21st Century Steam
21st Century Steam will bring historic steam locomotives from TVRM in Chattanooga, to communities along Norfolk Southern lines for display and periodic excursions. To learn more about 21st Century Steam, click HERE
As part of the Norfolk Southern 21st Century Steam Program, the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (TVRM) will be offering a limited number of public excursions. General admission seating will be provided in climate-controlled coaches with comfortable seats and large windows. Don’t miss this opportunity to ride a vintage train in many areas long removed from passenger service. Power is scheduled to be ex-Southern Railway 2-8-0 #630 built in 1904 and recently restored to service by TVRM in Chattanooga.
2013 EXCURSION SCHEDULE
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The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (TVRM) is pleased to offer public train excursions during the spring as part of Norfolk Southern’s “21st Century Steam” program. All trains consist of climate-controlled coaches with large windows for viewing the passing scenery. Announced trips include:
- March 2 ~ Chattanooga to Attalla
- March 9 ~ Bristol to Radford
- March 10 ~ Bristol to Bulls Gap
- March 16 & 17 ~ Roanoke to Walton & Lynchburg
- March 23 ~ Norfolk to Petersburg
- April 13 ~ Spencer to Barber Junction
- April 20 & 21 ~ Asheville to Old Fort
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Saturday, March 2 ~ Chattanooga, Tennessee to Attalla, Alabama
This steam-powered train will operate with diesel assistance over Norfolk Southern’s Alabama Division main line (former Alabama Great Southern) on a 174-mile round trip. Passengers will be able to detrain in Attalla to browse the many shops in this historic town, which grew up around the railroad. Departing from TVRM’s Grand Junction Station at 4119 Cromwell Rd (free parking onsite), the train will travel over the former Southern right-of-way, onto the East Chattanooga Belt Railway, and will enter the Norfolk Southern at 23rd Street. Departure time from Grand Junction is 8:00am, arriving in Attalla at 11:45am (10:45 local time) for a 2-¼ hour layover, departing Attalla at 2:00pm (1:00pm local time.) Return to Grand Junction in Chattanooga is scheduled for approximately 5:45pm. A commissary car will be included on the train selling snacks, soft drinks, and light food. A gift shop will also be featured on board for those wishing to purchase souvenir items.
Tickets: $65 per seat with no meal; or a limited number of seats at $85 including a meal in the dining car (choice of one seating as shown below.) Everyone age 3 & up requires a ticket; under 3 is no charge if not occupying a seat, no food included.
Meal choices with the $85 tickets must be made at same time as reservation: Breakfast at 9:00am or Lunch at 10:45am (Homemade Soup, Smoked Ham and Cheese Croissant, Potato Salad, Cole Slaw, Dessert, and Beverage), or Lunch at 2:00pm, or Lunch at 3:15pm.
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Saturday, March 9 ~ Bristol, Virginia to Radford, Virginia
This steam-powered train will operate with diesel assistance over Norfolk Southern’s Virginia Division main line (former Norfolk & Western Railway) on a 220-mile round trip. Passengers will be able to detrain in Radford to eat in one of the nine restaurants in town, or in the Radford University Cafeteria (all within walking distance; food not included in price.) Departure location will be from the Old N&W Depot on the corner of State St. and Martin Luther King Blvd., adjacent to the Tennessee/Virginia State Line (free parking available in lots within a two-block radius.) Departure time from Bristol is 8:00am, arriving in Radford at 12:00 noon for a 2½ hour layover, departing Radford at 2:30pm. Return to Bristol is scheduled for approximately 7:00pm. A commissary car will be included on the train selling snacks, soft drinks, and light food items. A gift shop will also be featured on board for those wishing to purchase souvenir items. Note: Passenger stops will be made in Abingdon at 8:40am and 6:20pm. A description of the trip can be found here
Tickets: $65 per seat for passengers age 3 & up (no meal included.) Everyone age 3 & up requires a ticket; under 3 is no charge if not occupying a seat.
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Sunday, March 10 ~ Bristol, Virginia to Bulls Gap, Tennessee
This steam-powered train will operate with diesel assistance over Norfolk Southern’s Virginia Division main line (former Southern Railway) on a 156-mile round trip. Passengers can detrain in Bulls Gap and box lunches will be provided to all riders. Departure location will be from the Old N&W Depot on the corner of State St. and Martin Luther King Blvd., adjacent to the Tennessee/Virginia State Line (free parking available in lots within a two-block radius.) Departure time from Bristol is 9:00am, arriving in Bulls Gap at 12:00 noon for a 2-hour layover, departing Bulls Gap at 2:00pm. Return to Bristol is scheduled for approximately 5:00pm. A commissary car will be included on the train selling snacks, soft drinks, and light food items. A gift shop will also be featured on board for those wishing to purchase souvenir items. Note: Passenger stops will be made in Johnson City at 10:00am and 4:00pm. A description of the trip can be found here
Tickets: $65 per seat for passengers age 3 & up (box lunch and drink included.) Everyone age 3 & up requires a ticket; under 3 is no charge if not occupying a seat, no food included.
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Saturday, March 16 ~ Roanoke, Virginia to Walton, Virginia (morning trip)
This steam-powered train will operate with diesel assistance over Norfolk Southern’s Virginia Division main line (former Norfolk & Western Railway) on an 80-mile round trip including the climb over Christiansburg Hill. Passengers will stay on the train during the entire trip. Departure location will be from behind the Old N&W Depot (now the Roanoke Valley Visitor Information Center and O. Winston Link Museum at 101 Shenandoah Avenue NE.) Free weekend parking is available in several downtown parking garages. Train departure time from Roanoke is 8:30am with return scheduled for approximately 12:00 noon. A commissary car will be included on the train selling snacks, soft drinks, and light food items. A gift shop will also be featured on board for those wishing to purchase souvenir items.
NOTICE ABOUT SATURDAY MORNING PARKING: The Gainsboro Garage and Shenandoah Avenue will be accessible up until 8:00am when the road will be closed to traffic for a special walk/race event. The road will reopen by 10:30am and be back to normal. The Wells Fargo Tower Garage will be accessible from Norfolk Aveune and the pedway across Norfolk Southern tracks allows easy entrance to the train boarding location behind the former Norfolk & Western Station on Shenandoah Avenue.
Tickets: $45 per seat for passengers age 3 & up (no meal included.) Everyone age 3 & up requires a ticket; under 3 is no charge if not occupying a seat.
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Saturday, March 16 ~ Roanoke, Virginia to Lynchburg, Virginia (afternoon trip)
This steam-powered train will operate with diesel assistance over Norfolk Southern’s Virginia Division main line (former Norfolk & Western Railway) on a 100-mile round trip including passage over the Blue Ridge Summit. Passengers will stay on the train during the entire trip. Departure location will be from behind the Old N&W Depot (now the Roanoke Valley Visitor Information Center and O. Winston Link Museum at 101 Shenandoah Avenue NE.) Free weekend parking is available in several downtown parking garages including the Gainsboro Garage on Shenandoah Avenue, and the Wells Fargo Tower Garage accessible from Norfolk Avenue (which has a pedway across Norfolk Southern tracks onto Shenandoah Avenue. Train departure time from Roanoke is 1:30pm with return scheduled for approximately 6:00pm. A commissary car will be included on the train selling snacks, soft drinks, and light food items. A gift shop will also be featured on board for those wishing to purchase souvenir items.
Tickets: $45 per seat for passengers age 3 & up (no food included.) Everyone age 3 & up requires a ticket; under 3 is no charge if not occupying a seat.
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Sunday, March 17 ~ Roanoke, Virginia to Lynchburg, Virginia
This steam-powered train will operate with diesel assistance over Norfolk Southern’s Virginia Division main line (former Norfolk & Western Railway) on a 100-mile round trip including passage over the Blue Ridge Summit. Passengers will stay on the train during the entire trip. Departure location will be from behind the Old N&W Depot (now the Roanoke Valley Visitor Information Center and O. Winston Link Museum at 101 Shenandoah Avenue NE.) Free weekend parking is available in several downtown parking garages. Departure time from Roanoke is 11:00am with return scheduled for approximately 3:30pm. A commissary car will be included on the train selling snacks, soft drinks, and light food items. A gift shop will also be featured on board for those wishing to purchase souvenir items.
Tickets: $45 per seat for passengers age 3 & up (no food included.) Everyone age 3 & up requires a ticket; under 3 is no charge if not occupying a seat.
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Saturday, March 23 ~ Norfolk, Virginia to Petersburg, Virginia
This steam-powered train will operate with diesel assistance over Norfolk Southern’s Virginia Division main line (former Norfolk & Western Railway) on a 162-mile round trip including the Great Dismal Swamp. Passengers will be able to detrain in Petersburg to eat in one of the many restaurants in town (within walking distance; food not included in price.) Departure location will be the Amtrak Station at Harbor Park in Norfolk. Departure time from Norfolk is 9:30am, arriving in Petersburg at 12:00 noon for a 2 hour layover, departing Petersburg at 2:00pm. Return to Norfolk is scheduled for approximately 4:30pm. A commissary car will be included on the train selling snacks, soft drinks, and light food items. A gift shop will also be featured on board for those wishing to purchase souvenir items.
Tickets: $65 per seat for passengers age 3 & up (no food included.) Everyone age 3 & up requires a ticket; under 3 is no charge if not occupying a seat.
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Saturday, April 13 ~ Spencer, North Carolina to Barber Junction, North Carolina (multiple departures)
This steam-powered train will operate over Norfolk Southern’s Piedmont Division main line (former Southern Railway) on a 28-mile round trip. Passengers will stay on board the train for the trip’s duration. Departure location is the North Carolina Transportation Museum, 411 S. Salisbury Avenue. Free parking is available onsite. Departure times from Spencer are 9:15am, 12:15pm*, and 3:30pm for the 1½ hour round trips. A commissary car will be included on the train selling snacks, soft drinks, and light food items. A gift shop will also be featured on board for those wishing to purchase souvenir items. A description of the trip can be found here
Tickets: $40 per seat for adults; $30 per seat for children (age 3 to 12.) Everyone age 3 & up requires a ticket; under 3 is no charge if not occupying a seat.
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Saturday, April 20 and Sunday, April 21 ~ Asheville, North Carolina to Old Fort, North Carolina (multiple departures)
This steam-powered train will operate with diesel assistance over Norfolk Southern’s Piedmont Division main line (former Southern Railway) on 56-mile round trips. Highlight of the trip will be traversing the “Loops” around Andrews Geyser. Passengers will stay on board the train for the trip’s duration. Departure location is the Norfolk Southern Yard at 33 Meadow Rd. Free parking is available onsite. Departure times from Asheville are 8:00am and 2:00pm for the 4 hour round trips. Return is scheduled to Asheville at approximately 12:00 noon and 6:00pm respectively. A commissary car will be included on the train selling snacks, soft drinks, and light food items. A gift shop will also be featured on board for those wishing to purchase souvenir items.
NOTICE: The railroad has requested an adjustment to a later departure time. Originally 1pm, now the afternoon trip departure time is 2pm. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Tickets: $60 per seat for passengers age 3 & up (no food included.) Everyone age 3 & up requires a ticket; under 3 is no charge if not occupying a seat.
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