TVRM Diesel Locomotive
The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum still has tickets available for this year's Valentines Day Special rail excursion to run on Friday, Feb. 13.
The special train will depart Grand Junction Station at 4119 Cromwell Road (Jersey Pike exit from Highway 153) in Chattanooga at 3:30 p.m. and will travel at a leisurely pace to Chickamauga, skirting Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Military Park in the process, arriving in the quaint Civil War town just after five o'clock.
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 Lee and Gordon's Mill where all will be served a buffet dinner in the dining hall on the Mill grounds.
Lee and Gordon's Mill is an antebellum structure built in 1836 which once again is fulfilling its original purpose of using water power to produce corn meal.
The mill was at one time owned by former Chickamauga Mayor Frank Pierce who completed a thorough restoration of the historic building in the 1990's and now stands as a relic from the past for future generations to enjoy.
After the meal has been served and the Mill toured, transportation will be provided 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.
Refreshments and souvenirs will be available for purchase in the mid-train commissary car.
Coach tickets for the excursion and dinner are $71 each, and limited deluxe accommodations are available in Pullman car "Clover Colony."
Semi-private seating in a Pullman section is $79 per person and Office car "Eden Isle" is offered for private charter representing the ultimate in railway travel. The cost of $1,050 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.