The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum has announced its year Valentine Special rail excursion will run on Saturday, Feb. 11.
The special train will depart Grand Junction Station at 4119 Cromwell Road (Jersey Pike exit from Highway 153) in Chattanooga at 4:15 p.m., traveling at a leisurely pace to Chickamauga, skirting Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Military Park in the process and arriving in the Civil War town just before 6 p.m.
As time permits, passengers will be afforded an opportunity to explore the Walker County Regional History Museum now housed in the original 1890 railroad depot before being transported to the Gordon Lee Mansion where all will enjoy dinner in the dining hall on its historic grounds. Passengers may also elect to stroll the town enroute to the Mansion which is a short three-block walk.
Gordon Lee Mansion is an antebellum structure built by James Gordon between 1840 and 1847 and is the only area structure remaining from the Civil War. The Mansion was actually used during the war as a federal hospital. It is currently operated by the City of Chickamauga and was thoroughly restored in 1989 into its present state as a functioning bed and breakfast inn. It has been completely refurbished for future generations to enjoy, much the same as dedicated workers restore and operate vintage railway equipment at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum.
After the meal has been served and the Mansion toured, transportation will be provided (or passengers can take a walk) to the excursion train awaiting at Chickamauga’s rail depot. The train will depart Chickamauga a little after 7 p.m. and return to Chattanooga around 9 p.m.
As always, the Valentine excursion has been planned with couples in mind on this romantic holiday. Recorded music will be provided on board a table car as the train gently sways through Georgia and back into Tennessee. Refreshments and souvenirs will be available for purchase in the mid-train commissary car.
Coach tickets for the excursion and dinner are $73 each. Office car “Eden Isle” is offered for private charter representing the ultimate in railway travel. The cost of $1,220 allows a group of up to twelve persons in the car which boasts a dining room, three bedrooms, a lounge area and rear observation platform. Reservations can be made during regular business hours by calling TVRM at (423) 894-8028, extension zero.