Chris Parker and I got up at 5:30 AM so we could be at the Garden Restaurant when it opened. I ordered the Chattanooga Choo Choo Waffle that took only thirty minutes to get from the kitchen to my table. I picked up the hotel bill and returned the wireless device. Next we packed up the room and drove the car over by where the steam train would be coming into the Chattanooga Choo Choo to pick us up this morning. I walked the train to get the consist just before the steam engine would arrive. Our train had the ex United States Army 2-8-0 610, Water Tender 51, GP-7 1829, Open Window Coach 1000, Coaches 907 and 906 {Jim Crow}, Concession Car Emporium, RDC 22, Coach 3203, RDC 20, Southern Coach 1037, Traveler Fare 3148, Clover Colony Pullman and Eden Isle 98. This train is the longest ever operated by the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. By the time I had walked the train the steam engine arrived at the Choo Choo.
My first view of 2-8-0 610.
Terminal Tower.
Two more views of this coal burning locomotive.
View of Water Tender 51. I next boarded getting Chris and I seats in the Jim Crow Car ex Central of Georgia 906.
The plaque on the wall of Coach 906.
At 7:56 AM we departed for Summerville.
We would find photographers all down the line.
The train ran out to 23rd Street as we crossed over the CSX onto the Norfolk Southern.
Crossing the CSX onto the Norfolk Southern.
The train crossed Chattanooga Creek.
We then made a reverse move to gain access to the tracks to Summerville.
Almost onto our route for today.
The tracks we would be taking in a few minutes.
The 23rd Street Control Box. Once onto the Chattanooga & Chickamauga Railroad ex Central of Georgia tracks, Lookout Mountain came into view as the train run through Rossville.
A look down into the valley as the train climbed Missionary Ridge.
Kudzu plants invade and take over anything they can climb on or across.
Another view looking down.
More Kudzu growing out of control.
The train took a big Kudzu covered curve.
The train kept climbing up then over Missionary Ridge. The train passed the Wilder Tower in the Chickamauga Battlefield and National Cemetery. They then announced out first Photo Runby of the trip.
Central of Georgia "Jim Crow" Coach 906.
The back up move.
The train did Photo Ruby 1 north of Chickamauga. They announced that we would do it again and I moved.
The back up move.
The train did Photo Runby 2.
Rolling through the trees.
Going through the siding at Chickamauga.
The station building at Chickamauga. We all reboarded the train and I suddenly was dead tired so I curled up on our coach seats and took a brief nap. It helped plenty. I was back sitting upright by Lafayette as we ran by the Lafayette Airport. Before we arrived at Trion, our next Photo Runby in the town park at Trion.
The ex United States Army 2-8-0 610.
TVRM GP-9 1829.
Two more views of TVRM 610.
The reverse move.
The train did Photo Runby 3.
A view between the photo runbys.
The back up move.
The train did Photo Runby 4. Once back onboard, I called Let's Talk Trains, the Internet Radio Show, and caught them up on my new stories and this trip so far. All too soon we arrived into Summerville at 1:52 PM where our engines would be turned on the turntable there. Since we saw the TVRM 2-8-0 610 get turned on the turntable two days ago, Chris and I decided to get lunch. Using the map and asking a local resident we found the perfect place to eat.
A look back down to the train in Summerville.
Pop's Place had an all you can eat buffet for $7.10. It was excellent.
The main drag in Summerville with a friendly coke machine. We walked back down to the station.
Summerville Station.
TVRM GP-9 1829.
The engine in behind the Summerville Station sign and concrete phone booth.
Two views of TVRM 2-8-0 610.
Our steam engine crew.
The back of the Summerville Station.
Wesley Ross and Steve Barry, of Railfan Magazine, who set up all the Photo Runby locations and did a great job of controlling them along with another fan. I seeked the cool air of our passenger car that I had everyone pull the shades down before they detrained in order to keep it cool for our afternoon return.
Dawn Holmberg in the cab of TVRM 610.
Car Host Cary Atkinson, a TVRM Volunteer.
The Flag of Summerville which reads "A Town with a Past.....A City with a Future! Our train departed Summerville at 4:11 PM
Crossing the Chattooga River.
The Lafayette Airport.
A milepost sign.
A derailed car before we passed through Lafayette.
Columbus & Greenville GP-11 1804 at Lafayette.
The Lafayette Station. We paused for the final Photo Runby of the 2007 NRHS Convention at Rock Springs.
The back up move.
The train did Photo Runby 5.
A look at a well run photo line.
Back through the forest.
Swamps as we neared Chickamauga.
A yard limit sign for Chickamauga.
The train crossed Chickamauga Creek.
Dropping down Missionary Ridge.
Passing all the Kudzu as we dropped.
They make interesting pictures but are hell to the trees.
A look down into the valley. I was then given a tour of the First Class Cars by Wesley Ross.
Travelers Fare Diner.
The Pullman Clover Colony.
The inside of the Eden Isle 98 with a passenger enjoying it. I walked back to my seat. It was announced that Norfolk Southern would run our train straight into the Chattanooga Choo Choo.
Crossing straight across at 23rd Street. I said my goodbyes to everyone in my car before we arrived at the Chattanooga Choo Choo at 8:25 PM ending another fabulous NRHS 2007 Convention in Chattanooga.
Everyone now heads their own way as Chris and I head to the car. It took quite a while to get out of the parking lot due to all the foot traffic.
One last look at our NRHS 2007 Summerville Steam Train. I now had an Amtrak train to catch, but that is yet another story.
