When you hear the whistle blowing eight to the bar, then you know that Tennessee is not very far. Shovel all the coal in, gotta keep it rolling. Whoo, whoo, Chattanooga, there you are. And here we are – exploring our train traveling past at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum.
Welcome to the Scenic City. Home to the Tennessee River, a stunning downtown, and a rich history much of which centers around the old iron horse, and that’s what brings us here today.
The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum got its start in 1961. In the first half of the last century steam locomotives were being decommissioned and used for scrap – making way for the newer diesel engines of the day. And in an effort to preserve that history of steam trains, the museum was born.
Today, over 60 years later the museum boasts an enormous collection preserving and profiling the history of train transportation.
Rotating exhibits populate the depot – giving a taste of the golden age of railroading. But in addition to the fascinating stories to learn about inside the buildings, there is more to experience riding the rails. Yes, this is a museum that moves.
All aboard folks. We’re hopping on the Missionary Ridge Local – a one hour journey that takes you back more than a hundred years as you cross four bridges and ride through a pre Civil War tunnel, all while soaking in the history of the tour.
The museum offers dozens of tours and themed train rides all year long. There really is something for everyone – and every age. This tour is about an hour in total and features fun and interesting facts, great views, and a really awesome turntable that gets the whole train pointed back in the direction you came from.
While you’re here you can also experience the Restoration Shop. Here, vintage trains are meticulously restored – and you get to learn about what it takes to keep history rolling right along.
From the sights and sounds of the shop… to the rhythm of the rails… to the delights of the old depot buildings, this place offers a one of a kind experience for the train lovers in your life – and you might just love it too.
