Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum

09/03/2026

Swinging into place today! 🚧

Our roadrailer equipment now placed on display! A special thank-you to Norfolk Southern and Triple Crown Servicesfor their generous donation and delivery of this significant example of intermodal transportation.

We’re excited to add this unique piece to the collection and share another important chapter of railroad history with our visitors!

08/29/2026

Wrap up August with a relaxing escape — for an hour or a whole day! 🚂✨ We have just the ticket for a fun weekend adventure.

From Chattanooga:
Hop aboard the Missionary Ridge Local or Evening Ridge Runner for a quick trip through time. In about an hour, you’ll experience a short ride aboard vintage train cars, learn a little railroad history, and enjoy a demonstration of our historic turntable.

Looking for a longer adventure? Grab a spot on the Chickamauga Turn and travel through the beautiful North Georgia countryside to the quaint town of Chickamauga, Georgia.
For a delicious addition to your day, enjoy a classic afternoon tea at the Homefront Tea Room, then climb aboard the Missionary Ridge Local for a trip through Chattanooga’s railroad history.

From Delano, Tennessee:
Two unforgettable train rides offer stunning views of the Lower Hiwassee River Gorge and take you through the spectacular Great Bald Mountain Loop.

The Hiwassee Loop is just under 4½ hours of scenic adventure, while the Copperhill Special offers a full-day experience of about 8 hours, including a stop in the charming mountain town of Copperhill, Tennessee.

The weather is right, the time is perfect, and we have the ticket!

Come ride with us and make the most of the final weekend of August. 🚂❤️

08/27/2026

TVRM lost a longtime friend, supporter, and all-around great person on Friday, August 21.

Bill Weidemann had been a member of the TVRM since 2002.

Dependable, caring, and always ready to lend a hand, Bill was the kind of person you could always count on. His warm smile and willingness to help made a lasting impact on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.

His presence will be deeply missed by our entire TVRM family. We are grateful for the many years of friendship, service, and memories he gave us.

Rest well, Bill. Thank you for being part of our railroad family.

Photo credit: Travis Gordon

08/26/2026

Some display tracks are going in… 👀🚂

But the BIG question is… what will be the future home of these tracks? Stay tuned!

08/25/2026

Today, we have lost a friend, a fellow Tennessean, and an icon.

To say Dolly Parton was amazing falls far short of describing the incredible human being we have been honored to know. Her kindness, generosity, and love touched countless lives—including ours.

Our hearts go out to our friends in Sevierville and to everyone who is grieving this tremendous loss.
Dolly’s love of trains helped so many of us, and her spirit will continue to inspire us. Like the little engines that could, we will keep going—because of you, Dolly.

Thank you for showing us what it means to dream big, love deeply, and never stop believing that the next mountain can indeed be crossed.

08/22/2026

Join us for a fun train ride this weekend! Choose from a quick one-hour experience or an unforgettable day-long journey. We’ve got your ticket for a ride back in time!

08/15/2026

Water, fire, and grace.

Steam Engine 4501 showcases the beauty of 115-year-old engineering—and the remarkable ability to harness power and work gracefully under pressure.

Today, she’s leading the way on our Summerville Steam Special, making history with every mile and every guest aboard.

Be sure to book your ticket and experience this truly unique ride for yourself! https://bit.ly/4p6FD4f

08/14/2026

🚂 It’s a great weekend to ride a train! Whether you’re looking for a short adventure, an evening excursion, or an all-day escape, we have the perfect trip waiting for you August 15–16. http://bit.ly/4dRVqA3

Departing from Chattanooga

🚂 Missionary Ridge Local – Saturday & Sunday�Enjoy a history-filled ride through Missionary Ridge and a guided tour of our Soule Shops restoration facility.

🔥 Summerville Steam Special – Saturday�Experience an unforgettable steam-powered journey into North Georgia and the historic town of Summerville.

🌅 Evening Ridge Runner – Saturday�Wind down your day with a relaxing evening train ride from Chattanooga Grand Junction Station.

🫖 Homefront Tea Room – Sunday�Enjoy a traditional tea experience, with the option to add a Missionary Ridge Local train ride.

Departing from Delano, Tennessee

🏞️ Copperhill Special – Saturday�Take an all-day journey through the Lower Hiwassee River Gorge, around the famous Bald Mountain Loop, and on to Copperhill, Tennessee.

🏞️ Hiwassee Loop – Sunday�Travel through the spectacular Lower Hiwassee River Gorge and around Bald Mountain, where the train circles the mountain as it climbs.

📍 Please remember: The Copperhill Special and Hiwassee Loop depart from Delano, Tennessee—not Chattanooga.

🎟️ Come ride with us this weekend!

Ride a train! 🚂 - 👉 https://bit.ly/4p6FD4f

08/01/2026

Steam fans, this is one you won't want to miss! 🚂🔥
Watch Southern Railway No. 4501 working hard as she climbs the grade with the ScaleTrains Summerville Special. There's nothing quite like the sight and sound of steam on the move!

Every trip, every restoration, and every project is made possible by supporters who care about preserving railroad history for future generations.

❤️ If you'd like to help keep historic steam alive, please consider making a gift:
https://bit.ly/4hIsUDh

Enjoy the video, share it with your fellow railfans, and thank you for supporting the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum! 🚂💚

08/01/2026

🚂 We’re honored to see Southern Railway No. 4501 featured by Trains Magazine in her classic Southern green passenger livery during the ScaleTrains charter to Summerville!

Bringing No. 4501 back to this iconic appearance was a labor of love made possible by the dedication of our volunteers, supporters, and preservation community. Seeing her back on the main line reminds us why preserving living railroad history matters.

Restoring historic locomotives doesn't end when the paint dries. To continue preserving equipment like No. 4501, we're raising funds to build a dedicated Finishing Facility at the Soule Shops—a climate-controlled space where restoration and finishing work can continue year-round, regardless of the weather.

❤️ Help us preserve the next generation of railroad history:
https://bit.ly/4hIsUDh

Every gift, no matter the size, helps keep Southern Railway No. 4501 and countless other pieces of railroad history alive for future generations. Thank you for your support! 💚🚂

The famous passenger/excursion green shines on Southern Railway No. 4501 as the 2-8-2 is ready for the ScaleTrains charter to Summerville! This is part of the NMRA convention in Chattanooga.