Kyle Shannon leans out of the of the window the front car of the newly restored No. 630 steam locomotive during the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum’s news conference regarding the 50th anniversary of the museum Wednesday at the TVRM Depot in Chattanooga. The refurbishing of the train took 11 years and $600,000 to bring it back to operating condition. The No. 630 was built in 1903.ON THE WEB
For more information about the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, including train departure times and a monthly calendar, go to www.tvrail.com
A shiny black steam engine spat black puffs of smoke into the air as Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum officials celebrated its 50th anniversary.
“It’s not often you get opportunity to celebrate 50 years,” said Bob Doak, president and CEO of the Chattanooga Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Doak was among more than a dozen visitors gathered at the museum Wednesday for the 50th anniversary of the largest operating historic railroad in the Southeast.
The museum grew from a seasonal hobby club that started in 1961 to a multimillion dollar enterprise that operates year-round, said museum President Tim Andrews.