Cordele, GA
SAM Shortline Excursion Train
4.7· 94 Google reviews
At a Glance
Source checked 2026-08-24- TypeGeorgia rolling state park with vintage diesel excursions across Lake Blackshear to Americus, Plains, and Archery
- LocationCordele, GA
- Rating4.7 ★94 Google reviews
- UpcomingSat, Sep 5
About SAM Shortline Excursion Train
SAM Shortline Excursion Train is Georgia's rolling state park, carrying passengers in historic climate-controlled cars from Cordele across Lake Blackshear and through Southwest Georgia farm country. Routes are not interchangeable: long-form excursions may serve Americus, Plains, and Archery, while dinner, tasting, festival, and holiday trains use different origins, durations, stops, and service patterns.
Choose the Right SAM Shortline Day
Choose the visit that fits your groupPresidential-history travelers and full-day excursion riders
Ride the Presidential Flyer
Travel from Georgia Veterans State Park through Plains to Archery, with published layovers for Carter history and the Boyhood Farm.
Shoppers, small-town explorers, and multigenerational groups
Build a Plains and Americus day
Use Sumter Explorer for separate Plains and Americus layovers, or choose a Plains-focused event when town time matters most.
Repeat riders and date-driven planners
Choose a special-event train
Compare murder mystery, wine, Halloween, Christmas lighting, Candy Cane, railfan, and downtown holiday itineraries by origin and duration.
Travelers who need step-free planning or boarding assistance
Coordinate accessible coach seating
Call before purchase because Coach is the published accessible section and the actual platform, route, and consist vary.
Upcoming Events
Complete official date check
2026 special-event calendar
Every remaining public 2026 date on the official month-by-month excursion list is included. The November 21 private charter is excluded. The homepage's Peanut Express year typo conflicts with the official annual list and event sequence; the dated 2026 list controls. Ticket inventory and sold-out states remain volatile. Check the live official calendar ↗
Plan Your Visit
- Remaining public dates19 unique dates from September 5 through December 19, 2026
- Primary boardingGeorgia Veterans State Park, 2459 U.S. Highway 280 W, Cordele; verify each event because some trains depart Americus or downtown Cordele
- Regular faresCoach adult $43.99, child 2-12 $33.99, senior 62+/military $40.99; Deluxe $53.99, Premium $93.99, Chairman's $123.99; tax and handling extra
- SeatingAssigned seats; Coach forward-facing, Deluxe tables, Premium lounge seating, Chairman's chef service and rear observation platform when offered
- BoardingGenerally begins 30 minutes before departure; arrive earlier for event-specific check-in and flag-stop instructions
- TicketsNonrefundable; advance transfer fees apply; reservations recommended and payment required at booking
- AccessibilityCoach is the published ADA-acceptable section; call 229-276-0755 before booking for the exact train and assistance
- Food policyNo outside food, beverages, or coolers except specified school-group needs; onboard inclusions vary by class and event
- PetsNo pets aboard; ADA service animals permitted
- Route warningDo not assume every train goes to Plains or Archery; read the selected excursion's timetable
Find the Depot
The Trains
SAM Shortline operates diesel-powered excursions with state-owned passenger cars built in 1939 or 1949. Much of the core consist came from sleeping cars later converted for commuter service, then acquired and adapted for SAM service. Current public classes include assigned-seat Coach, table-seat Deluxe, lounge-style Premium, and limited Chairman's Class with an open observation platform when offered. The exact locomotive, cars, amenities, and class availability vary by date.
History
Samuel Hugh Hawkins and Americus investors organized the Americus, Preston & Lumpkin Railroad.
The line converted to standard gauge and adopted the Savannah, Americus & Montgomery Railway name.
The modern excursion's founders began assembling and restoring the passenger consist.
SAM Shortline made its first public excursion on October 26.
See full history
The name traces to the Savannah, Americus & Montgomery Railway. Samuel Hugh Hawkins organized the narrow-gauge Americus, Preston & Lumpkin Railroad in 1884; in 1888 it converted to standard gauge and became the SAM as its ambitions expanded toward Montgomery and Savannah. The historic corridor later passed through other systems. The modern excursion was assembled beginning in 2000, took two years to equip and restore, and made its first public run on October 26, 2002.
Around the Depot
Jimmy Carter Boyhood Farm is not a generic nearby add-on: it is a National Park Service site reached directly by SAM Shortline only on excursions that include Archery. Presidential Flyer publishes a 40-minute stop, so the pairing is exceptional but itinerary-dependent.
Getting There & Staying Nearby
Optional trip extras from our travel partners.
Rent a Car
Compare the attraction location with your airport or lodging before deciding whether a rental car fits the trip.
Compare rentals on Discover Cars →Bookings made through this link support usatrainrides at no extra cost to you.
Tours & Activities near Cordele
Tours
Guided tours, day trips, and things to do around the area, bookable in advance through Viator.
Browse nearby tours →Bookings made through this link support usatrainrides at no extra cost to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many SAM Shortline dates remain in 2026?
The official annual list shows 19 remaining public dates from September 5 through December 19, excluding the November 21 private charter.
Where does the train depart?
Most long excursions depart Georgia Veterans State Park at 2459 U.S. Highway 280 W. Murder Mystery departs Americus, and Cordele Holiday Train departs the downtown Cordele depot. Read the event page.
Does every trip visit Plains and Archery?
No. Routes vary substantially. Presidential Flyer serves both, Sumter Explorer serves Plains and Americus, and several tasting, dinner, railfan, and holiday trains use shorter routes.
What do regular tickets cost?
Published regular fares start at $43.99 adult Coach, $33.99 child Coach, and $40.99 senior or military. Deluxe is $53.99, Premium $93.99, and Chairman's $123.99 where offered, before tax and handling.
What is included in each seating class?
Coach uses forward-facing assigned seats. Deluxe adds table seating, a drink, and snack on regular trains. Premium uses lounge seating with food and drinks. Chairman's adds chef service and a rear observation platform when offered.
Is the train wheelchair accessible?
The operator calls Coach ADA acceptable and asks riders to call for details and reservations. Because cars and platforms vary, coordinate before purchase rather than relying on a general statement.
Can tickets be refunded?
No. Tickets are nonrefundable. Advance transfers may be possible subject to availability and a published per-ticket fee.
Can I bring food or a pet?
Outside food, beverages, and coolers are generally prohibited. Pets are not allowed aboard; ADA service animals are permitted.
What equipment does SAM Shortline use?
Diesel locomotives haul climate-controlled historic passenger cars, many built as 1939 or 1949 sleepers and later converted for commuter and excursion use. Exact consists vary.
How do I visit Jimmy Carter Boyhood Farm by train?
Book an excursion that explicitly serves Archery. The 2026 Presidential Flyer schedule includes a 40-minute Archery layover at the farm.
Sources & Verification
Source-checked August 24, 2026. This free profile has not yet been claimed or confirmed by the operator.
- Official annual excursion list for every remaining public 2026 date and the private-charter exclusion
- Official Presidential Flyer page for route, times, fares, boarding, Plains and Archery layovers
- Official Sumter Explorer page for its Plains-Americus itinerary and 2026 dates
- Official pricing page for regular class fares and service inclusions
- Official seating page for assigned-seat layouts, age limits, amenities, and observation platform
- Official ticket page for refund, transfer, boarding, food, pet, and accessibility policies
- Official history for the nineteenth-century SAM, modern excursion launch, route, and state-owned car dates
- Official car histories for builders, years, prior service, conversions, acquisitions, and restoration
- Georgia State Parks page confirming SAM Shortline as a state-park attraction
- Licensed SAM Shortline image search on Wikimedia Commons