Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum Reviews

My wife and I were celebrating our 11 year anniversary and decided to do the tea room upstairs in the station, before our train ride to the museum. The tear room was absolutely amazing. The presentation, food and tea were all so decedent and delicious! When the staff found out it was our anniversary, they even sent us a small gift to our table. It was very sweet and totally unexpected.

The train ride was very nice, yet shorter than I expected. But going through the fall leaves was very nice and the feeling of nostalgia made up for it! The museum was also really cool! They had a lot of really interesting trains and locomotives to view. We even got a demonstration of a turn table, which was really neat to watch.

The whole experience was worth the money and I advise anyone going to do the tea room as well! It’s a quaint, romantic setting that is perfect for couples and friends!

Very nice relaxing and informative trip. The workers couldn't be nicer. The narrative was very interesting. Even played the banjo. Bring your own cooler or they have snacks and drinks. We also did the Missionary trip out of Chattanooga. Looking forward to dinner also train ride also.

We took a train ride on the Missionary Ridge Local. It is a fun and informative ride, and only an hour, so it is perfect for small kids. Jonathan, one of our conductors, was very passionate about maintaining this part of our country's history. The young man in the museum was also passionate about trains, but his were the model type.

The train ride was very nice. I would love if the seats were better. In car 3 they are very uncomfortable. But I would definitely do this train ride again. The employees are very friendly. It was entertaining as well. This was our second train ride with them.

The polar express was not magical at all.. at the least Polar express music should be playing somewhere to make it some what Magical. No characters, nothing. Very boring train ride. We were so disappointed .

Tabitha who I was in contact with via email as I requesting an additional seat for mom and I to attend Christmas Tea was Very professional and accommodating! She made it happen! It was delightful in every way! The tea offerings were all unique! 6 caffeinated and 5 herbal. We chose Masala Chai.. It arrived it high fashion in a beautiful gold trimmed tea pot! We ate quiche, tomato bisque, chicken salad, scones, cheesecake bites, brownie bites, and macaroons! All food was prepared in bite sized/smaller portioned traditional AfternoonTea style. The festive decor will take you back to a time when women wore hats and lace gloves, adorable! Mom and I enjoyed our time thoroughly and we look forward to returning!
We also added the train ride Missionary Ridge local train ride… Nice and short. Just enough time for mom and I to open Christmas gifts while on the ride. We also enjoyed watching the “turn-table” lazy Susan and learning more about the history.

Amazing experience. Ride an authentic steam locomotive. Staff was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Will definitely go back.

Definitely don’t want to miss! My family and I did the Missionary Ridge train ride. We had a wonderful time and wished we had had time to take a longer train. It was our favorite part of our trip to the Lookout Mountain/Chattanooga area!

A wonderful trip on a train. Brought back childhood memories! Would go again! Very informative and interesting. There are many different train tours available

I think we made a donation instead of actually seeing a museum. You are not allowed in any of the outside trains-not even to look inside-however they have steps attached as if at one time you were allowed to see inside. The gentleman at the ticket gave only incredibly vague instructions as to what we paid for, which I thought was to see some exits but what we actually got was to look at the outside of some old rail cars. User error on our part is possible

The Christmas train ride in Santa’s special car was great! Our granddaughters (4 & 2) were the reason we went and it was an amazing experience for them, their parents and us. Lots of details made it special. The 4 year old took her ticket to preschool when it started back for her first ‘show & tell’.

This was so wonderful. My wife absolutely loved the tea experience, and truthfully, I did too. Great food and a nostalgic atmosphere. Special thanks to Laura for talking with us and being so nice.

The train ride is awesome. Beautiful scenery. The employees were great and very informative. Would highly recommend you do this train ride

We had a wonderful adventure on Sept. 28, 2024. The train ride was so much fun. On the way back, the conductor let us hang out in the open air baggage car. It was a real hoot to go through the 960-foot tunnel.

Came out for another visit during the Thomas the Train experience and took a ride on the 112 year old coal burning steam engine. Great experience, second shout out to the staff, this trip again engaging with the kids on the train in the most gentle informative ways possible. Im proud to bring people again and again as a annual member.

-David Steffen, Kingston Tn

We took the HiawasseeTrain to Copper Hill. We've been to Copper Hill previously but the ride to Copper Hill was relatively comfortable and the staff was extremely accommodating. The conductor pointed out interesting locations of former towns and highlighted some interesting sights. The river is beautiful and the mountains are amazing. Over-all it was a nice ride, educational and historically informative.

We were pleased to be able to have High Tea in the Railroad station at the TVRM. The tea experience alone was worth the price and as a bonus the train ride afterward was included. Travis, our conductor on the train was a wealth of knowledge.

I took my 78 year old mom to the high tea at the homefront tea room with train ride. Stairs can be a challenge for her. This experience worked because an elevator takes you to the tea room on the second floor and there is a ramp on the platform to board the train. The entrance to the Grand Junction Depot does have a few stairs (without a handrail) but she was able to manage those. The only thing she didn't do was get off the train for the turntable demonstration & restoration shop tour as there isn't a ramp to get off the train at that stop. The experience was nice and I would go back to experience their other train rides.

So glad we found this! Our whole family enjoyed the visit - 2 adults and 2 kids (8 and 10). The train ride was fun and very informative! Our guide was amazing, and you could tell he truly loves trains. It was super neat getting to see the shop and hear about all the work (and money) it takes to restore and maintain the trains. The food at the deli (especially the homemade cinnamon rolls and cream cheese danishes) are highly recommended)! The people at the museum were super friendly - my boys loved seeing the huge collection of remote control trains (calling them that doesn’t do them justice), and the gentleman there told the boys all about them and built a super long train for them to see. Wish this was easier to find when searching for things to do in Chattanooga.

Our family had never ridden on a train and our young children were very interested in trains so we thought it might be a good opportunity to let them ride a train and see what it’s all about. Everything from when you pull up in the parking lot and get to see all of the different types of train cars all the way up to the train station when the locomotive arrives and every detail was very well put together the way the employees act and treat you. It’s a very enjoyable experience even as an adult we enjoyed the train ride.

great experience history at its best a must do if in Chattanooga would do longer ride next time a must for train lovers

My daughter and I went on the Christmas Dinner train in November and enjoyed it so much! The food was delicious and the train was beautiful! We had an interesting porter who told funny stories as well as the history of the train. After the 4-course meal we went to the rear lounge car to look at Christmas lights. It was a perfect way to spend an evening and I highly recommend making this part of your Christmas fun with family and friends. I plan to take another ride as they offer many different events throughout the year.

Worth every penny! Loved the ride and learned so much from our tour of the restoration shop. Thanks to the conductor, Travis, for a wonderful tour. Definitely want to visit again for a longer ride.

We had an absolutely amazing experience this place is a must go train lovers. They had countless locomotives along the routes and in the rail yard that is open to the public to walk around and see the trains which is infront of the main building. all the staff were super kind and funny and the gift shop had many options for souviners. The exibit building also is amazing with a model train setup and all kinds of exibits including an amazing trains in wartime experince the train ride is about 15 minutes to the end and 15 minutes back to the station with a 25 minute time to see the restoration building and see them turn the train aroud on a turnaround so in conclusion i really liked this place and would reccomend it to anyone who likes trains.

Everything was great with the exception of no announcements were made at the end of line at turntable so no one disembarked to see it happen with tea train

North Pole Limited Christmas excursion what a joy! A must for any family with children a wonderful time was had by all. The train staff is simply amazing. We also enjoyed wondering the enlarged outdoor lighted displays.

May 21 12:30 pm last train. Box car 1000. Fun experience for all ages. Short trip to E. Chattanooga station. Get to see the locomotive spin and the work being do to restore history.

I have had the pleasure and opportunity to experience tea on the train three times over the past year and a half! Each and every time, it has been a wonderful experience. The staff is top notich and include Laura their hostess who always greets me with a smile and server, Tabitha who is as friendly and kind as Laura. They are the type of people you hope to encounter when dining out. They both made my experience and my friends and family memorable ones. I cannot wait to go back again!

If you are ever in Chattanooga and find yourself wanting to experience delicious food and hospitality in a great setting, you woul be remiss not to make go for Tea on the Train. I will be back again in the next few months. While all of their food is delicious, I hope they have the maple deviled eggs when I go again. They are amazing!

This was a wonderful 4 hour train trip! The beautiful scenic route through the Hiwassee valley is amazing, and the commentary by the conductor is informative and entertaining. Make sure to chat with Harvey, the 87 year-old honorary conductor who’s been working the rails since 1966! We were in coach-class seats (Car 2, built in 1947), and they were very comfortable. I highly recommend this itinerary for a wonderful day out on a historic train!

A great little zoo hidden in Chattanooga. This is not a huge zoo but what they do have is very nice. Many indoor spaces and shaded areas to see the animals. Most of the exhibits allow you to see the animals up close. Enjoyed our time there and would definitely recommend.

This Museum is amazing and the staff are really friendly and knowledgeable. The train ride was great and it was made better by Travis and all his insight into the history of trains.

My husband and I thought this would be kind of cool. Turned out it was packed with history too and ended up being one of the highlights of our trip! Would definitely recommend it and especially if you are bringing the grand babies with you!

We did 2 tours with the TVRM.
1. Missionary ridge local: it was a quick trip 15 min each way. We rode the nr. 630 steam engine. They had a non ac and ac car option. They take you to their repair shop and show you how to turn the train around. Then take you back. There is a cute little gift shop and a snack shop inside the old grand junction station. Ticket includes a look around the other old teain cars.

2nd trip: the 4.5 hour hiawassee loop. It deports in delano out in the country. The trip was great. Ac in the passenger cars. Snall gift shop on the train, they need to stock up on more popcorn though lol, there is the possibility to stand outside between the cars or at the very end admiring the tracks. They also run tjeir old dome cars on that trip. Crew was very knowledgable and polite and helpful on every trip and trains are clean.
Hiawassee loop is great for scenery, missionary ridge to see the equipment and repairshop.

Either way, my train loving son enjoyed both trips.

We did the evening ridge runner....I have never been disappointed in a train ride before and the ride was nice but it was only a twelve minute ride for $30 a person even children

The polar express was amazing and thanks to the staff, elves and Santa for making the train ride memorable for our 3 year old. She was so excited after the drive home she talked about everything until she fell asleep. We would recommend it and we would go again for sure.

We did the 3:30 train ride and museum which closed at 5:00 pm on a Sunday. I would recommend allowing more time for the museum. We literally at 5 minutes at the museum after the train ride. We found everything very interesting. There are no restrooms on the train but it stops after 30 minutes in another depot with restrooms. The admission cost supports the non profit operation.

We were there on a Friday. Unfortunately we couldn't take the special train because we had an appointment.

The tea and the train ride were absolutely wonderful. The menu was great the service was excellent. It was a wonderful Christmas present from my spouse.

We took the Missionary Ridge Local tour as a family visiting. 3 adults and a 6 year old. The ride itself was fabulous especially when we went through a pre- civil War tunnel. The clearance was less than a foot on either side and it was interesting to learn that newer trains can not go through the tunnel due to width restrictions. The stop and turn around demonstration at the end of the line and the glimpse into the railroad repair/ storage shop was a fun 15 minutes. Our guide Justin was incredibly knowledgeable and obviously has a passion for the trains. When we returned to the depot (which had a really nice little store and restaurant) we walked across the parking lot to the museum building. There were a lot of vintage rail artifacts there as well as a couple interactive places for kids. Very enjoyable afternoon.

It was beautiful scenery and music. It was a 5 hour ride and the deluxe ticket had a dome car and free snacks A great experience.

We were tired of walking everywhere so I thought this would easy and fun. It was fine considering it didn’t cost too much. We like the short ride to and fro (65 minute tour). The stop was okay, the kids watched a train move on a turntable. The stop in the train shed was nothing really. You could eat in the depot. We packed a sandwich and picnicked.

We have gone on the dinner train several times, the food is always wonderful. I recommend the beef it’s excellent, the soup and desserts are delicious as well. The waiter was very friendly and funny. I have never had a bad experience so I would recommend highly!

We went on a school field trip and enjoyed the experience so much! They were all very kind and accommodating to our group! I would highly recommend this for a field trip or just a family outing.

We took the Summerville Steam trip-4 hours to GA, layover where we got to see the engine rotated on a turntable and reattached, then a 4 hour ride back to Chattanooga. We opted for lunch in the dining car and it was delicious. It was so fun to wave at all the people who were in their backyards taking pictures or pulled over taking videos and waving at us!

What a nice time we had! We took the Missionary ridge local train ride which was enjoyable and very informative. The train workers were very polite, knowledgeable and looked the part. Suitable for everyone and families. Plenty to see on the property and during the train ride.

The Tea experience was phenomenal! It was beautifully decorated with plenty of space for everyone to have their own little slice of heaven. Our server was delightful and went out of her way to accommodate our requests. We are already making plans to return!

The train ride was relaxing and informative. We traveled about 15 minutes to a depot where we could choose to stay on or deboard for a history lesson on how they turn the train around. This was your opportunity to use the restroom, grab a snack or item from the gift shop. Once back on board, more history and quiet time until our journey ended.

The gift shop at the main depot has quite an assortment of items to choose from and they have a small deli and eating area if you need to refuel.

TN Valley Railroad offers a variety of trips to suit any one whether young or old.

What a wonderful experience. Just a gem of an attraction for Chatanooga. I have seen a couple of great train museums recently, but the experience at the Tennessee Valley Railroad is head and shoulders above the others. Combing a short ride on the Missionary Ridge Local, with a quick stop to see a round-a-bout, concluding with a stop at the train Exhibition Hall, is a complete experience. I was so impressed I immediately booked a dinner train ride for the weekend.

Delightful afternoon tea followed by a train ride to celebrate several April birthdays. It was close enough to the Atlanta metro area to make it a nice doable getaway. The weather was perfect!

The tea was served in the Homefront Dining room (above the train depot) and is adorned with memorabilia from a more genteel time and was full of history. The price of the tea is very reasonable (I've had much less quality for much more $$ when having a traditional tea). The service was exceptional -- and they made it extra special with "Happy Birthday" cupcakes for the 3 ladies in our group who were celebrating another trip around the sun.

The train ride was lovely. We chose the air conditioned car (well, cause middle-aged ladies :) But the open car would have been just as nice as it was a lovely day.

Our Conductor "Travis" was extremely knowledgeable about his train, the TVR and the history of trains in America. He was also very funny -- so listen carefully to his talk, I promise you will get more than one chuckle out of it.

The train ride itself was not very long (which was nice after tea). The landscape is beautiful, there is a short tunnel (all hand dug) and the ride ends at the maintenance yard where you can get off the train, and watch the engineer turn the entire engine around on a rotating platform and visit the train yard and the maintenance depot.

I enjoyed the day so much, that I will be bringing my grandkids back during the Holidays.

Well done TVR! Thank you for the wonderful day!

Wonderful railroad and staff! Great friendly people and a nice clean and beautiful line to ride on.

Took a ride on the Copperhill trip with Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum today. This is always a very scenic trip and I was not disappointed. Travis Gordon was a conductor/narrator and did a fantastic job pointing out points of interest with a bit of history thrown in. The Blue Ridge Scenic was also in town when we arrived to Copperhill (AMAZING TWO TOURISTS TRAINS in town at once). I highly recommend this trip!

The Loop was very satisfying. The scenery was spectacular. The commentary was informative. We also enjoyed the entertainment on board. We were in the Dome Car which gave us a great view. It was a great experience and we are looking forward to our ride in February.

My staff and I enjoy going on the Missionary Ridge trip each time we visit Chattanooga. It's always a beautiful view ftom the train, and the museum is a great way to end the train ride!

This was a really cool train ride. Sitting in the cars you can just imagine how it was when that was your means of travel. The tunnel we went through is just amazing considering they dug it out by hand with pickax and shovels. Watching them turn the training engine around was also very interesting. I had never seen that done live before! The trip was not very long, the one that we took, but it also is not very expensive! You can buy snacks there, or there is a gift shop where you can buy things and they also have a deli where you can purchase food.However, you can bring your own on board!

Beautiful views in a well-paced, comfortable train ride! This train journey took us high up, through the trees and along the river.

The people here were so friendly. The gift shop is nice and they have a good selection of food to have while waiting for your train. The train museum was very educational to explore. The train ride was great and the scenery was nice.

What a fun family train trip! We started off in Delano, TN. for a 4 1/2 hour ride to the Hiawassee Loop. We rode in air conditioned comfort, seats were cozy, you could move about the train during the trip, and we brought our lunch, but a snack area was available for extras. The train host along with crew were very knowledgeable and friendly. We learned alot of local history and train car history. This is a great family outing for any age!

fantastic. dinner ride great.
highly recommended. weather was wet. its a fantastic tourist venue.
A must due.

We took the Missionary Ridge train ride and the conductor let us stand in the open baggage car and it is a much more enjoyable experience with an open car. The staff was fantastic. The demonstration of the turn table and seeing the shop area was also an enjoyable experience.

We did the Hiawassee Loop from Delano and it was great! The staff were friendly and informative. Hope to do a dinner train ride in the future! Would definitely recommend this train adventure.

Extremely disappointed in our train ride!

We went on the Christmas/Santa ride that goes to the North Pole. They have lots of pretty Christmas lights displayed in the middle of the property, but the train does not ride through those so that you can enjoy seeing them. It literally goes out less than a mile with a view of the woods, industrial equipment, and poor residential areas.

We saw about three or four Christmas displays and a Santa Warehouse, drove through a tunnel, and over a couple of bridges, and then stopped and went backgrounds to return to the station!

The employees brought cookies and a half of a cup of hot chocolate, which was nice, but one of them read a Christmas story about the North Pole with no inflection whatsoever, and she read it so fast that we couldn’t understand a thing she was saying. It was very irritating and would have been much better to listen to Christmas music, or prerecord the story, because I’m sure she was tired of reading the same story 10 times each day.

Santa came and visited with the kids, took pictures, and asked them what they wanted, which was sweet, but overall, I would not recommend this at all.

We paid $123 for three tickets, drove 65 miles one way, and sat on the train for an hour and a half for a 20 minute round trip ride. It would have been much better if they had at least rode in a circle a couple of times around the beautiful Christmas lights.

The train in Blue Ridge is a lot nicer with a long ride and beautiful views.

Great trip. Did the Summervile trip and had a pleasant surprise, 4501. Weather started out a little rainy, but stopped before the layover in Summerville. The entire crew was so kind and hospitable. Thanks for another great trip!

Easy booking. Organized boarding process. Comfortable climate controlled coaches. Smooth ride. The views of the Tennessee countryside and Hiwasee river are beautiful. Friendly, engaging conductor and car attendant. Copperhill / McCaysville is a pleasant small town with good restaurants and shops. Highly recommend for a relaxing day with family or friends.

Amazing time!! My grandson's loved traveling to the North Pole on this train!! So much fun!! Everyone who works on the train was so nice.

Start to finish, this was an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon. It was easy to find, and from the moment we arrived, we were welcomed and taken care of. There was a man giving out the history of each area we passed on the way there who was very entertaining. On the way back, we were treated to some live banjo playing to pass the time. The scenery is beautiful and the rocking of the train is relaxing as you learn the rich history. I would highly recommend for anyone young adult or up. I think younger kids might get board after a few hours.

The exhibits highlight the first 60 years of railroads and their historical significance to Chattanooga, the Civil War, WWII and more.

We learned a lot and found it very interesting.

This was a 5 star plus experience! The high tea was fabulous and the service outstanding. Our server, Sophia, was a delight, attentive but never overbearing and incredibly efficient. I highly recommend this experience especially for special occasions.

So glad we did this on out last day in Chattanooga! We had our 2yr old & 7yr old with us and they loved the train ride too. Hearing the history was such a joy! We did the 65min "local" ride which was perfect for our kids. Great pace of the train too - not too fast or too slow. Highly recommend! Don't forget to visit the train exhibit on site too (it's on your way out - easy to miss). Nice gift shop, reasonably priced items.

We did the 6 hour trip in the Observation car with dining car. Was extremely well done. Our conductor was also a great historian. An hour in the Civil war town is adequate. The stop at the Civil War Memorial Park was quite interesting. The luncheon was very well done. This is quite an operation. There is also a Museum included with your ticket that covers a lot of WW2 and other RR history. Would highly recommend.

I'll be honest – I'm not much of a train geek, nor do I have a particular fondness for them. I do take an interest in the history of the places I visit and the people who live there. I was very pleased to find the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum had a lot to offer in this area. At the same time, they do a fantastic job not just restoring and displaying, but also operating and maintaining historical locomotives and train cars. Riding the Missionary Ridge Local, at times I felt like I was joining a group of passionate enthusiasts in their hobby rather than just being a passive observer. I had a lot of fun and would love to come back again. Perhaps this museum awoke the little train geek inside me, after all.

My wife and I really enjoyed our adventure! We did the 8 hour run to Coppertop. It was more than we expected. We met really nice people on our trip. The ride was relaxing and comfortable. The Crew made the trip so much fun. They shared the history of the area with Tennessee wit and humor. You feel how much they love their jobs.
I believe that's why the trip was excellent. The scenery was wonderful for sure. This was our first scenic Train trip. We are planning to take other ones. Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum is the way to go.

Very simple excursion worth the time and money. You get a short train ride to a switching yard where they turn the engine around 180 degrees for the return trip. Also a 30 minute guided tour describing the Tennessee Valley Railroad adventure. We're not railroad buffs be we do enjoy these short adventures and their educational. S

Had a wonderful experience on the Hiwassee Loop trip. The attendants gave a wonderful narration along the way and the scenery along the water was a perfect nature adventure.

Sorry, but not worth the $233 dollar price tag.
The fish & meat was overcooked. The coffee weak and lukewarm. The chesse cake lacked flavor and the apple pie didn't taste good to me. The ice cream so so. Probably a cheap brand.
The waiters lacked personality.
Bottom line, it did not live up to the hype or our expectation of a memorable experience.

Fantastic!!
- Great train equipment
- Super staff go beyond the ordinary
- Best railroad dining car meal ever!
- good location

We went on a whim with friends to teh High Tea and train ride. We really didn't know what to expect, and were wonderfully surprised by the teas and the train ride. There was plenty to enjoy with the tea and food servings...an hour went by very quickly. And then on to the train which was quite enjoyable...and informative. The four of us enjoyed all aspects of the adventure.

Loved the open window option. We went early and beat the heat, and our son really enjoyed it more with the windows open. The guide was informative and it was affordable.

We rode the Hiwassee loop and it was a lot of fun. The scenery was beautiful and the staff was knowledgeable. The history shared was impressive, along with the entertainment.

The train is full of history and the cars are amazing. It’s pretty cool to be able to move around the train during the route. Book your trip today!

Great scenery on this trip and learned a lot from the narrator. It was a well organized sold out trip. Book early and splurge on first class seats!

My husband and I visited the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in June. We started out our visit by attending the high tea at the station. It was a very nice high tea and the food and service were all really great. After our lunch, we got on the train and enjoyed a really nice train ride and visit to around the train yard. The tour director was really great at his job and very enthusiastic about trains which was so nice to see. We really enjoyed our day visiting the museum.

There is a lot to do at TVRM, but the centerpiece of the visit was a weekend steam train excursion to East Chattanooga. The entire trip takes about an hour and comes with a talk about the trains, the history of trains in the area, and traveling through a 19th century tunnel to the working shops on the other end. There are a great many historic locomotives and cars to see. There is a snack bar that we used because we didn't have a chance to eat before we got there.

One of the most interesting parts of the museum is the actual museum, with self-tour displays of historic aspects of trains and transportation, including WW2 military operations.

You can easily spend 2-3 hours at the museum and both experience a lot and learn a lot.

Our Red Hat group chose the Tea and Train afternoon and enjoyed the high tea experience. The table was beautifully set in eloquent China and the teas were delicious. Our ride on the train brings back memories as I rode the train each day to work in New Jersey in the 50’s!

Last night our family drove up from Alabama to take the Christmas dinner train. it was so special . We absolutely had a wonderful time. All the servers were great. We had many questions about the history and one of our servers, Ashley was very informative and explained some of the other rides that could be taken. What she didn't know she immediately found out and came back and explained it to all to us. she was very pleasant and her customer skills were great. We had two servers we had jessiana and a young man who did an outstanding job as well. We already plan to come back and do this again next year. Happy holidays to all.

The Missionary Ridge local was an awesome experience! Highly recommend. If we had more we would have done a longer train.

After several years of seeing the Christmas Dinner Train on Facebook but always being too late for tickets, we finally remembered and bought tickets in July for this holiday season. This was our first time ever on a train so we really enjoyed the experience and atmosphere! The food was great, and everyone was so nice. I do think it’s something I would only experience once just because it’s the same ride but they do have other things as well such as a Polar Express and Christmas lights ride! I would also say to bring cash for a tip for the wait staff as that’s something we didn’t know ahead of time.

We had a great time & learned a lot about the history of the railroad. The staff was very friendly!! It’s definitely perfect for a family day, would definitely recommend. It wasn’t expensive either.. very reasonable for the experience.

The scenery was great, the train was good. We rode the Hiwassee Loop and I have no complaints except the narration was loud and almost constant throughout the trip. Less narration over the loud speakers and spare me the corny jokes from the staff. I would also add I was not a fan of the banjo serenade. It was so loud my family could not have a conversation. There is nothing wrong with providing some information about key interest points about the trip but the constant narration was too much. So if you plan on taking this trip be aware.

Such a fun experience!! Had dinner on the train to celebrate our anniversary and it was a wonderful evening! The Pullman car was incredibly beautiful and comfortable. The staff were amazing and the food was yummy! Loved watching the woods go by at a slow pace and just having such a relaxing and fun evening! Highly recommend!!

Awsome loved it will return again god willing mom is from the area and loved seeing the mountains of Tennessee

The commentary was great and very informative! Lunch in the dining car well worth the additional $ and the service was very nice.

Had a wonderful experience with grandchildren on the polar express ride. Staff was fabulous. The ride was great and Santa was terrific. The cars were very nicely decorated and so is the area around the trains. Highly recommended. Need to check out other train rides.

My wife and I have a great time on our 6 hour excursion. The staff on the train were very knowledgeable about trains. They kept us sufficiently informed about places we were passing through. The lunch in the dining car was very well prepared and appropriate for the trip.

This was a great experience. One that I would truly Recommend. Very scenic and relaxing. The staff on onboard were great to visit with. The only criticism I have is that I would recommend more signs directing riders to the location.

Loved this steam train trip, but I love all trains. Loved hearing it come into the station with a whoosh of the steam & lots of very excited fellow passengers waiting to board- old & young alike. Loved how the staff/volunteers were dressed as per the age of the train, ticket was clipped & doors opened for you, so authentic & added to the atmosphere/experience.

It was a lovely hot sunny day so views were perfect. Scenery of trees & special bridges. We we on board for about 45 minutes then got off to view the train being turned around using a turntable- all explained. We also had chance to walk around the engine sheds to see other trains, some renovated, some in the process. Now back on board for the return journey. All over too quick but loved every minute.

Afterwards we had lunch in the cafe- mixed from what we ordered but down to personal taste. Would use again but order differently next time- he had the daily special burger.

At the opposite end of the car park there are two sheds with model railways- such fun. One had an interactive quiz- all made to do it not just children, checking for details. It did make you look better at the details & not in/out with a quick glance. made you appreciate the hard work involved in its construction. One of the best I'd seen.

Large car park, plenty of spaces.

Interesting to see the trains and see how they maneuver. The museum had a lot of different types to trains to see.

We took the Missionary Ridge Local train and Jason was our guide. He made a point of letting us know this was not a scenic tour but a history of train tour. The train is a restored antique train from 1946 Jason was interesting and he was right it was not a scenic ride. You stop at the end of the line so they can turn the engine around and reattach it for the ride back. That was very interesting and the station was fun to sit and take pictures in. My grandson loved the ride. They have a Christmas North Pole Limited train that looks amazing and also a Holiday Lights Train.

This was our second time riding the train. We came back because of the historical narration and banjo playing fun. This time we rode the Copperhill Special train. It took you on 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. It was fun to stand in both states at the same time. We also had a delicious lunch at the Copper Grill.

Very fun experience. We took the all day Copperhill ride. Was not very crowded in our Observation car so everyone had good views. Snacks/Drinks provided for our area. Beautiful day . Conductor and staff were all very friendly and knowledgeable.
Enjoyed it very much.

I loved this little stop. It was a really nice experience, We did the missionary ridge local train ride. It was so cool! Definitely more of a historical train ride more than a scenic one, although it was pretty. The museum is very cute, lots of yummy snacks. Everyone was so kind. If you're going in the summer which we did for a train ride, I recommend getting the earliest one it can get pretty hot. Stopping at the train yard, watching the turntable demonstration was so cool. It was my kids first time on the train and they loved it! Can't wait to come back in the fall and do the longer train ride.

The view was nice, but food, service were great! Train car over 100 years old and wonderfully preserved!

We are virtual railfans but this time opted to ride the Mission Ridge Tour. We were able to walk up and get tickets. The trip is only an hour but you ride out and see the turntable demonstration then come back. This trip is about HISTORY not SCENERY! So remember that. There was food to purchase if you would like and plenty of picnic tables to have a picnic; sit and watch the other trains come thru (commercial traffic); while there tour the museum but the "old" rail cars are worth the trip.

We have an excellent experience. The highlight of the trip was the train ride and luckily, with the ticket for the ride, the museum was free.

We had an awesome time. We took our grandson and it was his first train ride. He loved looking out the window and singing with the people on the train. Santa was also a huge hit.

This train ride was supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Every one on the staff and the train was very knowledgeable and spot on ! I hope to come back and do more train rides with you Hiwassee River is a hidden gem in this country too

the train trip is only an hour, but well worth taking especially if you like trains! And even if you don’t!
It was enjoyable and very informative
Once we got to the end and watched the engine being turned around it was amazing, and seeing the other trains they have and hearing the interesting stories about the trains, and then back to the station.
The crew were very informative and very passionate about their trains

Amazing adventure in a timeless high quality dining car. The food was exquisite, prepared perfectly, and served piping hot. Selections were excellent and prepared on the dining car not catered. This exceeded my expectations. Dining car was surprisingly comfortable. Highly recommend this.

We came to the tea and train ride. The tea was rushed. We had less than an hour to enjoy the goodies and barely enough time to try both teas that we were able to order. The food and tea was very good but felt we did not have enough time to enjoy it especially for the price. The train ride was on an open air car and was quite hot for an August day.

I was born and raised in McCaysville/Copperhill. So was my mother. She still lives there! She has always wanted to ride a train, so for Mother’s Day, that is what we did! We both loved it! We got to see our area from another perspective… from the train! It was amazing! My dad worked on the TCC railroad, so that was pretty emotional, too! We are already trying to plan out next ride! Everything was so good. The history of the area came to life! We highly recommend the Copperhill trip! The loop is pretty cool too, especially since there are only four in the US! After the layover, a lot of people got their bellies full and passed out! Ha! Upgrade to the dome car! :)

Nice ride and museum. Tour guides were knowledgeable and interesting. A little warm on the train but not too bad. Would recommend this tour.

I have taken both my grandchildren on the Missionary Ridge ride. It's about an hour with a stop midway so not long enough to get bored. There is someone talking about the history of the trains the whole ride. If you aren't into history or aren't interactive enough with your kids to keep them happy for a few minutes on the train you might not like it. We love it. My only complaint is that the restrooms at the mechanical yard could use better doors.

We had our time changed due to being overbooked but we loved the train ride and the views. The work shop was interesting as well as the turn table.

The scenery along the Hiawassee River was beautiful! Enjoyed hearing the history of the area and train cars! Absolutely loved the trip!! Engineer was a great storyteller.

This was a great trip with our little boys! So many fun and interesting things to see and do! We will definitely do it again!

Loved this trip. The scenery was awesome. The leaves were turning their beautiful fall colors. While traveling to Copperhill, a conductor narrated about the trip telling some interesting facts. Wish we had a little more time in Copperhill, but all in all the trip was relaxing and informative.

Just got back from the first Summerville Steam run of the Fall Season. If you enjoy long rides on a steam driven train ride this is for you. It is about 4 hours each way with a stop of just over an hour in Summerville, GA. That was the only real problem, not enough time in Summerville. We barely had time for lunch and no time to explore the town or the Chili and Stew Cook Off event that was going on at the time. Other than that, it was a great experience.

We enjoyed Tea and a train ride on Mother's day. Everyone associated with TVRM was friendly and attentive. The Tea was delicious and beautiful, and the train ride was fun sprinkled with educational and hilarious tidbits from the conductor. This was our first time visiting, but we hope to return soon. If you visit, make sure you walk through the Exhibit Hall. It is very well done with so much information shared. Thank you, TVRM, for making it a very special visit.

This was our first rail trip. Easy check in and boarding. Train was clean with super friendly employees. The ride out of Chattanooga was slow but lots of the town to see. Once we got to the open rails it sped up and the views were not as open or what I had hoped for, but there were several nice little towns and tons of waving people to greet us. We then only had one hour in Summerville and that was really not enough time to explore the town, really need 2 hours. Then I was upset to find out the train did not turn around only the engine so you are stuck looking at the same views in reverse. The only good thing was we were able to look out the open windows where the car connections are to look at the other side of scenery. Overall it was ok, something we probably will never do again due to it was just slower than we thought and not turning the train around.

My husband and I booked a trip on the Missionary Local and the Dinner on the Diner. Excellent experiences for both. Staff are very knowledgeable, so polite, and willing to help in anyway. The turning of the engine was amazing! And staff working in the shop very knowledgeable. The dinner train was the most amazing experience we have had in a long time. It was the highlight of our trip. Food was excellent, Gage was an amazing waiter and very knowledgeable about the train. He took us on a tour of the sleeping car and let us have a peek in the kitchen. I would highly recommend both of these rides.

We took our nieces to the North Pole Limited and had so much fun. We got cookies, hot chocolate and got to meet Santa. Santa took his time with all the families and his elves were so much fun . Each family got an ornament. I had purchased the North Pole limited book for each of my nieces and it also made a great souvenir.

Everyone enjoyed it. Windows could use a good cleaning in dome car and lights fixed. Food was fun.Really enjoyed the train speaker giving us so much information an made it fun. The Banjo player was wonderful an our hostess was good an answered all our questions. Would definitely recommend to friends.

The Experience was just a delight from start to finish. It gives the feel of being taken back in time. The staff is exceptional, the food a delight and the scene is beautiful. We took my Dad for his Birthday and he was just thrilled the the entire experience. Highly recommend for a special occasion or if you visit Chattanooga from elsewhere.

Ride a train. All kinds of trains to see. You must ride out and see the turntable in action. The guide was very informative. Great way to learn some history and have fun too

This was a very cute, relaxing train trip to Summerville GA. We had lunch in the dining car. Summerville was a sleepy little town. It was amazing to see them turn the steam engine around to head us back to Chattanooga. I would recommend this trip to any train enthusiasts out there. Great family experience.

The staff are so friendly and knowledgeable! For those who love trains and especially an experienced railroader myself, it's the best place to ride the rails on either their short Missionary Ridge Local trips or even taking in part of their longer trips. We got to take pictures around the railroad and even got special permission from a crew member to sit in the cab of Southern #4501, the famed steam locomotive featured on the former Southern (later Norfolk Southern) steam excursions and in the 1999 film October Sky. They also have an amazing exhibit hall. If you want to ride the rails and experience a ride on the "Chattanooga Choo Choo", this is the place for you

My husband and I did the Dinner train and everything was amazing, from the time we entered the property til the time we said our goodbyes. The staff (Tabitha, Jacob and Gage) was amazing, the food was sooo good and the ambience was nostalgic. We definitely plan on making this a yearly trip from Atlanta and exploring the other train rides as well. We loved it! Thank you for creating such an enjoyable experience. See you soon

My husband and I enjoyed the Christmas Dinner Train. The meal was delicious. We had braised beef and flounder for our entrees each having mashed potatoes and steamed fresh veggies. The appetizer was various hummus and crackers. Ended the meal with cheesecake and crème brûlée. The train car was perfectly decorated for the holiday season and the “Conductor” provided a wealth of information along the ride. The grounds and surroundings were nicely decorated for Christmas as well and we enjoyed touring the tiny themed village huts. We did not participate in the Scavenger Hunt but it was a cute idea. From the time we got on the train until we departed was a little over 3 hours. The only negative was it was a little too cool in the dining car. I was fairly uncomfortable temperature-wise. Overall, it was a wonderful experience.

My husband and I had a fabulous time at the railroad museum! The train ride was epic. Seeing the 100+ year old steam engines working, the smell and the sound was very moving, bringing back memories from long ago. We will never forget this experience!

Our holiday tea was a great experience. The service, tea and food were great. I would highly recommend this experience.

I thought the train ride was perfect for what I was looking for. It had a little bit of history (the actual route), a little bit of exploration (the maintenance shop) and a little bit of technology ( the round house). What I didn't want was a full (or half) day ride and this trip was perfect. The narration, though a bit quirky at times (folks) gave a nice amount of detail for the 1-hour excursion.

My wife and I have toured many railroad museums, exhibits and trips and we rate this adventure as wonderful. The museum in Etowah was filled with history and reflections on the past significance of the L&N railroad. The 5 hour train ride in the dome car was extraordinary.

We took the Missionary Ridge trip. It was a short train ride but was informative and my husband loved Justin’s dry humor. We rode in the open air car which was fine since we took a morning ride. Any later, we might have rode in the closed one due to the heat.

Really fun experience for young and old. Staff was exceptional. Prices are very reasonable. Big long lasting memories
✔️

The train was well with the cost and the short distance was great for small children. Jason gave us so much history and information about the train.

We took the dinner train, the Christmas dinner train! It was a white tablecloth affair and was very much with every penny. The food was exceptionally good and the service was spot on. Although not a very long trip it was a very enjoyable trip

When seeing that the T V R M was offering an Afternoon Tea to go with a Train Ride, we decided to go. The trip for us, was over 3 1/2 hours, seeing that we live 150 miles away and in a different time zone. We arrived in good time, and the TVRM is a very nice facility, with plenty of parking and friendly staff. The Station itself is in very good shape, and clean and on a hot day, it was nice and cool. After checking in, we sat down to wait for the hostess to direct us to the area where Tea would be served. There were possibly 16 of us in total. The area on the 2nd floor where Tea was served was very nice. Very professionally laid out and each table looked inviting. Plenty of items to remind you of ww2 and the important part that Women played in the war effort. Several women's uniforms, posters, and memorabilia and wedding gowns and victorian style dresses. (There is also a private room at the back for a party of 8. This is a room with many windows and a view of the facilities.) The two hostesses were all smiles and very friendly. The Tea itself was not too bad. Crackers and cheese, along with a blueberry scone for each of us, with clotted cream, jam and custard. Then a multi level tray was brought out with small portions of quiche, a tomota basil soup with a tiny square of grilled cheese sandwich, small squares of cake, small square containers of chicken salad, and two cookies (Coconut and Macadamia nut) for each of us. Though by other Tea rooms, the items were a little small, especially the grilled cheese "sandwich", when we finished, we did feel satisfied. My one complaint would be the Tea Pots. They are Very Very Large and Heavy. The Tea, being nice and Hot, makes the pot very hard to hold with two hands. I had a hard time pouring mine, and my wife had a very hard time. The train ride, if you can call it that, then took place. First, let me say. I do appreciate that these folks are trying to keep alive the railroad. And I know it must be hard work and they are doing it out of love. Having said that, the train ride was a huge disappointment. The train has two areas, one is enclosed and Air conditioned, they other has windows. We chose the Air Conditioned one and it was fine. The ride lasts about 15 minutes, going through dense forested areas with limited to no view of anything beyond railroad parts and timber, broken bridges and junk. It then stops at "East Chattanooga" station, which is a railyard where the Engine will be separated from the main train and placed in a Turntable to turn it around. It then is moved on another track and put at the opposite end of the train for the return trip. There is a small station house where there are restroom facilities. The Conductor mentioned that there would be ice cream and cokes inside for everyone. What he meant was for purchase. We then waited 35 minutes, for the 15 minute return trip. Not much fun, unless you really are a Train enthusiast. Maybe this is good for little ones. But not a very satisfying experience if you were hoping for a train ride through the countryside. The 65 minute "ride" the is only 30 minutes long. Again, I know they are working hard and wanting to keep alive a bygone era, but all in all, not a great experience. We are thankful for the Tea and thankful we went, but more than likely this was a one time event for us.

This was the highlight of the season! It was so much fun. The food and service were both fantastic and the train itself was enchanting. So festive. We will be back for 2024

I’m fascinated with trains and train travel from the past, so I loved this. The museum is packed with a lot of history and artifacts. We took the Evening Ridge Runner train ride. It was very enjoyable and the turn about demonstration was awesome. I really wanted to do a dinner ride, but it was booked, so if you think you would want a dinner experience, don’t wait to book. Those trips fill up fast. The Evening Ridge Runner offered a charcuterie board. It’s a great snack for two if you had dinner, but if using for dinner, get one per person. We really enjoyed the train ride and would definitely do it again. There’s just something so satisfying about hearing the train whistle!

Was truly a once in a lifetime experience. The return of the Summerville run featuring a double-header with Southerns #4501 and #630 was itself a spectacular sight. The staff was helpful and very knowledgeable of the trip and what we could expect. We all were very pleased and will remember this experience for many years to come. We also would like to thank everyone for the opportunity to be part of the past.

My wife and I have traveled on many scenic railway trips, and this one is the best by far. The scenery along the route was magnificent, and the staff did a great job of making us feel welcome. I highly recommend the TVRR for anyone looking for a scenic railway excursion.

Had a wonderful time. Started by having tea in the upper room of train station. This was such an unique experience. Before booking my wife asked if I would like to go to "High Tea". I had no idea what that was. I reluctantly said yes. Really, I never wanted to go but In order to please her, I agreed. Boy am I glad I did. When we walked into the tea room I was in awe of the atmosphere. It was so elegant and took you back in time.
Now the short train ride. A 20min. ride. Exited the train and was shown interesting information concerning the trains. Also shown how the engine is turned 360 degrees for return trip. Very interesting.

This was such a great experience. Fun for the whole family!!! From riding in a boxcar from the 1920's to the up close encounter with the steam engine. All the information was so interesting and the whole railroad crew was fun and welcoming.
My favorite experience on this vacation so far.

Well I guess it does what it advertised. We got on a train and rode out for a little while. We went under a tunnel and down the track. We then walked over and watched as they turned the control car around. Then you walk back to a large warehouse where they work on restoring and repairing the trains and listen to a young man who does his best to recount a memorized script about working on and restoring trains. Once he's finished you get back on and ride back. The train cars were pretty hot because it's summer in Chattanooga and the doors are constantly opened and closed. It wasn't particularly noteworthy but it was something to do. A conductor with the right personality and a free snack or something would dramatically improve the experience.

Relaxing ride through the wooded hills and along the river. Narration about the history of the rairoad and the area was interesting.

Enjoyable 4 hr trip along the Hiwassee River. Staff made the trip fun and informative. VIP in the dome was worth the additional cost.

Nothing like we had expected. We read the reviews and most were all very good reviews. We can’t say the same. Very disappointed to spend $175 plus a tip on what was supposed to be an enjoyable, fun date night for my husband and I for our 34th anniversary. As soon as we were seated our server came to our table. He was EXTREMELY HATEFUL! Not friendly at all and snapped at me for not understanding what he was asking me pertaining to the main entree. He then continued his rudeness every single time he came to our table. He literally ruined the evening. The food is just ok, nothing special. EVERYTHING needed seasoning. Very bland. I overlooked that due to the fact the dessert was wonderful! The train ride itself was enjoyable. However.. going from smiling to completely miserable (within 5 minutes of getting on the train) due to a server’s terrible personality is enough for us to say….we will never be back!

Our train ride was OK. But since we went to Bryson City NC last year and rode on the steam train in the open air car... This was a pretty big let down. We did the dinning car lunch add on too. It was Ok but nothing amazing. Just a turkey on a croissant sandwich. We did relax it and make the best we could of it anyway. There were 2 stops and it was pretty surprising how little there was to do in Chickamauga. We walked to the big historical Gorden Lee house and went across the street to the Crawfish Spring area. Not much else to do here. Had a good chat with a local. Hardly any stores to visit. On the way back we stopped at a battlefield and climbed the tower. 136 steps. It was neat and a fun thing to do with a view. There are restrooms on the train and even a gift shop car. There also are restrooms and a lrge gift shop at the depo with a nice snack area that had lots of good stuff.

We took our 6 year old grandsons on the Polar Express Train ride at 6:30. It lasted a little over an hour. The cookie and hot chocolate was enjoyed. The boys were so excited the whole time and all the staff were super friendly. I would recommend getting there earlier than they suggest and visit the Christmas village. It was too cold for us afterwards and we were getting tired after the train ride so went didn’t visit the village. They have a small deli and it was ok if you need a quick bite before or after. (Hamburgers, hot dog, sandwiches, chips, etc.) We loved all the lights and decorations, and especially Santa!

So glad that their Sommerville Steam excursions are back! This was my second trip and I enjoyed every minute! Also can recommend the lunch in the Dinning Car. It was excellent and filling.

It was fun but ride is way too short. Most of the time is spend at the shop. I didn’t mind paying 25 per person but is not worth the money if it’s too short.

An excellent day. The best of Tennessee scenery and a great adventure for all ages. Insightful narration throughout the trip and I learned a lot about the fascinating history of railroading in this part of the country. The train was very well staffed and professional. Will repeat my visit in the future.

We had a great time. The views were amazing! The staff were very friendly and helpful and fun. We highly recommend. Great low key fun adults or kids.

The train ride was very enlightening on the history around this area! All the train personnel were very knowledgeable and friendly!!

Nice employees...Good family activity. I was a little disappointed they couldn't see Thomas the Train in the trainyard as pictures suggest.

Loved the banjo player, views were great, everyone was polite. Was a great experience! We stayed in a conversion bus from Airbnb just a couple miles away the night before. We just loved the whole experience. Appreciate the volunteers on the train!

We did the Copperhill run. Long trip, but nice. Leaves had not turned much. Visited Copperhill and McCaysville. Had lunch there.

My husband and I spent a very enjoyable few hours at the Tennessee Valley Railway Museum. Our High Tea experience at the Homefront Cafe was wonderful with an extremely friendly hostess and waitress. Our train ride across Missionary Ridge to the maintenance station was fascinating. There were few, if any, questions our guide couldn’t answer about the trains we saw. I highly recommend this museum to anyone who enjoys trains.

My husband and I took the 1 hour train trip and it was so fun, informational and relaxing. We cant wait to take a longer one! And anyone should bring your kids, you will have a great experience with them!

Had a great time on the Copperhill Train to McCaysville, GA and Copperhill, Tn and back on historic train. Spent the entire day going back and forth with a two hour stop in those fun towns for shopping and eating—lots to choose from. Learned a lot too. Train was so fun—beautiful views, smooth ride, super attentive staff and love and pride for our shared history in these trains and mode of travel. We splurged for the observation car on the Algonquin and I loved the heavy chairs that you could move around and position where you’d like for the views going by. We had plenty of snacks and drinks included in this first class price. I enjoyed that we had sunny views without the sun baking us above. The onboard bathroom made this trip comfortable not having to wait and was an interesting side note to train history. Loved seeing the old berths, sitting areas and galleys. Great to imagine what generations before us experienced on their train rides. (And the tiny hallways make you wonder what designers were thinking back then!) Crew was very helpful, knowledgeable, friendly and kind. Great trip! Will do again! Oh and if you have never taken a train nap before, this train will be perfect. The gentle rocking and swaying of this train helps you understand why babies sleep so well when rocked. Best nap ever! Very relaxing ride. Nice to slow down and contemplate more important things.

We have just travelled from the U.K. for my 11 year old son (who is Home Educated) to attend the Senior Engineers Railroad Camp. He has absolutely LOVED every second of it. Charles Googe has been an exceptional leader and clearly imparted lots of his passion and knowledge to those attending, as have the camp counsellors and all staff.
A fabulous place to visit for a day and an a phenomenal camp experience for my son. Highly recommended

We took the 2 hour dinner excursion. It was amazing. We had the roast beef and it was perfectly cooked. The staff all enjoyed their jobs and saw to the littlest details. The dinner from appetizer to desert was served flawlessly all while we enjoyed the train ride. It was an experience that everyone coming to Chattanooga should definitely do. Thank you to all the staff for making a memory for us.

My husband and I rode The Hiwassee Loop Train Excursion in October. It was a nice and relaxing ride with good scenery. We learned a lot about the history of the loop and the rail line in general. We rode in one of the observation cars so we had great views. I would highly recommend this trip!

We had such a wonderful time riding the North Pole Express with our 4 year old. We have been on 2 other polar express trains over the years with our other boys and this one is so much nicer. Everything from staff to the grounds, this place is very nice. The Santa was so good with kids and did not rush his visit. Such a magical experience.

Visiting Chattanooga and found this museum. Wonderful displays and experience on the train. Would definitely recommend.

We took the dinner train yesterday as a getaway from my wife and I. The food was wonderful. We have taken this train ride one time before our waiter/server seemed like he could care less about taking care of us. The last time we went, we were invited to take a tour of the train and walk around. We were not offered that this time. when my wife did not want to eat her cheesecake, the waiter kind of made a big deal and had to announce to everyone if someone wanted cheesecake please let him know. We probably will not be back due to the service.

This little St.Nic nightcap ,was so sweet and cozy. I would recommend to any couple for a different night . The greetings from the train conductor was like stepping back in time. It was super sweet.

My wife and I took a trip on the dinner train for our anniversary. Everything from the food to the staff was more than we expected. Excellent experience and we will be back!!

This was a great experience. Every member of the staff was helpful and friendly. And the equipment is in great shape considering the ages of the trains. Riding a functioning steam train is an amazing experience by itself and the people working there made it that much better. Highly recommend working this into your itinerary.

Excellent tour. Very friendly, knowledgeable, and a wonderful experience! Tour guide was very personable and immensely knowledgeable.

We had a great time. There were some car issues, but the staff accommodated us, and all was good. They were so helpful and friendly. We recommend it highly. You might want to take a sweater if an issue should arise. We will make more trips with this group the next time we are down.

There were seven of us who visited the tea room and train ride. I do not like to leave anything but a positive review and my past experiences with the TVRM have been good. This was a busy Saturday and it was very crowded. We were in the last group to board the train and could not find seats. 5 of us ended up in a tiny room with a sofa and very little ventilation and quite warm while the other two in our party got seats somewhere else. There were no assigned seats, first come first serve. We felt like the ride was over booked. The meal in the tea room was okay and the tea itself was delicious.

We took our grandgirls and their parents on the Polar Express train ride two days before Christmas-they loved it! Hot cocoa, cookies, Christmas songs and stories led up to the best part-seeing Santa! Santa spent time with each family, talked to the girls and then allowed pictures . A good time was had by all

This Christmas Dinner train ride was a Christmas gift for my Mother (87) and an Anniversary dinner/ride for myself and my spouse. We booked our trip 6 months ago.
What we loved:
the train itself, TVRM and the entire area around the station was decorated with Christmas light displays and loads of Holiday decorations. It was beautiful and festive. Lots of photo-ops.
Every single employee associated with this event was incredibly friendly, helpful and courteous. The most efficient group of individuals working in tandem to deliver the best service/experience that we have encountered in a long time.
The golf cart shuttle transportation from the parking area to the station was greatly appreciated.
The length of the ride itself is perfect. All-in-all a great Holiday experience. The only thing that
was even slightly disappointing was the menu changes. When we booked 6 months ago the selections we chose seemed more “premium” Later in the Fall, we received notice the menu had changed. The new selections were not so upper tier. While the entrees were good, we would have preferred the original.
Highly recommend the Christmas Dinner train ride!!

Absolute disappointment! We traveled from
MN and booked our trip in advance and arrived at the wrong station (we followed the address on a confirmation email) - we arrived 30 min before our scheduled time - we were told we would not get a refund - we were offered a gift card but we explained we were theee on a one time vacation - we were again told too bad no refund - absolute disappointment in the way it was handled -

We were five women that took advantage of this awesome High Tea and train ride experience. We thoroughly enjoyed the High Tea. The food was excellent. Everything we ate was delicious, but the pimento cheese was exceptional we all thought. Such a delightful experience for a group of ladies to do for the day. Awesome High Tea then top it off with a fun little train ride. We would definitely do this again.

You guys rock! Very polite and kind staff and very knowledgeable too. Y'all go eat far and beyond to give the best tours. I've been a few different times and will definitely be back. Keep up the good work 👍

My wife and I took the Hiwassee Loop trip on Friday July 28. It was informative, relaxing and interesting all at once. The generator took out our AC at a couple of poonts, but the sraff responded quickly. We really enjoyed it.

We went on the Tennessee Valley Railroad 4 hour Hiawassee River trip and it was excellent. The staff was courteous and knowledgeable in the narration while on the train. The trip was relaxing and comfortable and we recommend it to all.

My husband and I chose the Missionary Ridge Local train ride. It was easy to reserve and pick up our tickets. It was 27 minutes from our campground-an easy drive. The train ride takes an hour: 15-20 minutes there and back each way with a stop to see the turn table and restoration museum where they work on the trains and their restoration. My favorite was watching the train on the turn table-used to move the engines to different tracks. Can’t believe 4 men used to do it by hand. Another amazing aspect of the ride was going through a tunnel built by hand which was 980 feet long. This was before TNT. We did not make it to the other museum, so I can’t speak to that-overall a good excursion with two entertaining conductors and guide. The money for the tickets goes to the maintenance and upkeep of these amazing steam engines and trains. There is room to park if you have a travel trailer. Enjoy.

The holiday train ride is a must if you are visiting Chattanooga with kids. The museum has set up lights and decorated a train so that kids can ride to the North Pole. They get to visit with Santa on the train before heading back to the museum. If you keep your expectations reasonable, this will be a magical experience for the kids and adults will enjoy it too.

There are several trips to choose from. We chose a very nice train ride from an old station to the round out and back. They gave a short presentation in their restoration shop while the steam locomotive was being moved to the other side of the train before heading back to the original station. It was a warm day and the opportunity to purchase a slightly overpriced soda from a vintage Coke cooler was appreciated. Don’t miss the museum at the top of the hill.

Visiting the Railroad and taking the Missionary Ridge train ride brought you back in time! It is a short ride, with a stop to see the turntable! Everyone is friendly and knowledgeable. It is interesting to learn the history and experience what the railroad was all about in its heyday! It is in a great location, close to many things in Chattanooga.

So much fun and very affordable. We did the Mission Ridge ride and the Tea Room. Can't wait to go back for different experiences!

Our family (ages 66, 62, 34, 8 & 5) really enjoyed the Missionary Ridge Local ride. It was just the right amount of time to keep the kids interested and the adults engaged. The tunnel and bridges excited the children and the turnaround demonstration was cool to watch. We adults found the train repair shop interesting and the conductor gave us the scoop on the "rescued" trains and cars. The amount of knowledge he retains is quite impressive and entertaining. We didn't have time to go into the museum but that entrance is included with the train ride. The station has a nice snack bar and gift shop, and the bathrooms are clean. It was a fun and educational experience for all.

This was an exceptional experience. I would highly recommend the staff was great, and I am looking forward to adding this as an annual event.

The dinner train was a lovely experience. Food was superb and the staff was so courteous and attentive. Would recommend this trip for anyone.

Valentines dinner train was great! Had a group of 41. Exceptional service and the food was delicious. Would highly recommend.

Lovely old trains, knowledgeable conductors and engineers, beautiful scenery, historic tunnel. This is a great place to take your family.

My family did the Hiwassee tour. Absolutely wonderful time. The guide was outstanding with a detailed history about the railroad and the “loop”.
Some surprising entertainment and fabulous staff from start to finish. Returning in the fall to see the beautiful foliage.

Wonderful family experience! The youngsters were engaged by the conductor, elves and Santa. Basic price included nice treats, bells and an attractive ornament for the family.

A great way to start the holiday season with family and friends. Very efficient check in; colorful holiday lights; food is delicious and service 5 star. Highly recommend the Holiday Dinner Train.

We LOVED this! It was so well done, end to end. We started with the Homefront Tea Experience. That was so neat. Had a great server, Maddy, who took excellent care of us. Décor was lovely. Truly took us back in time. Food options and tea were great too. We road on the train as well. Our tour operators were a lot of fun, and we learned quite a bit. Got to see how the train is turned, a neat experience! We stopped at the exhibit hall as well. This is a must-do as well. Has tons of items, particularly from the WWII era.

We had dinner for two in the Pullman Car. It was decorated beautifully for the Christmas holiday. The four course meal was excellent. I had the bourbon braised beef and my wife had the crusted flounder. Our wait staff were very professional. I would recommend this trip, while supporting a non-profit.

My first time ever going and I've lived here most of my life but it was an interesting and very informative trip. My son absolutely Ioved the ride thru the valley and seeing all the sights and different trains.

I enjoyed every minute of it. I enjoyed watching the scenery from my seat on the train. I enjoyed the observation car and walking through the train cars.The meals were delicious and the hosts were very nice. It was very pleasant to be on trains.

The 4 1/2 hour Hiwassee Loop/Gorge trip was relaxing and beautiful. The view of the Hiwassee River were gorgeous, and the conductor’s stories about the history of the area as we passed landmarks, made the trip even more enjoyable. It’s definitely a must-do activity for anyone living in or visiting East Tennessee. (Tips: 1. I brought a seat cushion for the trip and I was comfortable. 2. There are bathrooms on the train and you can get up and walk around. 3. There is a concession stand, but you are allowed to bring nonalcoholic drinks and beverages. 4. There are open windows between the trains. It was fun to stand at the open air windows and look at the scenery as well. 5. The seats can be turned around, so if you happen to be in seats that are facing backwards or if you are with a group of four and want to face each other, you can ask the conductor to turn the seats around. 6. There is a holiday train ride that is shorter -1 1/2 hours- if you want to try a shorter trip with children.)

This is a very cute place. I took my 5 yr old grandson for his first train ride and we loved it. It was the perfect amount of time for him to sit still and we were allowed to bring snacks. Employees were very nice too.

Slow but historical trip on Hiwassee loop. Staff is amazing. We did the dome car, but all views are beautiful. Fun family trip if you like history and trains.

Had a fun day, easy too get to and to select train ride. Wish it was longer. When we rode the steam train wasn’t running but it was still ice.

Very Enjoyable, very educational for kids of all ages. Make sure you ride the train. Excellent value.

Our first visit to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. It was very interesting. We loved all of the displays. The train ride was great. We rode in one of the air conditioned cars. It was fairly comfortable but thankfully we didn’t have anyone in the facing seats. It would have been really tight to have someone sitting across from us. Maybe there’s a limit of how many passengers are booked per trip, to allow passengers to change sides when the train turns around.
The turntable was fascinating to watch the train engine turn around. We also enjoyed seeing the cars in the workshop that are being worked on.
Travis did a wonderful job of telling the history of these trains.
We enjoyed it very much. Was worth the trip from Montgomery, AL and the price of admission.

Rode the Summerville Steam Special - late October. Hoped to see beautiful Fall foliage, but leaves haven't cooperated this year. Train runs on time - excellent staff. We rode in the Dome car. Ride came with included breakfast and lunch, which were excellent. Everything about this operation is first class. Ride was 4 hours down to Summerville, an hour there to watch the 1911 locomotive turn on the turntable to get in position to pull us back to Chattanooga, and four hours back. A great way to sit back and relax and see the countryside. Highly recommend!

Excellent day out with Thomas. The museum has a great train ride with turn table demonstration (not the Thomas train). Great place to explore and watch trains.

We did the holiday lights trip. It was a little deceptive because (for reasons they explained on the trip) they don't have access to electrical all along the tracks so there weren't hardly any lights visible while riding on the train. Makes total sense, but felt like a bait-and-switch. Lovely lights in the parking lot and at the end of the route where the train turns around at least. The history was well-presented on the ride. Might have been better during the day where we could have seen the surrounding region better. The tunnel was our favorite part. Also, there's not really a "museum" in the sense of the word where you walk around a building looking at artifacts. There are some old trains at the beginning, but in the dark we couldn't appreciate them.

The tea was a perfect experience for the family. Great food, courteous wait staff who were very prompt and professional.

We enjoyed our ride on the "local" . The conductor was very informative, so we learned a lot about railroad history and then our visit to the museum re enforced the important role of railroads .

My family had a blast! The train ride was fun and the staff was very knowledgeable and friendly. We will be returningsoon!

My grandson is a total training so we watch and ride at TVRM as often as we can. Diesel electric during the week, and steam during most weekends. Excursions are truly great, giving a taste of rail travel from the past, with menus to match.
The staff are friendly and knowledgeable, with time to answer most of your questions. Missing this experience would be a mistake! Scenery is nice, but the history and knowledge imparted is priceless.

It was my daughter’s and grandson’s first time on a train. It was a beautiful experience and reasonably priced.

We had a CRAZY time trying to make the train yesterday on Mother’s Day. We rented a car and we were driving from Atlanta. The engine light came on. It was 3:30. Our train ride was at 8 pm. We called the rental car 800 number about the engine light. We had to return to Atlanta to switch out the car at the airport. We were about 20 miles away from the airport. By the time we headed out again it was 5:30. However there were 5 accidents between Atlanta and the train depot!!! It was a bit tense in the car because we were uncertain if we would make the train.

Thank goodness we did!!!

We arrived at 7:50 and EVERYONE at the depot was so friendly. The gift shop has a nice variety of merchandise for all ages.

It was great to get paper train ticket and have them punched it. It’s a very cool keepsake as well.

The whole experience from hearing the train whistle to seeing the smoke from the engine transports you back in time.

It’s a wonderful slice of history narrated by the conductors. Not only do they describe facts but you can tell they love their role in preserving this history. They hit the right balance of humor mixed with facts as well as giving you a chance to absorb the moments of the experience.

Bottom line if you’re in Chattanooga and LOVE trains it’s a MUST!!! Or if you wish to have a unique experience and have an hour for the train ride I HIGHLY recommend it!!

After a rough drive to get there, my adult son and I had another wonderful memorable bonding experience. We both recalled so many of the times when we took the local train ride in Griffith Park in Los Angeles during his childhood. We both LOVED the Tennesse Valley Museum Evening Train Ride!!!

All aboard 😊

Great experience and would recommend. Something unusual to do. Service was great! Dinner was lovely and plentiful.

We really enjoyed the trip and the spectacular fall colors. We booked the trip months in advance and we worried about the impact of hurricane Helene which came within 100 miles but the track area was untouched. The company on board was very friendly and we had several great conversations. The ride was great even without the fall colors.

I really did not know what to expect. It was something my husband thought we would enjoy.
First of all the folks working there were great. The food I chose needed a little help.
The flounder was delicious, but sides not so much. The food was cold. I did not want to be that person!
The braised beef smelled better, but I don't eat red meat. The apple something bread pudding very dry and my cheese cake was tasty, there just wasn't enough of it.
The hummus and chips sitting on table when we sat down looked like it had been there a bit. There was a skin or something on top. Chips were stale. Coffee was good though.
I think it might have been better to do earlier in the day for the train ride or a different time.
I imagine back in the day there would be a lot more to see as your riding this train.
Well the best part was riding by the athletic complex and wave at kid's as we passed by.
Last but not least one of my legs on my chair was much shorter than the other 3...lol
I was just a bit disappointed . Seeing all these good reviews and our experience not being good.
I may give it another try, but not likely.

We did the Homefront Tea Room and Train Experience. The tea and pastries were excellent. The food was on the table when we were seated, but they were a little slow serving the tea. (We finished the scones before the tea arrived.) The "65 minute" train ride was underwhelming. The ride was less than 15 minutes and most of the time was spent watching the turntable (that was interesting) and the repair shop (not so much.)

Unknown to us, it was a "Thomas" weekend at TVRM. Being grandparents, we enjoyed seeing the reaction of the little kids to riding the Thomas train and doing all the activities. It was not too crowded, plenty of room for everyone to wander. We took the Missionary Ridge steam train ride and thoroughly enjoyed it. We rode in the open-window car to get an authentic experience and it did not disappoint! Watching the engine being turned around mid-trip was fascinating. We hope to enjoy another of the trips offered in the future.

Our model train club was able to get tickets for the holiday dinner train, and we had a fantastic time. The food was awesome, the staff was attentive and friendly, and the train and depot were decked out in holiday lights. The train ride was smooth. The entire evening was a delightful experience. I highly recommend the dinner train if you can get tickets.

We took this trip to have a fancy dinner on an old train. It did not disappoint from that view. Food was delicious!! Staff was wonderful. View through the town was not much to see. I was expecting more of a nature scene. Lots of litter, etc. so overall good experience. Just wish scene would have been better it took away from the nostalgic part of the train ride.

This was a great experience! We sat in the coach car, and the seats were comfortable. We did switch seats at the turnaround point, and that worked very nicely. The bathrooms are very conveniently located.
The history was informative, and the scenery was memorable. The leaves were still on the trees, but we were able to get a good view of everything, including the buck, swimming in the river.
The staff could not have been better! The narrator/conductor was excellent, especially his rendition of Dueling Banjos. We were very fortunate to have a wonderfully youthful 89 year old volunteer conductor. We brought our own snacks, but the snack bar seemed very popular.
Thank you for a great ride!

I had some extra time today while going through Chattanooga, and decided to take this train ride that comes with a great train conductor that has so much knowledge about the trains we were passing and ride on, as well as the Civil War sites, he even knew the Generals that fought in this area. He also gave us a private tour of the back lot where the famous Steam Engine is housed. He told how the stream is produced and the way the engine pulls. On our way back he tells of all the movies and TV shows the train we were riding on, and engine 610 was part of. 610 was in the CMT video of Josh Turner’s Long Black Train. 610 also shared stardom with Johnny Cash, Marlyn Monroe, Jimmy Strewart and too many more to mention. Also other trains and passenger cars were also noted. Thanks for making this 60 yr old man think back to my younger days of playing with trains, and remembered watching some of those movies and TV Shows he mentioned. Staff was great! But the trains are by far the stars. Well worth going. Tomorrow we are taking the longer 9 hr train ride; looking so forward to it. Thanks for all the fun today.

We did High Tea followed by train ride. neat experience! Tea service included 2 different pots of tea (4 in our party), soup, scones, sweets, pimento cheese and other savory bites. Server was so nice (only her 2nd day) and after 75 minutes, it was time for train ride. Although this particular train ride was short, we stopped and got off to see the engine rotate locations and hear about the history in the train restoration area. Would definitely recommend!

Total waste of time and money. We just spent money to take a 10min train ride only to sit in a junkyard/train yard for 45min because the train conductor failed to tell us to exit the train to see the “Turntable”. Don’t expect to get a tour of the trains, what they look like on the inside or how they operate. I have no idea where the “museum” is unless it’s a model train inside a 3ft glass case near the ticket booth.

Don’t think twice…just do this tour if you have the chance!! Our young children both loved it but my 7 yr old train enthusiast son probably loved it as much as the Disney trip we were returning from! Very fascinating history surrounding the trains as well as the land you travel across! We did the 65 min Missionary Ridge tour and hope to get back someday to do one of the longer tours! Wonderful experience that has you feeling like you just traveled back in time for a brief period. The tour commentary was great also with some good humor mixed in.

From beginning to end, this was an awesome place to visit. The conductor was fun and included our kids in the experience.

Last night we rode the 8:30 pm North Pole Ltd with grandsons (8 and 10). It was truly magical. Our elves Jingle Leigh and Peppermint were so entertaining and kept everyone engaged with hot cocoa & cookies, a story and guiding our imagination thru the magic tunnel. Santa was THE BEST ever; he took time with each family, talking to each child personally about their Christmas wish list. We took lots of photos with him. Our “grands” were spellbound. Highly recommend this excursion!

We went on the Christmas dinner train. It was beautifully decorated and very comfortable. Great service and good food.

We were fortunate to ride the dome car of the Summerville Special double Steam Engine train from Chattanooga, TN to Summerville, GA. We were told that one of these engines is going into maintenance for a couple of years so it will be a while before there is another double engine configuration. Railroad fans with their cameras were at every crossing to capture photos and videos of the event! In Summerville we watched with amazement as the engine and tinder were rolled onto a turntable and slowly spun around for the return trip to Tennessee. It was nice to live for a moment in the slow lane of our grandparents time.

The staff at the museum and onboard the train were wonderful. Breakfast in the 1956 Silver Tureen dining car was surprisingly good! I would suggest if you have food allergy or other dietary issues that you contact the museum directly to discuss them. There was only one entree choice for lunch. Even though it was not their fault, the staff was very apologetic and did their best to accommodate.

For shorter trips, the museum also has a local dinner train, a battlefield ride into north Georgia and if you are so inclined, you may enjoy a proper tea in the tea room on the second floor of the depot.

I am 53 and my Daughter 23, we had a trip to bring my mom, she never been in a train we loved it so much it was a lot of fun not only for kids same for adults who Believed in Christmas.
I highly recommend it and the staff are amazing
Great great trip we will be back

The conductors and the employees are so special. They want you to know everything you can about the train cars, their history, etc. It’s an educational trip and a peaceful one. The stop in Copper Hill is 2 hours in a neat little tourist town. The whole day is just fantastic.

We did the tea time and train ride. The staff was very friendly and we had a great time. I highly recommend.

Train is in good repair. Views are pretty. We sat in the dome car. Price included snacks and drinks. Bathrooms were clean. Narration is informative. Loved the banjo player on the second half. 4 1/2 hours is long.
Downside- there's no control over the people in your car. We had a group of talkers who were so loud they made listening to the narration difficult.
Then a couple brought 2 preschool children. It was way too long for that age children. Crying and screaming was rough.

We've ridden the dinner train twice and were very pleased with the food and service each time. We look forward to doing this again and again . . .

If spending $166/person to see woods, rotting, decaying train cars, engines, and train equipment, then go. An exhibit is advertised, but we were told it was closed. The route is nothing but depressing with the rotting train yard and piles of dead tree limbs scattered along the route. We never saw the Chattanooga Zoo and you can drive easier to see the Chattanooga National Cemetery, Warner Park, and the sculpture park. Apart from that, the scenery included trashy streets and a homeless site.

The food was awful…stay home and put a frozen dinner in the microwave. Tomato bisque was served and warm and eatable. Cold rolls came from a box. The roast beef with madeira sauce was so tough, that even with a steak knife, I had to saw it; madeira sauce was scant. Canned Italian beans had no seasoning and the smashed potato also had no seasoning. The food was barely warm. My dessert was a store-bought cheesecake with melted frozen strawberries, not even a sauce, just miserable looking strawberries. Whipped cream helped eat it. The lemonade was good.

Overall, it was one of the worst excursions I every took and is highway robbery charging $166 each for it. It was our first experience with the TVRM and the last.

The trip was nice and slow. The locomotive turntable in action was cool to see. The explanation at the repair shop was interesting.

I surprised my mother with the Tea and train ride. We drove over 4 hours to come for the experience. The tea, food, and customer service was exceptional. I am looking forward to coming back in October!

Conductor Monroe and his friendly crew provide an interesting trip. Great scenery, historical highlights, and cheery atmosphere. Bring your sea legs. It's not Amtrak.

The train ride was fantastic with lots of things to see,Everyone was nice and friendly. I learned the history of the train and the area. The train museum is included with the ticket.

We had an outstanding royal tea experience at the Museum's Homefront Tea Room. The service was impeccable, the food and hot tea were fantastic, and the ambiance was romantic. I highly recommend the Homefront Tea Room.

Very nicely done! I took my nephew (adult with autism) and my 85yo mom in a scooter. Everyone was super nice, accomodating and enthusiastic. We enjoyed the ride and learning the history. The gift shop and deli were great. We also had a ticket mix-up, and the staff was super easy to work with to resolve. Definitely A+ all around.

Borderless Arts TN is a statewide nonprofit that works with people with disabilities through the arts. Several of our participants and their families took the train ride and then went into Chattanooga to make some train art. We had a wonderful experience. The conductor was great with our participants and answered all of their questions. I would love to come back for a scenic or holiday ride in the future.

My wife and I came for the dinner train ride for a special 20th anniversary date. We boarded a train car that had great historical significance including being used in the movie Some Like It Hot. From the time we boarded til the time we got off the train we were blasted back in time with original interior of the Pullman care along with cabins and restrooms to tour.
I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE STAFG HERE! They were professional, courteous, and service oriented. Our servers Javonte and Jermaine were so great and had a work ethic and knowledge of customer service I haven't seen in years! If you needed something they were right there. Everyone was dressed in period clothing which added to the flashback experience and all were professional and wanted you to have s special experience.
The dinner was great! My wife had mahi mahi and I had the steak tips. Both of which were flavorful and plated with aldente veggies and rice. Music playing was 20's through 40's again, driving you deeper into the experience. They even had mints on the table in little throwback cardboard suitcases for you to take with you.
The whole dinner and ride was about 2 hours long going through the woods, neighborhoods, and past parks including the zoo. When we returned to the station all if the staff were lined up on the train and outside to welcome us back and sincerely thank us for coming. Multiple times the staff asked us if we needed anything and if we enjoyed our night. They went way beyond the call of duty!
The experience is under new managment we were told and all the money from the tickets or gift shop go to preserving this important part of our American heritage so it is all well worth it and a truly unique and special experience!
THANKS AGAIN TO JAVONTE AND JERMAINE AND ALL FOR A WONDERFUL 20TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY DATE AND TASTY HISTORICAL EXPERIENCE! Job well done! PLEASE EVERYONE WHO READS THIS, do yourself a favor and do the dinner train ride and museum tour! Well worth it, and for a GREAT cause for our history.

My 80 year old mother wanted to ride the steam engine to Summerville, Georgia to mark off her bucket list. The staff was professional and the lunch was delicious. It was enjoyable and I heard stories from both my parents I would not have heard without this trip. I would definitely recommend it.

Really fun few hours. Very informative conductor, who gave a funny commentary. All round great fun and not expensive. Highly recommended for all. Great job.

My husband and I took the Missionary Ridge Local Trip. The train is beautiful. The staff was GREAT! Everyone really seemed to enjoy their jobs and was so knowledgeable. It was short enough not to tire you out, but long enough to give you the feel of being on a train from long ago. The conductor/speaker (a volunteer who loved what he was doing!) was fabulous. This is one of very few places left in the country that you'll see an engine turned around on a turntable. We loved the museum as well. Don't miss it - it's a little bit away from the train depot. This is a great trip for a child since it's not long at all. They also offer a railcar for rent for events. Thank you, TVRR for keeping our history alive and accessible!!

We rented out the whole train for a client appreciation event. Everyone loved the dinner train that we did Valentine’s Day. They were so nice to work with and have received so many Thankyou cards. Food was outstanding and service was wonderful.

Ok so I had railcamp here 2 times and it was amazing and got see southern 630 and 4501 it’s really cool I highly recommend it to anyone like you

Very slow ride (8) miles an hr. Felt like an eternity. Not much to see but run down businesses and homes along the way. Chickamauga might as well be closed for there is very little to offer in terms of food and shops. The 2 hrs spent there was like watching paint dry. The trains were nice but that's about it. Sorry.

Awesomeness! A wonderful experience that allows one to step into the past. It gives you a new appreciation of a peaceful life, where things ran slower and, in a way, more beautifully. The engines are pieces of functional art.

This review is not for the museum, it is for the Hiwassee Loop Train excursion. Took my husband, daughter in law and granddaughter for the trip a week ago and we loved it!

You can really tell how much these folks love their trains! Every person we interacted with was kind and excited to see us.

The conductor gave such great narration during our trip and we learned tons. We loved the ride and it was delightful to see what train travel would have been like back in the day and the scenery was lovely. The loop was incredible and we found ourselves enchanted.

The conductor also played banjo for a few songs towards the end of the ride and my granddaughter was delighted when he played Rocky Top.

We are definitely interested in going to the museum and to also doing other excursions with them.

It was a beautiful, air conditioned day on a lovingly restored train and we could not have been happier.

Railroad Christmas Train – Pullman Car Clover Colony, Dinner Train

I purchased tickets for the Sunday, December 1st dinner train and chose a two-topper in the Pullman Car Clover Colony, which we later learned is considered their crown jewel. It was a cold night, and unfortunately, as soon as we were seated, we realized the car was quite chilly. We were also disappointed to find that the twinkle lights weren’t functioning. Without them, and with the wreaths missing their sparkle, the ambiance didn’t match the warm, festive vibe shown in photos from past travelers.

On a positive note, we absolutely loved our waiter, Jermaine. He took our drink order right away and was personable, friendly, and wonderfully engaging. The conductor, dressed in period costume, stopped by several times and offered fascinating history about the car—something I thoroughly enjoyed.

The table was preset with hummus, chips, bread, and butter, and everything was arranged properly. The soup was warm, though not hot (which would have been especially welcome in a chilly car). My husband ordered the beef, which turned out to be tough and chewy. I had the flounder, which was much better, and ended up sharing my meal with him. I understand the chefs are cooking while the train is moving, and I’m not sure how far the kitchen is from the Pullman car, so I can only assume that on such a cold night the food lost heat on its way to our table. Dessert was okay.

As another reviewer wisely pointed out—and I’ll echo here—try to temper expectations for a gourmet experience if you’re accustomed to fine dining. The best parts of the evening were the ride itself, Jermaine’s attentive service (including taking a lovely photo of us after dinner), and the conductor, who was a walking encyclopedia on this Pullman car.

If I return, I likely wouldn’t spend the $390 again for the Pullman. Once onboard, I realized I could have booked a table for two in the dining car for significantly less. Also, bring cash—another reviewer mentioned this, and it’s true. You cannot add a gratuity if you purchase wine, which my husband did. Thanks to that reviewer’s warning, I brought cash and tipped Jermaine generously.

All in all, it was a memorable experience. I chalk the cost up to the fact that much of what you pay helps preserve these beautiful machines and an important piece of American travel history.

The Views we're lovely, my only recommendation is that the informative speech should cease once the Trip Starts Journey Back so that one can Converse with Family/Friends. It was so loud we couldnt speak with one another without being extremely loud. So No one in Our Party would do a second trip. But i would recommend people trying it once.

Such a fun experience. It was beautiful & educational. The staff members were helpful & friendly. We felt so welcome! So many great photo opportunities. We will definitely be back!

We had a party of four adults and two children. The cost was fair and included the train ride and museum entry. All the staff on the trains, at the depot, snack shop, and museum were friendly and courteous. Our tour guide Jason was quite knowledgeable about the trains history and very personable. We’d definitely go again!

Awesome time. We went on the 15 minute train ride, followed by the museum and then train ride back. The information was interesting and it was cool to see the work they are doing on the old trains.

Great little train ride. Friendly & informative staff. Really enjoyed seeing the engine on the round-about. Plus, the tour of the ironworks shed. Definitely worth the trip. Don’t forget the museum

We had a wonderful Christmas ride with the grandkids. All of the crew members were very nice and helpful. Santa walked around the train and spent time with everyone. The ride was pretty and relaxing. It got us all in the Christmas spirit. I would definitely recommend this to families with young children.

Beuatiful trip up the mountain, great narration. There was even banjo playing and singing. Part of the train had bot been updated and I could just picture traveling that way in 1930.

Wonderful train rides/experiences.
I did the hour ride in Chattanooga and it was informative, educational and fun. Everyone is awesome.
I decided to book the hiwassee .. it boards at 1:30pm and returns at about 6pm, but NOT in Chattanooga. About an hour east - I think.
It was wonderful. Beautiful !!! It could only be better with fewer leaves on the trees but it is summer.
The wonderful employees/volunteers are entertaining and they make the experience exceptional. I recommend a dome car or observation car but honestly I think I the other car is just fine.

We took our kids on the North Pole Limited for a Christmas treat. Not only did we receive cookies and hot chocolate, but we got an ornament for each family and each of us got a bell. We heard the story of the North Pole Limited and got to meet Santa. He took time to talk with each child and take pictures. Reasonably priced and a great experience for our kids.

This was a great trip! Very informative about the area and railroad. It had good banjo bluegrass music and great corney jokes. Definitely would like to try some of the other train rides offered.

Excellent day trip to Summerville Georgia, good lunch in the dining car, excellent historian car conductor, air conditioning on the Pulllman

We are a train family. Our sons both enjoyed visits with Thomas the Train when small. This time, we went to ride the rail. It was a lot of fun. The station has the feel of another time. The train ride is fun and not too far. There is one tunnel that predates the Civil War, and the clearance is very tight, which makes it exciting. Once arriving at the other station, we saw our train engine uncouple and enter the turntable, where the big engine is turned around 180 degrees, pretty impressive! There is also a shop tour where you can see how the engines and cars are restored and maintained. A very fun hour or two for the whole family!

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip on the TN Valley Railroad. With the leaves off the trees, we could see so far and so much. We especially enjoyed seeing The Narrows of the Hiwassee, absolutely stunning. Having all the history of Probst and McFarland explained was very interesting. Riding The Loop was splendid as it’s the only way to really see it. I’d recommend this trip to anyone who is interested in history and magnificent scenery.

Very nice train ride and built in tour on the Chickamauga Turn option. Check out the great deals you can get at Local Flavor dot com - similar to Group on and they have GREAT bargains. Family of four for $36 is a cant miss deal.

Book early for fall because even a month out I couldn’t get the seats I wanted. Coach seats were very uncomfortable but it helped that they had one side open where each car connected. And on the way back the view off the back of the train was very photogenic. Please be aware that the loop train is in fact an out and back. Also, there are trees 99% of the way between you and the water so very hard to get good photos.

The train ride to Missionary Ridge was fun and educational for children and adults. The commentary was entertaining and informative.

We booked a trip with the railroad as part of a visit to the Chattanooga area.

Upon arriving at the station we found it to be crowded with many other people waiting for the same tour we'd booked. We escaped the crowd and spent waiting time in the gift shop. Once the gift shop became overly crowded we spent the remainder of our wait outside on the platform.

It was fun watching the tracks for the train to arrive and let the anticipation build. Once the train arrived we were able to board quickly and easily. Those handling the boarding process used all the old familiar phrases you'd expect when boarding a rail. The actual train ride is not overly long but interesting in the history you learn along the way. At the end of the rail is a turntable and you are able to watch as the engine is rotated into position for your return journey. The rail-yard and repair shop are also located here as well as numerous engines and rail-cars.

An interesting stop when visiting Chattanooga

While my 3 year old was excited to see Santa the rest of the ride was disappointing. Not much excitement put into the so called “North Pole”. I would not recommend this to anyone.

Wonderful trip and presentation. Wonderful family experience.even the children enjoyed their time aboard the train in the two small towns. I believe we have created a train(er) for life.

We purchased tickets for our grandson, age 6, and our daughter and son-in-law. We did not know what to expect, but we had a wonderful time. The lights were amazing. The trip was very entertaining. Our grandson was thrilled with his visit with Santa Claus. We highly recommend this for anyone.

Every member of the TVRM crew was wonderful. The hot cocoa and cookies were excellent. Santa made sure that everyone had a great experience along with photos. Will be back for more train rides.

fun ride and informative. For a little extra you can ride with the engineer and see how it works, definitely recommend this option. I will definitely be back when they run the stream engines, I liked the fact the tour was not too long.

Great experience. Beautiful scenery. Comfortable air conditioning in the rail cars. Awesome crew . Great narration by the crew .

The boarding process is incredibly inefficient with all passengers loading and unloading through only one door. Train was late leaving by nearly half a hour which made returning late by same amount of time. I had to travel 2 hours for a work shift and due to Chattanooga traffic I almost was late. As a bonus I couldn’t get my car out of the only exit due to the train engine from the train I was just on blocking the exit for over 10 minutes. It was a wonderful trip but the organization and efficiency could use some work.

Thoroughly enjoyed the train ride. Staff was very nice and accommodating. The young man serving our snacks was so nice and very helpful! Beautiful scenery and the narration was informative and lighthearted. Would have given 5 stars but the dome windows were scratched and hazy(which is expected from trees brushing up against it) and made it hard to clearly see when the sun was shining. Also web site was a little confusing. Thought that observation was with windows overhead but that was dome. Luckily was able to swap after learning I had misunderstood. Would definitely make this trip again and would love to take in the fall when leaves are changing and there is a less obstructive view of the Hawassee River.

Yesterday, our group of 3 older couples enjoyed tea and a train ride. The tea room was decorated with World War II memorabilia. Food was very tasty. Teas were varied and suited for most tastes.
Best of all was our seating. We were in an elevated corner overlooking the locomotives and trains as they loaded.
We plan to return for another tea and train ride.
I do not recommend tea for younger children due the large amount of breakables in the tea room.

We just did this trip on Father’s Day. It was excellent! Very informative information throughout the ride and the scenery was so beautiful. We learned so much and got to have a bird’s eye view in the dome car. First class seating was excellent with free snacks provided. They allow you to bring a lunch on board if you desire to as well. Definitely a train ride to remember. All of the staff was friendly and provided excellent information as well as a great sense of humour!! Take this trip! It’s definitely a great one!

Amazing experience. It's worth driving upfront with the engineer. Very informative and once in a life time experience.

It was great. We went on the train on a girls trip. It was a lot of fun. We enjoyed watching the train turn around on the turntable.

We’ve been here several times before, but today was the first time we went through the exhibit building. Very nice variety of historic items. Great for families, spend as little or as much time as you like. Will definitely be back again.

we’ve done the railroad many times I would have to say if you’re going for the first time you’ll have an OK experience but it’s not something to continue to repeat. They haven’t kept the trains up too much. I think they’re pretty dirty and the food just OK and if you go in the winter when it gets dark at 5 o’clock, you can’t see anything you’re just riding a train.

We took the short train ride and watched the engine on the turntable - fascinating. So much information along the ride and when we stopped. Even go through a tunnel which is so cool. Most of the cars are enclosed but there is one open air car (no seats - standing only) where you can enjoy the views.

My main reason for heading to Chattanooga being a steam fan. Riding in the coach car used in a Eric Church video being pulled by the Southern #4501 that Johnny Cash drove doesn't get more Tennessee than that. The staff do an amazing job on the trip with history of the railroad and turntable display.

This train ride was the perfect way to spend a beautiful autumn Saturday! The hosts and hostesses went above and beyond to ensure everyone had an enjoyable experience. The train was comfortable and learning the history of the area and the train was an added bonus.

A unique experience!! Buying tickets online is super easy, the trip is super relaxing with beautiful landscapes, the weather was favorable at all times, when we returned, we were surprised by rain. Watching the rain fall traveling by train and going through the mountains accompanied by a coffee, what an experience!! The staff is 5 stars highly recommended!!

My grandson had been wanting to do the dinner train ride for a few years now…and we were able to make it happen this year with the added dates.
We absolutely loved it, the food and service were above what we expected.
David Josiah is 12, and he said one word that describes his experience was…FANCY!

Wonderful time on authentic train ride with friendly staff. The train ride includes live narrative and a stop to allow the locomotive to relocate for return trip. Watching the locomotive turntable fascinated me as I hadn't seen this before. After your ride, spend time in the museum which is included in train ride price.

The 4 1/2 loop was just right for an informative, entertaining, and relaxing ride along the Hiawasee River, and you might even hear some banjo music…

Rode the dinner train and it was very enjoyable. The food was excellent as was the service. Our server/host, Travis, did a great job not only serving our food and drink, but also explaining some interesting facts along the way.

Such a great and festive experience! Customer service was exceptional! What a great way to get in the holiday spirit!

We did the Tea Time with the Missionary Ridge train ride
Tea Time was a 3/5. I love the idea, the tea and scones were amazing. The soup and chicken salad were not good. There is nothing on the website indicating the menu. You only get one mini version of food or dessert. This would have been nice to see the menu ahead of time.
The train ride was very informative and Jason, the guide, was very knowledgeable and funny. I would recommended the train ride for any age.

The kids and I took mom out for her birthday and had a wonderful time. My kids enjoyed the meal and the ride. (I was a bit apprehensive since I have an 8 and a 9 year old but they loved the entire experience.)

For sure a once in a lifetime experience! We were able to ride on a steam locomotive from the 1920s, as well as see restoration sheds and a turntable in action! Stunning views, Family Friendly, and surprisingly affordable! The staff was incredibly friendly. Helps to show the importance of preserving American history. If you are a history buff and/or love trains, this is something you need to do!

This review is for the Chickamauga Turn train ride. This train is only available on select Saturdays or Sundays from April- October. We did this for our anniversary. It was quite disappointing. The train travels at around 8 mph, so it is a slow ride. There are no scenic views on this trip. It is mostly through the city and a couple of towns. Then there is the woods with run down shops and warehouses, lots of homes, and even a homeless camps. The woods were often trashy with garbage and abandoned tires and other junk. I really though the trip would have more scenic views. We bought coach tickets with the box lunch, and that boxed lunch was probably the best thing about the trip (those cookies were really good!) The boxed lunch is a simple turkey & cheese on a croissant. There are mayo & mustard packets, along with a slice of tomato, lettuce leaf and a pickle. You also get a bag of chips, a bottle of water, a cookie and a mini moon pie.

I don't know why Chickamauga is chose as a destination. There only 4-5 little stores there and only a couple that were actually open, and one is going out of business. One of the businesses was closed for a private party. Most all the other places were either closed (not open on Sundays), or they were law offices or insurance offices. There is a Mexican restaurant, but it had a very long wait time (would have missed the departure back to Chattanooga if anyone stayed to eat) There is a Domino's pizza there that was an alternative place to eat, I saw a few people with Domino's boxes. The trip itinerary lists an outdoor market, but I never even saw anything that resembled an outdoor market.
There were two food trucks, a BBQ one and an ice cream truck. I did get some ice cream from the truck and it was a nice perk to a depressed area. The train did stop at a section of the battlefield for about 30 minutes passengers to explore Wilder Tower. I did not get off the train because it had started to rain.

We did have a couple of interesting "adventures" if you want to even call them that. I The train came to a complete stop on the way to Chickamauga. We didn't know why we had stopped. We were in the middle of nowhere, with trees on either side of the tracks. The conductor told us there was a tree across the tracks and the were trying to clear it so we could pass. Took probably 10-15 minutes. Not a terrible delay, but definitely an interesting reason for a delay. The second misadventure, was the a/c went out in the coach car we were riding in. They did try to fix it, but discovered it was a broken belt and wouldn't be able to be fixed before returning to the depot.
They did try to accommodate passengers with medical needs for cooler cars first, and then offered remaining empty seats in the dining car. So big kudos for offering the cooler car.

In the end, it really wasn't worth the time or the money.

Very passionate and informed staff. Definitely a lot of history not only regarding trains but Chattanooga as well. The train station and passenger cars not only give you a recreation, but the experience of what things would have been like over 100+ years ago.

Copper Hill Fall Special. Nov 17, 2023

 We rode “first class” in the Dome car.  This was our third, most expensive,  and worst train ride experience.  The dome car is supposed to provide excellent views. The windows were filthy dirty. The windows above were covered in filth and mold .  The front and back windows were also filthy.  There was no seeing out of the back window.   There were three windows in our dome car which had actually been cleaned. Basically we paid for first class and had a MUCH WORSE THAN COACH experience.  How can you charge for a first class experience and not bother to clean the windows??  If you can’t clean the windows, then pull the dome car out of service. Everyone in our dome  at was complaining about the filth.   

What a disappointment. And worse, when the ride was almost complete the host starts begging for more money, and had the nerve to say that he could not get on top of the dome car to clean and needed money for an attachment so the windows could be cleaned. 

The whole point of the trip was sightseeing. 

It was an absolutely amazing experience. The volunteers and staff were great. This was the first train ride experience for my wife and I and we highly recommend it. We did the Copperhill Special on the Hiawassee River Scenic Railroad

We had a wonderful time on the way to Summerville from Chattanooga. Great food and the nicest staff ever. Unfortunately the return trip was extremely uncomfortable. Our car and dining car both experienced HVAC failure. I understand these issues can occur but we both got ill from the heat and couldn’t finish our lunch. For the cost of the trip, l would not recommend it to anyone during warm months. Had to be 80 degrees in the car during return. The staff worked hard to make the trip comfortable (even plugging in a rotating fan) but were unsuccessful due to no fault of their own. The engine was a real treat to see and we were happy it worked well. Half the trip was great but the return trip was really miserable.

I took my Mom on the Christmas Dinner Train they offer every year. It was the 1st time, and it was terrific! Such a unique experience, every attention to detail, a wonderful wait staff, a charming ambiance and it was definitely something I would recommend to anyone if they have the chance!

The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum seems like an interesting place to visit for train enthusiasts...but for a "magical ride to the North Pole"...not so much.

The train ride starts with mediocre cookies and hot cocoa being passed out to the passengers, followed by a Christmas story desperately used to create a hard-to-believe link between the dated train and the North Pole, and then a long but eventless ride to "The North Pole". Of course, there are no elves, no snow, and a few dilapidated buildings marked "Santa's Warehouse". The latter was missing panels with letters, so actually spelled "Santa's Ware_ouse".

You finally get to meet Santa, but the experience is believable only to the youngest of children (think less than 5 years old). This is followed by an anticlimactic ride back to the station in a barely climate-controlled train car, which includes handing out a single sleigh bell to each passenger and singing one carol (Jingle Bells).

While a conductor is dressed believably, no other staff are. The event was underwhelming, overpriced, and disappointing.

We rode in the Algonquin Park dome which had comfortable seats and a lower lounge area available. They provided drinks, snacks, and fresh coffee. All the staff were very nice, but the dome had crazing, so the view was very foggy making it impossible to see clearly and take pictures. The car was very cold so take a jacket. The commentary was good going, but we, unfortunately, sat on the right at first and could not see the main attractions. We switched sides as instructed when we started back and expected some commentary but got none which was very disappointing. It was a relaxing ride, but fall would be a better time to ride but not until they fix the plexiglass dome and improve the commentary.

the train ride was extremely slow and the view was ninety percent old run down buildings . It only three miles of natural scenery. My husband and I along with many other passengers were not impressed at all . Very disappointed in this train ride. Their website is very misleading in the train ride description.

Fun time, best for younger kids, Santa really spent good quality time with each of the kids even in the normal cars. The ride was fun, but piped music after the story would have added to the experience. We did afternoon, but the nighttime ride is probably cooler.