Railcar Rehabilitation

For Wednesday’s Atlanta bound NS inspection train, TVRM placed Southern Railway E8 6914, Central of Georgia combine car 390, TAG 80 and Southern Railway 50 on display at the end of the interchange track at Grand Junction.  In these two shots by Mike Ray you see the passing train and the display equipment and then…

Soule Shops Completes Major Refurbishment of Grand Trunk Western Dining Car The renowned Soule Shops has successfully completed another significant refurbishment, this time focusing on the Grand Trunk Western dining car, numbered 899 and named the “Silver Lake”. The recent photos showcase the impressive upgrades made to the car, including: A custom 3-compartment sink A…

TVRM Gratefully Acknowledges John Emery Rail Heritage Trust Grant We are deeply appreciative to have been awarded a grant of $20,000 from the John Emery Rail Heritage Trust. Notably, half of this grant, amounting to $10,000, was received in mid-2022. This generous funding is instrumental in facilitating numerous enhancements to the dining car #899, known…

The holiday season is an opportunity to come together, share joy, and appreciate each other’s company. After a pause of two years, the Chattanooga area employees of Norfolk Southern (NS) were once again able to gather at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (TVRM) to celebrate their annual Christmas event. More than 400 employees and their…

Tennessee Valley Railroad: Preserving Chattanooga’s Rail History With an enduring presence spanning over six decades at Chattanooga’s Terminal Station, from its early days with the Southern Railway to its iconic stint with the Chattanooga Choo-Choo, the Tennessee Valley Railroad’s (TVRM) legacy remains deeply intertwined with the city’s rich railroading past. As times change and the…

Around the Shop: Car No. 390’s Revival Nestled in the heart of our shop, the historic Central of Georgia Railway combination (often referred to as a ‘combine’) car No. 390 has recently been stationed on track 7, awaiting some much-needed attention. This isn’t just any routine check-up. The ‘doctor’ – our team of expert restorers…

Revitalizing Railway History: The Restoration of Dining Car 899, “Silver Lake” Nestled within the heart of our advanced restoration and repair facility in East Chattanooga lies a magnificent emblem of history – Dining Car 899, fondly known as the “Silver Lake.” Constructed in 1954 by the renowned Pullman-Standard, this dining car was initially a proud…

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of you who have commented on the rehabilitation of the Central of Georgia combine 390. Your feedback has been greatly appreciated, and we’re thrilled to provide some additional details in response to your comments and questions. Acquisition and Initial Transportation TVRM purchased the car from the…

Stepping back in time, few could predict the storied life that Car 390 would lead. Built in 1947 by American Car and Foundry, this remarkable railway carriage first served the Central of Georgia’s famed train “the Nancy Hanks II”. As of recent, it is set to grace the tracks again in its original Central of…

The Magic of Train Travel: How Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (TVRM) Enhances Visitor Experience and Revenue In the latest issue of Smoke and Cinders, we discussed how special events serve to boost TVRM’s income, despite making up a relatively small portion of our operating schedule. Now, let’s turn our focus to the core of our…