Final Inspection — The Work Behind the Steam
Behind the Scenes with Fireman Kyle Shannon Before a single whistle echoes across the hills or a wheel turns down the track, a dedicated team ensures every bolt, bearing, and brake on 114-year-old Steam Engine No. 4501 is in working order. On this day, Fireman Kyle Shannon — a seasoned member of TVRM’s mechanical team…
August 23, 2025
Step Into Railroading’s Story — This Weekend at TVRM
Bright skies, a warm breeze, and the sound of steel wheels on rails — it’s the perfect weekend to ride with the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. From Saturday’s full schedule to Sunday’s relaxed departures, every trip connects you to more than a destination. It connects you to the living story of America’s railroads. Saturday Trips…
Step into Magic — A Wizarding Ride Awaits at TVRM
🧙♂️ All Aboard for Magic! This fall, the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum opens the gates once more to Rails, Wizards & Spells — an imaginative, family-friendly experience where fantasy meets railroading tradition. From the moment you pass through the Enchanted Forest entrance to the final spell aboard your train car, every detail is curated to…
A Day on the Chickamauga Turn – Powered by Diesel No. 5000
Feel the Power of the Past: Ride the Chickamauga Turn with Diesel No. 5000 🚉 Why This Ride Matters There’s something grounding about riding steel rails through green pastures and into a town where history whispers from every brick and depot. When Diesel Engine No. 5000 leads the Chickamauga Turn, passengers aren’t just getting from…
A Night to Remember — Dinner in the Depot Returns August 16
A Night to Remember — Dinner in the Depot Returns August 16 🍽️ Experience an Evening Like No Other On August 16, the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum invites you to Dinner in the Depot — an elegant evening of fine dining, nostalgic atmosphere, and the rhythmic sound of wheels on rails. Set in our beautifully…
Feel the Power of 1904 — Steam #630’s Mighty Pulse Echoes Through Chattanooga
Feel the Power of 1904 — Steam #630’s Mighty Pulse Echoes Through Chattanooga Sunlight flickers through Missionary Ridge Tunnel as #630 thunders ahead, whistle echoing off sandstone walls. You’re aboard the Missionary Ridge Local, a short-line excursion that compresses 120 years of railroad evolution into a single, sensory-rich hour. What begins as a gentle roll…
Steam Whistles & Small-Town Wanders: Our Summerville Family Escape
Long before dawn’s glow kissed Chattanooga’s ridges, my family boarded the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum’s Summerville Steam Special—nine glorious hours of clanging rods, Southern fare, and small-town charm. According to TVRM, the train departs Grand Junction Depot at 9 a.m. and returns around 6 p.m., tracing the former Central of Georgia main line across the…
TVRM Model Train Layout Open Today | 10-3 PM
TVRM’s mission—to “collect for preservation, operation … and display railroad artifacts in an authentic setting to educate the public” —guides every exhibit, from 150-ton steam engines to the finely detailed HO-scale empire tucked beneath Southern Railway Historical Association’s front brick building. From 10 AM–3 PM today, you can step into that lower-level gallery and…
Steam, Tea & Mountains: Your Ultimate Chattanooga Rail Weekend
Welcome aboard — six ways to time-travel in a single weekend Chattanooga earned its place on the rail map in the 1850s, and the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (TVRM) still lets you experience that golden age at full scale. Whether you have an hour or a whole day, the rides below turn casual getaways into…
Feel the Steam, Savor the Sunset: Your Perfect TVRM Weekend Rail Itinerary
Feel the Steam, Savor the Sunset: Your Perfect TVRM Weekend Rail Itinerary Train Departure Experience Length Ideal For Steam Star #4501 – Summerville Steam Special 9:30 AM 9 hrs Day-trippers & rail enthusiasts Steam Engine #630 – Missionary Ridge Local 9:30, 11:00, 12:30, 2:00, 3:30 55 min Families & first-time riders Evening Ridge Runner 6:00…