As our most popular annual event, North Pole Limited train rides have been a family tradition since 1999. During the magical holiday season, trains take riders on an imaginary journey to the North Pole. Along the way, you’ll be treated to refreshments, storytelling, and occasional sing-a-longs. As the Christmas train gently rolls down the rails, a number of lighted displays can be seen outside. Once the train pulls into the “North Pole,” a special guest boards for a visit.
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Take a relaxing day trip through the lower Hiwassee River Gorge, over the Hiwassee Loop, and on to the joint towns of Copperhill, Tennessee and McCaysville, Georgia for lunch. This line was once an artery for freight and passengers between Atlanta and Knoxville, and the civil engineering the line used is certainly from another era! Shorter “Loop” trips are also available over a portion of this route.
![Copperhill Special: Dome Seats]( "Copperhill Special: Dome Seats")
![Copperhill Special: Observation Seats]( "Copperhill Special: Observation Seats")
![Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum 3101 Train Car - Photo 1]( "Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum 3101 Train Car - Photo 1")
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Explore Our Rides
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![North Pole Christmas train station]( "North Pole Christmas train station")
North Pole Limited (75 mins)
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![Missionary Ridge Local Train Ride]( "Missionary Ridge Local Train Ride")
Missionary Ridge Local (55 minutes)
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![train by hiwassee river]( "train by hiwassee river")
Hiwassee Loop (4 Hours)
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![Copperhill Special train on bridge]( "Copperhill Special train on bridge")
Copperhill Special (8:30 Hours)
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![chattanooga's wine dinner train excursion]( "chattanooga's wine dinner train excursion")
Chattanooga’s Wine Dinner Train Excursion
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![dining-car-decorated-for-christmas]( "dining-car-decorated-for-christmas")
2019 Christmas Special Dinner Train (2 hours)
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![Santa Hiwassee Holiday Train Ride]( "Santa Hiwassee Holiday Train Ride")
Santa’s Hiwassee Holiday Train (75 mins)
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![Nightcaps with St. Nick Logo]( "Nightcaps with St. Nick Logo")
Nightcaps with St. Nick (75 mins)
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![Valentine Dinner Train Image]( "Valentine Dinner Train Image")
Valentine Dinner train (2 hours)
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![Summerville Santa Special Train Image]( "Summerville Santa Special Train Image")
Summerville Santa Special (75 mins)
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![New Year's Eve Dinner Train]( "New Year's Eve Dinner Train")
New Year’s Eve Dinner Train (2 hours)
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![Founders Day Logo Image]( "Founders Day Logo Image")
Founders Day
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![Halloween Train Ride ticket-counter-at-train-station]( "Halloween Train Ride ticket-counter-at-train-station")
Halloween Eerie Express (90 mins)
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![Summerville Steam Special Train Ride]( "Summerville Steam Special Train Ride")
Summerville Steam Special (9 Hours)
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![Day Out With Thomas | Big Adventures Tour 2018]( "Day Out With Thomas | Big Adventures Tour 2018")
Day Out with Thomas
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![Dinner Train meal-in-the-dining-car]( "Dinner Train meal-in-the-dining-car")
Dinner on the Diner (2:00 Hours)
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![Cannon-in-battlefield logo]( "Cannon-in-battlefield logo")
Chickamauga Turn (6:15 hours)
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![Autumn Leaf Specials Train Ride]( "Autumn Leaf Specials Train Ride")
Autumn Leaf Specials (9 hours)
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![train with-light]( "train with-light")
Railroad Summer Camp
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![Chattanooga Museum Hop]( "Chattanooga Museum Hop")
Chattanooga Museum Hop (55 mins)
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North Pole Limited (75 mins)
Get information for North Pole Limited Christmas train ride at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. You can take an imaginary trip to the North Pole and even see Santa!
Missionary Ridge Local (55 minutes)
Ride our vintage short line train for a 55-minute, 6 mile roundtrip. Train crosses Chickamauga Creek and passes through the pre-Civil War Missionary Ridge tunnel traveling between Grand Junction and East Chattanooga.
Hiwassee Loop (4 Hours)
The Hiwassee Loop train ride is a 50-mile round trip through the Hiwassee River Gorge. All trips begin at the restored L&N Depot & Museum in Etowah, Tennessee.
Copperhill Special (8:30 Hours)
The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum's Copperhill Special train ride takes travelers through the lower Hiwassee Gorge and over the Hiwassee Loop.
Chattanooga’s Wine Dinner Train Excursion
Celebrate the adventures of yesteryear on Chattanooga's iconic railroad aboard a restored 1924 dining car while you enjoy delicious wine, food, and views. Each two hour train ride adventure includes a three-course dining experience, select wine pairings, and beverages on board a restored 1924 dining car.
2019 Christmas Special Dinner Train (2 hours)
The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum operates special Holiday Dinner Trains for the Christmas season. Celebrate the holidays at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum with a four-course meal and a ride through East Chattanooga aboard a restored 1924 dining car.
Santa’s Hiwassee Holiday Train (75 mins)
All aboard for a Hiwassee Holiday Adventure! For the fourth time, 'Santa Trains' will operate along the beautiful Hiwassee River from Delano, TN to Reliance, TN.
Nightcaps with St. Nick (75 mins)
Guests will board our first-class, round-end observation car for a journey to the North Pole at TVRM's Grand Junction Station. Along the way, attendants will serve beverages and dessert plates while costumed storytellers and entertainers read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas,' sing carols, and entertain passengers during the trip.
Valentine Dinner train (2 hours)
The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum offers special Dinner Trains during the Valentine season. Trips include a four-course dining experience on board a restored 1924 dining car. The excursion trains typically depart from our Chattanooga Grand Junction at 5:30 p.m., traveling at a leisurely pace through portions of urban Chattanooga, passing Warner Park Zoo and Chattanooga National Cemetery.
Summerville Santa Special (75 mins)
All aboard for a Georgia holiday adventure: The Summerville Santa Special Train Ride! Trains depart from the festively-decorated, historic Summerville Depot.
New Year’s Eve Dinner Train (2 hours)
New Year's Eve Dinner Train. The trips include a three-course dining experience usually on board a restored 1924 dining car. Excursion trains will depart from Chattanooga's Grand Junction Station in the evening, traveling at a leisurely pace through portions of urban East Chattanooga before reversing direction and returning to Grand Junction.
Founders Day
Sponsored by the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, the Tennessee Valley Founders Day features train rides, live music, a petting zoo and family fun.
Halloween Eerie Express (90 mins)
The Halloween Eerie Express trains depart from Grand Junction Station for a fun-filled round-trip journey. Features include storytelling, a tour through the Eerie Fun House, ride back to Grand Junction and a bag of treats for a festive Halloween experience. This family-friendly trip will get your fall started off right.
Summerville Steam Special (9 Hours)
Summerville Steam Special trains trip follow a historic route from Chattanooga to Summerville, Georgia; traveling past Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Military Park and through Chickamauga and into Summerville. For four trips in 2019, double steam engine (double-headed) trips will be featured with both #4501 and #630 on June 1, October 20 & 27, and November 10.
Day Out with Thomas
New for 2019: Percy will join Thomas the Tank Engine™ leading scheduled trains between 9:00am and 6:30pm from Grand Junction Station.
Dinner on the Diner (2:00 Hours)
Enjoy a meal on board a restored dining car. Trains depart from Grand Junction Station, traveling at a leisurely pace through portions of urban East Chattanooga before reversing direction and returning to Grand Junction.
Chickamauga Turn (6:15 hours)
Explore Chattanooga and Chickamauga's Civil War past on this historic train ride that includes a layover in the Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Military Park.
Autumn Leaf Specials (9 hours)
Autumn Leaf Specials trains follow a historic route from Grand Junction Station in Chattanooga to Summerville, Georgia; crossing the state line in Rossville, traveling past Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Military Park and through Chickamauga, Rock Spring, LaFayette, Trion, and into Summerville. Departure for the all-day trip is 9:00 am with return approximately 6:00 pm.
Railroad Summer Camp
The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum offers summer camp programs for teens and junior railroaders. Get pricing and information for this year's camps.
Chattanooga Museum Hop (55 mins)
You’ll need a passport, but you won’t need to pack a bag for this amazing adventure. Explore and experience the unexpected when six Chattanooga-area museums open their doors for the Museum Hop.
The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
A Train Ride Through Time!
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 will add 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!
Please feel free to spend time visiting our Grand Junction depot before purchasing your ticket. There you will find our ticket office, cafe, gift shop, and historical displays to enjoy. We do not charge an admission fee except on some of our special event weekends.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum is to collect, preserve, operate, display, and interpret railroad artifacts in an authentic setting for the education and enjoyment of the public. We focus on the important and fascinating role railroads played in the history and development of our region.
About Us