Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Chattanooga, Tennessee · Updated October 19, 2026 · 14 min read

Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesTrains run most of the year; schedule varies by ride and season

The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum is an operating railroad museum in Chattanooga, founded in 1961, where volunteers and staff keep steam and diesel locomotives running on real track through a pre-Civil War tunnel and out into the Hiwassee River Gorge.

  • Founded August 11, 1961
  • Pre-Civil War Missionary Ridge Tunnel
  • Home of Southern Railway 4501
  • Listed on National Register in 1980
  • Trains from Chattanooga and Delano
  • Exhibit hall opened in 2021

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum at a glance

Hours
Varies by ride; office Mon to Fri 9 am to 4:30 pm. No trains on Mondays in October 2026
Admission
Exhibit only: adults $10, ages 2 to 12 $6, under 2 free. Included with any train ticket
Train rides
Missionary Ridge Local from $26; Hiwassee Loop from $62; Chickamauga Turn from $60; Copperhill Special from $80
Seasonal events
Rails, Wizards & Spells, SeaLight Festival Train, Chattanooga Dinner Train, Summerville Steam Special, Day Out With Thomas, Holiday trains
Plan for
1 to 2 hours for exhibits; 65 minutes for the Missionary Ridge Local; full days for Georgia and Copperhill trips
Best for
Families of all ages and serious steam fans
Best ages
All ages; long day trips suit ages 8 and up
Parking
Free on-site parking with room for campers and trailers at Grand Junction Station
Accessibility
About a 3-minute walk from parking to the depot; leave a booking note and staff can arrange transport from the lot.

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Chattanooga.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

Two rail fans, a $5,000 steam engine and sixty years of track work

The museum grew out of a group of Chattanooga rail preservationists who first organized as a chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. On August 11, 1961, DuPont electronic engineer Paul H. Merriman and General Railway Signal Company field man Robert M. Soule, Jr. founded the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum to save locomotives and cars the railroads no longer wanted. Early equipment sat in a Western Union pole yard beside Southern Railway's East Chattanooga yard.

Merriman had already bought Southern Railway 4501 in 1964 from the Kentucky & Tennessee Railway in Stearns, Kentucky, paying $5,000 of his own money. Restored over two years at Lucey Boiler Company with many volunteer hours from members, the 4501 went on to pull excursions across the Southern Railway system, which helped fund the young museum.

In 1969 Southern Railway donated land in East Chattanooga that included the 986-foot Whiteside Tunnel, better known as the Missionary Ridge Tunnel, and about a mile and a half of abandoned line. Volunteers built a railyard, relaid the track through the tunnel, and opened the site to the public on May 7, 1972. A bridge over Tunnel Boulevard followed in 1977, along with a reconstructed 1920s style depot. The museum was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 6, 1980, and the Soule Shops, named for the co-founder, opened in 1982.

In 2004 the museum and the Tennessee Overhill Heritage Association acquired part of the old L&N Hook and Eye line toward Copperhill, creating a second division in the Hiwassee River Gorge. The museum marked fifty years over Labor Day weekend in 2011, and around October 2021 it opened a new Exhibit Hall beside Grand Junction Station.

Grand Junction Station, the exhibit hall and the shops

Most Chattanooga trips begin at Grand Junction Station on Cromwell Road, where the depot holds the ticket counter, gift shop and waiting area. The signature ride is the Missionary Ridge Local, about 65 minutes in vintage passenger cars: the train passes through the pre-Civil War Missionary Ridge Tunnel, stops for a working turntable demonstration, and lets riders tour the active restoration shop where crews keep the fleet running.

Next door, the modern Exhibit Building on Turntable Drive covers the museum's own founding in TVRM: The First Sixty Years, the lines that built the region in Railroads of the Tennessee Valley, and the elegance of early 20th century travel in The Golden Age of Passenger Travel. You will also find an interactive model railroad layout, Military Railway Service displays, Pullman history, and historic locomotives and railcars indoors and out. The collection spans steam, diesel and passenger equipment from the late 1800s to the mid 20th century, and one search listing describes the grounds as about 16 acres.

Don’t miss

  1. Southern Railway 4501The 2-8-2 that co-founder Paul Merriman bought in 1964 and that helped launch the museum. Volunteers and shop crews completed its second restoration in September 2014, and it starred in the film October Sky.
  2. Missionary Ridge TunnelThe 986-foot Whiteside Tunnel predates the Civil War, and riding through it is the heart of the Missionary Ridge Local.
  3. Central of Georgia No. 349Built by Baldwin in 1891, this 4-4-0 American type is the oldest piece in the collection and carried four different numbers in its career.
  4. Southern Railway 630The Ks-1 class 2-8-0 returned to operation in March 2011 and appears in the film 42 under another number.
  5. Pullman car Clover ColonyThis sleeping car appeared in the 1959 film Some Like It Hot before the museum acquired it.
  6. The turntable and Soule ShopsThe turntable demonstration and the 1982 shop complex show how the museum restores and maintains its own equipment.

Tunnels, turntables and a model railroad for small fans

The Missionary Ridge Local is the easiest first ride for young children: it lasts about an hour, it goes through a dark tunnel, and it ends with the turntable and a peek into the shop. The coaches are enclosed and heated when needed, and trains run rain or shine. Back inside, the interactive model railroad gives kids something to watch up close.

The longer Hiwassee Loop and full-day trips to Summerville or Copperhill are better for older kids who can handle four to nine hours. Exhibit Admission without a train ride is a flexible option for families with little ones who need to set their own pace, and snacks and drinks are sold at the deli. There is about a three-minute walk from the parking lot to the depot.

Plan your visit: tips for Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum

  • Book online early; weekend, holiday and seasonal trains often sell out.
  • Arrive 30 to 45 minutes before departure. Trains leave on time and are not held for late arrivals.
  • Check your ticket for the station: Hiwassee trips leave from Delano at 9406 Highway 411, not Chattanooga.
  • Trains run rain or shine in enclosed coaches.
  • Equipment can be substituted, so the locomotive pulling your train may differ from the one advertised.

The calendar runs nearly all year. Each fall, Rails, Wizards & Spells pairs a Missionary Ridge Local ride with an Enchanted Forest and Wizards Way Village, a good fit for families looking at our Halloween train rides in Tennessee. The museum also lists holiday trains in winter, Day Out With Thomas, fall foliage rides, a three-course dinner train and the spring SeaLight Festival Train. Holiday seats go fast, so compare dates with our list of Christmas train rides in Tennessee and book early.

Volunteers, shop crews and members

The museum began as a volunteer effort, and volunteers still work alongside paid shop and train crews, including on the restoration of Southern Railway 4501. Visitors can help by riding, buying a membership or annual pass, donating toward the new finishing facility and 4501 preservation, signing up to volunteer, or shopping in the depot gift shop. The museum also posts employment openings on its website.

More rail stops around Chattanooga

Pair your ride with the Chattanooga Choo Choo Historic Terminal Station, about 6 miles away downtown, or the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway, about 8 miles away. The Cowan Railroad Museum is about 46 miles west. For a full road trip, see every train museum in Tennessee.

Every train museum in Tennessee

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor view from inside a dark tunnel looking out at a sunny beach and cliffs
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

The Missionary Ridge Tunnel here was dug before the Civil War, and riders still roll through it in the dark. That is the moment in our book I love reading aloud: Rally rides with Mom and Dad into a dark tunnel, and then a big bright light pours in and everyone cheers. My kids are learning to read now, and that page is one they are working through. The coloring pages are a gentle way to revisit it.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum: 20 questions riders ask

Where is the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum?

The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum is at 4119 Cromwell Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421, near the intersection of Highway 153 and Jersey Pike. Chattanooga trains board at Grand Junction Station at that address. Hiwassee River Gorge trips leave from a second station in Delano, at 9406 Highway 411, so always check which station is printed on your ticket.

How much are Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum tickets?

Prices depend on the ride. As of October 2026, the Missionary Ridge Local starts at $26 per person, the Chickamauga Turn at $60, the Hiwassee Loop at $62, the Copperhill Special at $80, the Summerville Steam Special at $90 and the dinner train at $110. Choose a date on the museum's online calendar to see the exact fare for your trip.

How much does it cost to visit the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum without riding?

As of October 2026, Exhibit Admission is $10 for ages 13 and up, $6 for ages 2 to 12, and free under 2. It covers all-day access to the exhibit hall, model railroad and grounds. If you already have a train ticket, exhibit access is included, so the museum asks you not to buy both.

Does the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum offer senior or discount tickets?

The museum does not post a general senior discount online. Groups that book the Missionary Ridge Local in advance can get a group rate, listed as of October 2026 at $19 per adult and $11 per child. Annual passes and memberships are also sold. Call (423) 894-8028 to ask about current discounts before you book.

What time does the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum open?

Opening times follow the train schedule, which changes by day and season, so check the online calendar for your date. The office answers calls Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4:30 pm. As of October 2026, the museum notes that no trains operate on Mondays during October. Plan to arrive 30 to 45 minutes before your train.

Where can I find the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum schedule?

The full ride schedule is on the Train Ride Schedule and Tickets calendar at tvrail.com, where you can filter by date, station, length and ride type. Every upcoming trip is listed there with current prices. The museum runs most of the year, with peak activity from spring through fall and holiday trains into winter.

What is the Missionary Ridge Local train ride?

The Missionary Ridge Local is the museum's most popular ride, about 65 minutes in vintage passenger cars from Grand Junction Station. The train goes through the pre-Civil War Missionary Ridge Tunnel, stops for a working turntable demonstration, and includes a tour of the active restoration shop. As of October 2026, it runs throughout the year from $26.

What train rides leave from Delano?

Delano trips follow the Hiwassee River Gorge. The Hiwassee Loop is a 50-mile round trip of about four and a half hours that crosses the spiral loop near Farner. The Copperhill Special is a full day with a 90-minute layover in Copperhill and McCaysville at the Tennessee and Georgia line. The station is at 9406 Highway 411.

Does the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum run a Christmas train?

Yes. The museum says its calendar includes holiday trains that extend into winter, and older listings mention a holiday excursion called the North Pole Limited. These are among the rides that sell out fastest, so the museum recommends booking online early. Check the calendar at tvrail.com for this year's dates, names and prices.

Is there a Christmas dinner train at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum?

The museum runs the Chattanooga Dinner Train, a two to three hour evening ride with a three-course dinner in restored dining cars. As of October 2026, its posted season runs through October 24, 2026, from $110 per person. For holiday dining, the Homefront Tea Room and private railcar parties are options; call (423) 894-8028 to ask about December dates.

What upcoming events does the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum have?

As of October 2026, Rails, Wizards & Spells runs through October 25, combining a train ride with the Enchanted Forest and Wizards Way Village. The SeaLight Festival Train is listed for Fridays and Saturdays, March 5 to 27, 2027. The museum also lists Day Out With Thomas, fall foliage rides and holiday trains on its calendar.

Does the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum offer tours?

Yes. The Missionary Ridge Local includes a tour of the active restoration shop and a turntable demonstration, and Exhibit Admission lets you explore the exhibit hall and grounds at your own pace. Schools can book field trips, and groups can arrange private rides through the contact form or by calling (423) 894-8028.

Can you have a birthday party at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum?

Yes. The museum hosts birthday parties along with weddings, corporate events and holiday gatherings. As of October 2026, the Greenville Car seats 20 guests from $100 an hour, the Homefront Tea Room seats 46, and outdoor space starts at $500 for three hours. Call 423-894-8028 to speak with the events team.

What famous locomotives are at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum?

The best known is Southern Railway 4501, a 2-8-2 the museum's co-founder bought in 1964, restored a second time in 2014. Southern Railway 630, a 2-8-0, returned to service in 2011. Central of Georgia No. 349, built by Baldwin in 1891, is the oldest piece in the collection, and Kentucky & Tennessee No. 10 dates from 1920.

Who founded the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum?

Paul H. Merriman, a DuPont electronic engineer, and Robert M. Soule, Jr., a General Railway Signal Company field representative, founded the museum on August 11, 1961, growing out of a local National Railway Historical Society chapter. The museum opened its East Chattanooga site to the public on May 7, 1972, and the Soule Shops are named for the co-founder.

Has the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum been in movies?

Yes, often. Its equipment appears in films including October Sky, where Southern 4501 played N&W 4501, plus Leatherheads, Water for Elephants and 42, which was filmed partly at the main station. The Pullman car Clover Colony was in Some Like It Hot before the museum owned it. Music videos have been filmed on the property too.

Is there a live camera at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum?

A third-party webcam site lists a live camera at the museum that looks over a museum track and platform toward a main line on a hillside, with signal masts and a rail bridge in view. The museum's own website does not appear to describe the camera, so search for the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum webcam to find the current link.

Is the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum accessible?

There is about a three-minute walk, with small hills, from the parking lot to Grand Junction Depot. If anyone in your party has trouble walking that far, leave a note when you book and the museum can arrange transport from the lot to the depot. For questions about boarding the coaches, call (423) 894-8028 before your visit.

Is parking free at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum?

Yes. Free on-site parking is available at most locations, and Grand Junction Station has a large lot with room for campers and trailers. On busy event days, oversized vehicle space can fill up, so arrive early. If your ride leaves from another site, parking notes are included in your booking details.

How can I volunteer or work at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum?

The museum lists both Volunteer and Employment links on its website, and volunteers have helped with everything from laying track in the 1970s to restoring Southern 4501. You can also support it through memberships, annual passes and donations to the new finishing facility. Call (423) 894-8028 or use the contact form to ask about openings.

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