TN Valley Railroad
9406 hwy 411
Delano, TN 37325
(423) 894-8028
http://www.tvrail.com

Passengers seem to step back in time when they ride restored vintage trains alongside the Hiwassee Scenic River, into the Hiwassee River Gorge, and over the famous Hiwassee Rail Loop. The trains run from April-November with a choice of a half-day round trip from Etowah to the Hiwassee Rail Loop or a day-long excursion from Etowah to Copperhill, with a layover for lunch and shopping which is the Copperhill Special. These are exciting train rides that appeal to both nature lovers and rail buffs.

Twenty miles of the railroad corridor is listed on the National Register of Historic Places due to the historical significance of the rail line and the fact that the corridor has retained so much of the original “look” that it had when the line was built in 1890. Because nearly 30 miles of the line runs through the Cherokee National Forest and into the remote Hiwassee River Gorge, Hiwassee River Rail Adventure also attracts people who like viewing scenery and wildlife.

Take a trip back in time to a slower-paced era when railroad travel was a way of life. Relive the romance of the rails when vintage trains provided an escape from the everyday routine. The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum provides an interactive, historical experience that adds an extra dimension to your visit to Chattanooga’s popular attractions. Here you will find the only regularly scheduled, full-sized train ride in Tennessee. The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum is so much more than entertainment… It is your chance to experience the sights and sounds of yesteryear!

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.