Historic Preservation

Thank You for a Magical Christmas Season at Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum 🎄✨ What a season it’s been! ✨🎄 As our holiday trains head back to the depot and the last jingle bells fade into winter, all of us at Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum want to say a heartfelt thank you to every family who rode…

As the year winds down, it’s a perfect time to reflect on moments that helped shape what guests experience at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum today. One of the most pivotal chapters in our story came in 1981, a year marked by operational milestones, major infrastructure investments, and the tireless dedication of volunteers…

TENNESSEE VALLEY RAILROAD MUSEUM AWARDED A CAPITAL MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENTS GRANT FROM THE TENNESSEE STATE MUSEUM GRANT WILL BE USED FOR FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS TO GRAND JUNCTION CAMPUS CHATTANOOGA, TN. NOV 11, 2025 TENNESSEE VALLEY RAILROAD MUSEUM is a recipient of a $100,000 grant for Capital Maintenance and Improvements from the State of Tennessee as administered through…

Big Wheels, Bigger Work Fall 2013 marked a turning point at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (TVRM). Guests strolling through East Chattanooga may have seen sparks from the Soule Shops, but few realized they were witnessing the rebirth of Southern Railway 2-8-2 Mikado #4501. By late August, crews had slid three massive driving wheel axles…

Steam, Community & Celebration: Founder’s Day Weekend Returns! The heartbeat of Southeastern railroading is ready to roar again as Founder’s Day Weekend returns to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (TVRM)! From Friday through Sunday, families, photographers, and history buffs alike can step aboard a living piece of American heritage. At the center of it all?…

An August Evening of Flavor, Fun & Railroading at TVRM On Saturday, August 16, the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum invites you to an evening that combines entertainment with preservation. Whether you choose gourmet dining, sunset cocktails, or ice cream with the family, each Special August Ride gives you a ticket into railroading’s living history. Dinner…

Preserving the Past with Every Pane: Grand Junction’s Window Renovation Project Tucked away in the vibrant heart of Chattanooga, the Grand Junction Depot is more than a departure point—it’s a monument to a golden age of rail travel. Now, after 42 years, the depot’s upstairs dining room has been fitted with new windows, completing a…

A Mother’s Day to Remember: Dining, Rail Travel, and Family Fun at TVRM Looking for a meaningful way to celebrate the amazing moms in your life? This Mother’s Day Weekend, the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (TVRM) invites you to step aboard a collection of rail experiences designed to delight, relax, and inspire. With options ranging…

A Century on the Rails: The Enduring Journey of Dining Car 3164 Some railcars serve a decade and disappear. Others, like Southern Railway Dining Car 3164, span generations. Built in 1924 by the Pullman Company, Car 3164 embodies the craftsmanship and resilience of early 20th-century rail travel. For over a century, it has rolled through…

Dining in Elegance: The Journey of Southern Railway’s ‘Travelers Fare’ Dining Car Step aboard the past and experience a masterpiece of moving history—Southern Railway Dining Car No. 3158, affectionately named “Travelers Fare.” Built by the Pullman Company in 1924, this heavyweight dining car once graced the rails of premier Southern Railway passenger trains, and now…