The Soule Shops at Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in East Chattanooga stand as one of the best-equipped facilities of its kind across the nation.
Our Machines Include:
- A Niles wheel lathe measuring 90 inches
- A quartering machine
- A journal lathe
North America’s sole location housing the three vital machines required for the proper maintenance of steam locomotive driving wheels, all under one roof!
CURRENT PROJECTS:
RESTORE THE 98
Current ProjectThe Pullman Company built car number 98 in 1917 as a private car for the president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The car contains a kitchen, crews’ quarters, dining room, three staterooms, and a lounge. It also features mahogany paneling, brass fixtures, leaded glass interior windows, and a rear, open observation platform. While the railroad updated the 98 in the 1930s to include sealed windows and climate control, it has changed very little since.
Today, the car is available to the public for charter on TVRM’s dinner trains and service to North Georgia. It is considered the museum’s most luxurious car, allowing passengers to ride in a true first-class style reminiscent of a bygone age.
The “98” turns 100 years old this year, and due to its age and use, the car is in need of a wide-ranging restoration. We encourage you to help TVRM in its efforts to complete this very important project! All donors will be invited to the recommissioning ceremony to begin the 98’s next 100 years of service.
Steam Season 2025 Begins at TVRM!
All Aboard for an Exciting Start to Steam Season! March marks the return of steam railroading at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (TVRM), and the excitement is already building! This year, the season kicks off with a few important updates: 4501 Remains in the Shop: Our beloved Southern Railway 4501 will take a little extra…
February 27, 2025
Exploring the Legacy of SD9 Locomotive #205
The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum continues its mission of preserving rail history with the exciting addition of SD9 locomotive #205. This powerful machine, built in 1955 by EMD, carries decades of history, having served various railroads before finding its forever home at TVRM. Let’s dive into the fascinating legacy of this diesel workhorse and what’s…
February 10, 2025
Bringing NS 4851 to Life – TAG Heritage Unit
The TAG Heritage Unit, NS 4851, is a shining example of the incredible craftsmanship at the Juniata Locomotive Shop. From its origins as NS 9583, a 2000-built unit, to its stunning transformation into a legacy locomotive, this project showcases innovation, dedication, and artistry. It took 10 carmen painters, 450 hours, and 77 gallons of paint…
January 1, 2025
PAST PROJECTS:
SOUTHERN 630 INSPECTION
Date: February 2A couple of weeks ago 630 was in the middle of the annual inspection. The first picture shows some of the boiler washout plugs awaiting reinstallation. These plugs are removed for each boiler wash and allow access points for cleaning with a high-pressure water nozzle to flush out deposits left behind from the previous weeks of service. The second picture shows a portable heater being used to raise the ambient temperature of the water in the boiler for a hydrostatic test after all plugs and valves had been inspected and reinstalled.
SOUTHERN 6914 E8 UNIT
Date: February 5A quick study of soda blasting. Stainless steel grills for the E were cleaned over the last couple of weeks by using baking soda and water blasted at high pressure. This process cleans paint and grime from the material without scratching when done correctly.