A unique line of artisan home furniture (desks, coffee table, wine rack and other) carved from century old rescued rails and railroad ties will be on display at Railfest. Each piece of the Rescued & Reused line is eco-friendly and has a unique history from Tennessee Coal & Iron Company rail dating back as far as 1906.
Rail Yard Studios, a Nashville-based furniture design company and byproduct of Railroad Services, a railroad contracting company, will have the display at Railfest, the Labor Day event that celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Tennessee Valley Rail Road Museum, also called Grand Junction, held at 4119 Cromwell Road.
The event will run Saturday-Monday, Sept. 3-5, 9:30 a.m.–6 p.m. most days. Call 894-8028 for more specific on hours and parking.
The initial collection is comprised of seating, desks, coffee tables, coat racks, and wine racks that are solid, stylish, yet practical. And every bit 100 percent made in the U.S.A. The wooden crossties are rescued timbers that avoided the creosote process because they were culled for imperfections (splits, excessive knots, bark seams.). The retired rail was destined for the scrap heap and the culled ties for the tie plant furnace before being rescued by Rail Yard Studios.
Each piece is a unique work and individually numbered with a railroad date nail – also salvaged.
The line has already been shown in several art galleries – The Rymer Gallery (Nashville) and Hunter Museum “Underground 2011” this past spring.
Company founder, Robert Hendrick, holds a Masters degree in Industrial Design from The Ohio State University. He works in the company with his father, Jim, a lifelong weekend woodworker. Jim’s father/Robert’s grandfather, worked for the Tennessee Coal & Iron Company from the 1920s to 1960s.
In addition to train rides, Railfest will offer live musical entertainment, children's activities, storytelling, on-site demonstrations and exhibits, festival food, more.