The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum announces Founders Day 2019 events. There will be a special Dinner Train inaugurating the newest dining car into service: Cross Keys Tavern on Friday, Sept. 6.
The $90 ticket for the dedication ceremony of Cross Keys Tavern includes the ribbon cutting at 5:15 p.m., 5:45 p.m. boarding Cross Keys Tavern for champagne toast, 6 p.m. dinner train departs with a three-course meal and a day pass for the Saturday events.
The Founders Day event on Saturday, Sept. 7, will begin at 9 a.m. and will run all day at Grand Junction Station. The day will include special double-steam engine Missionary Ridge Local trips offering patrons a rare opportunity to purchase cab rides in both engines on the same day. Steam engines 4501 and 630 will be trading out lead positions every other trip.
The Missionary Ridge Local train departs from Grand Junction Station at 4119 Cromwell Road, Sept. 7 at 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. and includes turn table demonstration as well as a tour of the restoration facility Soule Shops.
Live music will be provided by The Lawmen and they will be on site as well as visiting the Norfolk Southern 911 engine. Other equipment not normally open to the public will be on display. Also included in the events will be guided tours of equipment throughout the display yard at Grand Junction. A $25 day pass allows patrons to ride any and all Missionary Ridge Local rides on Saturday. Single trips are $18 for adults and $12 for children.
For those only wishing to come and view events there is a $5 grounds pass.
The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum is the largest operating historical museum in the Southeast. The mission is to collect for the preservation, operation, interpretation, and display of railroad artifacts in an authentic setting. By providing a historic experience, TVRM hopes to educate visitors about the importance of the railroad industry and how it helped create the modern world in which we live. Visit online at tvrail.com or call 894-8028 for tickets and information for Founder’s Day and other year round trips.