Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum will offer the first Chickamauga Turn train ride of the season on Saturday.
The trip leaves Grand Junction Station, 4119 Cromwell Road, at 10 a.m. and returns around 4:15 p.m. It includes a 1-hour, 45-minute layover to explore downtown Chickamuga, Ga., and a shorter layover at Wilder Tower at Chickamauga Battlefield. A uniformed Civil War re-enactor rides the train to point out areas of interest, such as the pre-Civil War Missionary Ridge Tunnel.
“Please note that this trip is primarily about the train ride experience and the historic nature of the route and destination,” TVRM officials said on the Web site. “The scenery along the route is secondary as portions of the line traverse a diverse variety of views into Americana.”
Passengers are welcome to be bring picnics (tables can be found at Crawfish Springs Park in Chickamauga); purchase food at the Grand Junction Depot Deli before departure; search out one of the restaurants in town; or upgrade to dining-car service and eat in the train’s historic rail car.
Cost for standard ticketing is $33 for adults and $25 for children age 3-12. Cost for the upgrade is $53 for adults and $41 for children age 3-12. Lunch in the dining car is served from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and includes homemade soup and a baked turkey and Swiss cheese croissant.
Smoking, alcoholic beverages and pets are not allowed on the train.
The Chickamauga Turn repeats most Saturdays through Sept. 25 (no trips on April 94 or May 1 during Day Out With Thomas).
To reserve tickets, call 894-8028 or visit www.tvrail.com.