Explore Chattanooga Fall 2023

A s steam locomotives made their last appearances on the country’s major railroads, a few railroad fans began buying steam engines and passenger cars that the railroads would otherwise have scrapped. This small collection was the beginning of the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, which was founded in 1961 by a small group of local residents who were intent on trying to save some American history by preserving, restoring, and operating authentic railway equipment from the “Golden Age of Railroading.” Railroads like the Southern Railway also made generous donations of obsolete rail cars to museums like TVRM, expanding their collections and the story the museum could tell. In addition, Southern Railway donated the original East Tennessee, Virginia, and Georgia roadbed (absorbed into the Southern Railway System in 1894) on which TVRM could operate. TVRM’s passenger trains run on the historic route, which includes Missionary Ridge Tunnel, completed in 1858 and on the National Register of Historic Places. The tunnel is the primary reason TVRM runs on the 3-mile section of the former Southern Railway. As railroad equipment grew too large to pass through and the single-track tunnel became a traffic jam for an otherwise double-track railroad, Southern Railway abandoned the 3-mile portion of the line and built a new section around the end of Missionary Ridge, avoiding the tunnel altogether. Today, TVRM preserves railroad equipment not only to preserve machines but to preserve an experience as well. In providing this historical experience, TVRM hopes to educate our visitors about the importance of this industry and how it helped create the modern world in which we live. 2023 marks the 62 nd anniversary of the TVRM and on September 9 the TVRM will hold a Founder’s Day celebration where they will be celebrating 62 years of railroad preservation. Special Events throughout the day: • Artists Market in the Wye • Special Photo Exhibit in the lobby of Grand Junction Depot: “Steam in the Valley, TVRM’s Early Years” by John Coniglio

• On site “history interpretation” will represent Military encampment and demonstrations. • Also on display - a few trucks that helped TVRM stay on track. • Special Equipment on display including Diesel 6914, Steam Engine 610, Diesel 8669 and more! • Choo-Choo Forge Blacksmiths • Exhibits in the Exhibit Building • Model Railroad exhibit by the Tennessee Valley Model Railroaders, Inc will be open, in the main office building, all day. The Missionary Ridge Local will run a double schedule featuring 4501 and 630 on separate trains during the day and then as a double header for the 5:00pm Missionary Ridge Local. The Evening Ridge Runner will also be a double header and will have a longer stay at our East Chattanooga location for time to enjoy beverages and live music. A special evening photo shoot is also planned and can be purchased separately. Missionary Ridge Local Schedule for September 9: (All time in Eastern Time zone) • 9:30am: Southern 630 • 10:30am: Southern 4501 • 11:30am: Southern 630 • 12:30am: Southern 4501 • 1:30pm: Southern 630 • 2:30pm: Southern 4501 • 3:30pm: Southern 630 • 5:00pm: Double Header! 4501 + 630 • 6:30pm - 8:30pm: Dinner Train • 7:00pm: Ridge Runner: Double Header to East Chattanooga, then return to Grand Junction with only 4501. • 8:30pm - 9:45pm: Night photo session at East Chattanooga - Tickets: For more information on other events and special holiday trains, or to purchase tickets visit: www.tvrail.com

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