- Morgan Chen ProductionsminorSponsor of the Wheels & Rails Invitational Car Show & Cruise-in 2026 Evening Edition event.
- Suzanna's KitchenminorEvent sponsor for Trains, Trucks & Tractors Day events and other museum special events.
- Cassie's CateringminorCatering partner for multiple museum events including Father's Day, Mother's Day, and special weekend events.
- Atlanta Typewriter ClubminorPartner for The Great Atlanta Typewriter Meet event held at the museum.
- Center for Railroad Photography & ArtminorProvided exhibition content for the Beebe and Clegg: Their Enduring Photographic Legacy exhibition. Supported by a grant from the Gwinnett Creativity Fund.
- Pullman FoundationminorVisited the museum to inspect the Washington Club Pullman car, which was noted as potentially the most original, intact Pullman in the nation.
- Little White House (Warm Springs, GA)minorFeatured at President's Day weekend events alongside the museum's Presidential Pullmans.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Southeastern Railway Museum competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- National Railroad Museum: Affiliated Smithsonian railroad museum in Green Bay, WI featuring historic locomotives, rolling stock exhibits, and train rides. Directly comparable as a museum-and-train-ride hybrid operation supported by volunteers and donations.
- Illinois Railway Museum: Largest railroad museum in the US, located in Union, IL, operating heritage train rides and housing an extensive rolling stock collection. Closely comparable volunteer-driven operating model, train ride offerings, and family-friendly programming.
- Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum: Heritage railroad museum in Chattanooga, TN operating restored diesel and steam train rides along with a large rolling stock collection. Closest geographic and operational analog to Southeastern Railway Museum, competing for Southeast US rail-tourism audiences.
- B&O Railroad Museum: Major railroad heritage museum in Baltimore, MD housing one of the most significant historic railroad collections in the US. Comparable in core exhibit-based museum model, rolling stock preservation, and educational programming, though larger in scale.
- Virginia Museum of Transportation: Transportation heritage museum in Roanoke, VA featuring locomotives, rail cars, and transportation memorabilia. Directly comparable as a regional, multi-modal transportation museum with rolling stock restoration and rail ride experiences.
- Nevada State Railroad Museum: State-operated railroad museum in Carson City, NV with restored rolling stock and heritage train ride operations. Comparable public-affiliation model, exhibit-plus-train-ride format, and educational programming focus.
- Gold Coast Railroad Museum: Nonprofit railroad museum in Miami, FL housing historic rolling stock including Presidential Pullman railcars. Comparable as a Southeast US heritage railroad museum reliant on volunteers, donations, and event rentals.
- Strasburg Rail Road: America's oldest operating railroad in Strasburg, PA, offering heritage steam train rides and on-site museum-style experiences. Comparable in operating heritage passenger rail with a museum/gift-shop overlay, though more commercially oriented.
- Mid-Continent Railway Museum: Living-history railroad museum in North Freedom, WI operating restored vintage passenger trains on a heritage line with extensive rolling stock. Comparable as a volunteer-powered heritage rail and museum hybrid with similar scale and operating model.
- North Carolina Transportation Museum: State-affiliated transportation heritage museum in Spencer, NC with extensive rolling stock, train ride experiences, and educational programming. Directly comparable in mission, scale, and Southeast US visitor base.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Southeastern Railway Museum social profiles
Digital presenceSoutheastern Railway Museum financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Southeastern Railway Museum leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Southeastern Railway Museum funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Southeastern Railway Museum M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Southeastern Railway Museum
What does Southeastern Railway Museum do?
The Southeastern Railway Museum is a nonprofit transportation history museum that operates public exhibits of historic locomotives and rolling stock in Duluth, Georgia, and sells admission tickets that include a ride on the Historic Train or Park Train. The museum supplements admissions with seasonal events (Festival of Trees, Wheels & Rails car show), children's educational programs (Second Thursday toddler sessions and summer camps), docent-led Presidential Pullman tours, private event rentals, an on-site gift shop, and an annual membership program.
Is Southeastern Railway Museum a public or private company?
Southeastern Railway Museum is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Southeastern Railway Museum founded?
Southeastern Railway Museum was founded in 1970. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Southeastern Railway Museum based?
Southeastern Railway Museum is headquartered in Duluth, United States, in the North America region.
How does Southeastern Railway Museum make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Admission Fees are the primary driver. The others are memberships, extra Train Rides, gift Shop Sales, event Rentals, donations and corporate/Foundation Sponsorships.
Who are Southeastern Railway Museum's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are National Railroad Museum, Illinois Railway Museum, Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, B&O Railroad Museum, Virginia Museum of Transportation, Nevada State Railroad Museum, Gold Coast Railroad Museum, Strasburg Rail Road, Mid-Continent Railway Museum and North Carolina Transportation Museum.
Does Southeastern Railway Museum have an API?
No public API is recorded for Southeastern Railway Museum.
What industry is Southeastern Railway Museum in?
Southeastern Railway Museum's product category is Railroad and Transportation History Museum. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJADAF, Specialty Museums (e.g., Maritime, Aviation, Sports, Music, Film), with a secondary code of TLAFADAG, Tourist/Scenic/Heritage Passenger Rail Operators. Its NAICS code is 712110 and its SIC code is 7900.