Quick Details
Take an extended day trip excursion through the lower Hiwassee River Gorge, over the Hiwassee Loop, and onto the joint cities of Copperhill, Tennessee, and McCaysville, GA. Total 94-mile round trip. Have lunch on your own during the 90-minute layover before returning. Departure time is 9:00 A.M. and return is generally around 5:30 P.M.
The “Copperhill” route is the same as for “Loop” trips, but after traversing the river gorge and negotiating the spiral near Farner, the train continues a longer distance through Turtletown and Ducktown to the former mining town of Copperhill.
Hiwassee Loop trips are on Fridays and Sundays. Copperhill Special trips are on Saturdays.
The railroad over which Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum trains travel on its Hiwassee River Rail Adventures was formerly part of the Louisville and Nashville (L&N) Railroad’s Atlanta Division stretching between Etowah, Tennessee and Marietta, Georgia. Learn more
NOTE: Pricing varies for Fall Premium dates (October – first two weeks of November)
Things to Do in Copperhill TN
There are plenty of food and drink options available in town, so you’ll never go hungry or thirsty.
Food & Drink
Attractions
While in Copperhill, TN, be sure to check out the local attractions!
Passengers switch sides at our midway point from the mountain side to the river side and vise versa so everyone has an opportunity to experience all scenic views.
Passengers will be facing forward throughout the trip. (Seats will be flipped by our staff to traveling direction during layover.)
Dome (9410):
The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum offers a unique experience for visitors, with a Copperhill Special Train that features dome seating for the best view of the scenery.
Great Northern’s Empire Builder Vista Dome-Coach Train 9410 Diagram
Dome (Algonquin Park):
The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum is offering a special opportunity to experience the 360 degree views of the upper level dome. This is a great chance to see the beautiful scenery of the area.
Algonquin Park Dome-Observation Budd Company Train Car Diagram – Scenic dome section is Algonquin Park Dome seating.
Observation:
The observation car is a type of passenger coach, often found at the rear and thus with windows for viewing. This form was nearly universally removed from service on American railroads beginning in 1950’s but some still exist today!
Algonquin Park Dome-Observation Budd Company Train Car Diagram – Bullet lounge area is our Observation seating
Coach:
This train departs from Delano (9406 hwy 411, Delano, TN 37325) and NOT from Chattanooga. Departure from Delano is 9:00 a.m., return is approximately 6:30 p.m.
The Copperhill Special Location is about between 51 minutes and 2 hours from Chattanooga, and it’s well worth the drive. Please give yourself enough time before our departure. It is the perfect place to spend a day if you’re looking for something fun and unique to do. The local police are on the lookout for speeders, so be sure to stay under their posted speed limits if you want to avoid getting a ticket.
Train Ride Route Map for Hiwassee Loop and Copperhill Special
Children under 2 years ride free if not occupying a seat. Fares are slightly higher during the peak Autumn season. All trains run rain or shine and ticket sales are final.
A great train excursion. Beautiful views of river, mountains, TVA power facilities and Hiawassee Loop. We rode in the observation car at the rear of the train. Conductor and staff very knowledgeable and provided almost continuous narration of history of the railroad and the surrounding area. A must for railfans and history buffs. A day long train ride and history lesson. Most enjoyable.
– TripAdvisorGreat train ride copperhill Special! Great conductors ! Beautiful sites !
– Google ReviewMy husband and I rode the Copperhill excursion on November 4th. Our first for the both of us. The scenery was Beautiful going to Copperhill and back. Enjoyed the banjo playing and singing. Loved listening to the history of the railroad and other adventures along the way. The lay over in Copperhill was very relaxing. I highly recommend the State Line BBQ for your lunch. The staff was so friendly and knowledgeable of the areas and the railroad. I highly recommend this joyful trip. Don’t forget to purchase a beautiful tee shirt. Thanks for the ride
– FacebookOur convention group of 75 took a daylong chartered ride on the Copperhill Special in October 2016. We departed from Etowah and rode through the mountains to the old mining town of Copperhill, Tennessee, where we were on our own for lunch. After the two-hour stop we returned to Etowah. We had a wonderful experience viewing the fabulous scenery and riding on the old train. The conductor pointed out places of interest and even gave us a banjo serenade in the afternoon. Coffee and snacks were available on the train. Because we were the only group on the train we were able to move from car to car and visit with each other. A most relaxing day!
– TripAdvisorThe Hiwassee Loop train ride is a 50-mile roundtrip through the beautiful lower Hiwassee River gorge. This 5-hour trip takes you to the top of the famous Hiwassee Loop, where you can enjoy stunning views of the river below.
Ride a vintage short-line train! Our most frequent service trips — the “Local” — begin at our Grand Junction Station and travel to East Chattanooga for a layover to view a turntable demonstration and tour of our restoration shop.
