Country Inn & Suites

1001 Bell Road
Nashville, TN 37013
615-731-8540

Location Rating: T-D-x

This is one motel that has really changed. The Ramada Inn in Nashville, TN is now a Country Inn & Suites (official name: Country Inn & Suites Southeast at Hickory Hollow Mall). They built a retaining wall along the tracks, the railroad view is nearly gone, the man at the front desk didn't even know train ran passed the property. The photo is from August 2005.

Submitted by Charles Holzer 4.4.07

The motel is situated next to exit 59 on Interstate 24. It has its own Italian restaurant on site and ample parking. The CSX Nashville to Chattanooga main line is situated directly across the parking lot on a slight fill. Southbound trains can be heard approaching, as they whistle for a grade crossing which is just to the north of the hotel. Northbounds tend to arrive without warning, and be warned, they start to whistle for the grade crossing when they are next to the motel. Third floor rooms toward the end are the best for viewing the railroad. The sun favors photographing southbounds in the morning and northbounds in the afternoon. The motel is also situated on the flight path for Nashville Airport, so when there are no trains to watch, there are plenty of planes. For those in the group who don't want to spend all day in the parking lot watching trains, Nashville's largest shopping mall is just 200 yards away, or a local tour bus will pick up at the hotel if booked in advance.

Submitted by Gordon Webb

Days Inn

211 N 1st St
Nashville, TN 37213
615-254-1551

Location Rating: x-x-x

Submitted by

Union Station, A Wyndham Historic Hotel

1001 Broadway
Nashville, TN 37203
615-726-1001

Location Rating: T-B-5

Ask for a room overlooking the tracks (west side of hotel). Excellent birds-eye view of CSX’s “Gulch,” a local term for the tracks running under the Broadway St. overpass and west side of the hotel. Even got in some good video from the floor I was on…trains ran all night as well! Called for room service one morning and enjoyed a hearty breakfast while watching all the action below!

Submitted by Randy E. Bly