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Ride a vintage short-line train! Our most frequent service trips — the “Local” — begin at our Grand Junction Station and travel to East Chattanooga for a layover to view a turntable demonstration and tour of our restoration shop.
Enjoy a 50-mile roundtrip through the beautiful lower Hiwassee River gorge. This 5-hour trip takes you to the top of the famous Hiwassee Loop.
This unique opportunity allows you to enjoy not only a railroad excursion trip but also fine dining en route while the train travels!
Visit the North Pole! Our most popular annual event, North Pole Limited train rides have been a family tradition since 1999.
Includes all-day entrance to the property and exhibits on the property. Does not include a train ride.
Admission is included with a Train Ticket. Do not buy if you have already purchased a train ride.
Take a trip back in time to a slower-paced era when railroad travel was a way of life. Relive the romance of the rails when vintage trains provided an escape from the everyday routine. The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum provides an interactive, historical experience that adds an extra dimension to your visit to Chattanooga’s popular attractions. Here you will find the only regularly scheduled, full-sized train ride in Tennessee. The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum is so much more than entertainment… It is your chance to experience the sights and sounds of yesteryear!
Even though we did the shortest tour on the Missionary Ridge line, it was very enjoyable. We loved the history of that line as well as getting to see behind the scenes at the railyard. This was our first time doing this tour and visiting here, and we got a treat while here! When we were about to leave the railyard to head back to the Grand Junction, our engine (the 606) broke down. Thankfully, they had the 5000 there at the yard and we got to see how they exchange engines. It added an extra 30 - 45 minutes to our experience! We also enjoyed the feel of riding in a 1940's passenger car as well as seeing all the different trains in their collection. If our budget ever allows, we would love to come back and do their all day tours!
– bluejello_eater | TripadvisorThe service was OUTSTANDING!!! Staff were very attentive. The food was great! By far the best thing we’ve done, so far in Chattanooga!!!!
– Lane | Google ReviewHad a wonderful time riding the 55min “Missionary Ridge Local” train ride, pulled by Southern #630. The museum grounds is beautiful, the equipment is fantastically taken care of, and every single staff member was welcoming and friendly! Special Notes: the conductor stopped the locomotive in front of the depot and offered to take pics of the visitors for them in front of the engine! A great touch! Trip includes a tour of the backshop where maintenance is done on the equipment
– Evan P | TripadvisorWe rode the Hiwassee Loop excursion in November, and enjoyed the best seat in the house, from our perch in the dome car. Terrific scenery on a very unique track plan, and the tour guide is the best in the business. He shared tons of fascinating history. Gotta love this excursion out of Etowah, Tennessee!
– Jim A | TripadvisorMy family and I visited the TV Railroad Museum on the way through Chattanooga and we loved it! It was a nice quick stop - only about 1.25 hours from arrival to departure. We went on the short Missionary Ridge ride, which was perfect with small kids. They got the thrill of being on a “real train” without getting bored. There aren’t any large interior areas (like a traditional museum), but you can see some beautiful restored trains in the yard, most from the 1920s-1940s. If you enjoy looking at vintage trains, I’d definitely recommend this for a quick visit. Oh, and try the local ice cream at the halfway point… it was delicious!
– Natalia O | TripadvisorWe took a ride on the Hiwassee Loop Railroad trip in October, to enjoy the changing of the leaves, and the trip was great. The conductor & staff are very courteous and knowledgeable, and we were thoroughly entertained. It's not expensive and worth every dollar. Only took 4 hours and there's lots to see. Snacks are provided for a minimum cost and you get a wonderful running narrative as you enjoy the scenery. Take the time to go to Etowah and catch the train!
– Scott G. | TripadvisorWe enjoyed the Hiwassee Loop trip that left from Etowah, Tennessee. The staff was very friendly and entertaining. Our conductor was a very good narrator and even played the banjo! Our trip was in the fall and the views were spectacular. We are hoping to plan another trip soon.
– UsTraveler1992 | TripadvisorThoroughly enjoyed my short trip on the TV rail today. The turntable is really cool to see in action along with the train repair depot. Lots of kiddos enjoying themselves, which was great to see. Riding the train is like a trip back in time! Seemed like there were a lot of local repeat customers who knew the staff, that says a lot about the experience and people!
– JLB_ATL | TripadvisorThe mission of the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (TVRM) is to collect for preservation, operation, interpretation, and display railroad artifacts in an authentic setting to educate the public concerning the role of railroads in the history and development of our region.
