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Tennessee Valley Railroad News

prime mover

Inside the Diesel-Electric Locomotive: A Motor Replacement Tale

Behind the Scenes: Replacing a Locomotive’s Traction Motor As many of you know, most diesel locomotives are not going to be “direct drive” units, but are powered using a “diesel-electric” system. This system works by having the unit’s diesel motor (prime mover in railroad vernacular) turn a generator to create electricity, which is then sent…

Hiwassee Loop Train Ride Through Tennessee’s Hiwassee River Gorge
  • Delano Trip
From $62 per person

Travel 50 miles round trip from Delano on a 4.5-hour scenic journey through the lower Hiwassee River Gorge. Ride the rare spiral loop near Farner, where the track climbs and crosses over itself, while enjoying river, mountain, and forest views from climate-controlled vintage railcars.