Beginning construction in the mountains of post Civil War Tennessee, the East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad Company was known locally as the Eat Taters and Wear No Clothes railroad. Narrow gauge operations began in 1881, and after nearly 60 years of operation, developing interstate highway systems and the torrential rains of 1940 worked to bring about the railroads demise. Following a series of purchases and acquisitions (singing cowboy Gene Autry once owned an ET & WNC locomotive), the railroad was resurrected in 1956, going on to become one of North Carolinas favorite travel attractions.
 
The Mountaineer passenger train set includes a 4-6-0 steam locomotive (with operating headlight, smoke and speed-synchronized sound), coal tender, coach with lighted interior, observation car with lighted interior, 98 x 51" track oval, power pack, speed controller, illustrated instruction manual and DVD instructions.