We absolutely loved the polar express train ride!! This is great for smaller kids (maybe 9 and under). We boarded at our set time, they punched our tickets just like in the movie polar express (thought it was a cute touch), the staff was friendly, we had hot chocolate, they gave out cookies, they played Christmas song, and took us to the North Pole where the kids got to see and wave to Santa and Mrs. Claus. It was the perfect holiday activity. I enjoyed myself and my kids loved it.

We enjoyed our 1.5 hour ride last week. Great to see the restoration of the engines and train cars. Highly recommend especially if you have children that can't ride the longer train excursions offered. The historic depot was beautiful and spotless. Very welcoming staff behind the original ticket counter which gave a hint of nostalgia. The ride was smooth and conductor was excellent in speaking clearly of the history of Chattanooga and train travel in the area. Yes, we would recommend.

My wife and I took the New Year's Eve train ride as part of our honeymoon. We dressed up, as did most who were in the train. We enjoyed the ride, the food, and the service. The servers and conductor were very nice and informative of the train cars and their history. Dinner consisted of rolls, tomato bisque soup, an entree, and a dessert. I ordered baked salmon with a roasted red pepper sauce and my wife had the roast beef. The sides were mashed potatoes and green beans. Both entrees were good, but we preferred the salmon to the roast beef. For dessert, I had apple pie and my wife had triple chocolate cake (the other option was cheesecake with strawberries). The wife liked the apple pie so much she requested apple pie instead of the chocolate cake. Our server was very kind bringing out the extra dessert with no issue. The ride itself lasted about two and a half hours. The station had their own light display and there were several places through town that still had Christmas lights. We both enjoyed the experience and have expressed interest in doing a train ride again in the future. We would recommend it.

This was the most wonderful day! The conductors were all very attentive to what was going on and wanted to make sure we were all having fun and were safe. The whole day was just wonderful. Five hours seems to be a long time but it was so scenic and entertaining. We got a history lesson along the way! Conductors were great and one gave us a banjo concert!

Had a fun time! The "museum exhibit" seems to be a work in progress, but had some neat information. We took the 55 minute train ride. It was informative (narrated) and fairly quick on the way to East Chattanooga. It was not narrated and seemed a bit slower on the return trip. Train enthusiasts will enjoy seeing and riding the locomotive and hearing the history was a fun bonus. We went ahead and bought the season pass and look forward to returning for subsequent trips!

Very friendly staff who were energetic to serve and make your experience the best it could be. We went for the tea and lunch. It was really a lovely atmosphere and delicious finger foods and desserts. The tea was excellent. The offered 5 options and you can choose two. The tea pots were all unique. Each tea cup was also unique and they set a lovely table. Foods were small portions and just a wonderful variety. The train ride was a nice length and the gentleman giving info did a good job. We stopped and observed the train table turn the engine around. We got to see the maintenance shed where they are restoring and maintaining. All around a great time for a couple or a family outing.

Wonderful trip. Leaves were changing colors and we're absolutely stunning. The train ride was very comfortable. We took a picnic lunch and snacks along with a lot of other passengers. Commentary was full of so many interesting stories and facts about the area and history of the train. We had some delightful halftime entertainment. Train employees went out of their way to make our trip enjoyable. Highly recommend this excursion.

My family and I went to the Tea Room and had a wonderful time! The food and tea was exceptional! The hostess, servers and chef was amazing. I wish I could do this every month! My mother said it was like a mini vacation. The train ride was fun too! We actually got off the train to see them turn it around! Overall I give it a 10/10!

We took the North Pole/ Train Ride. Employees were Kind, Courteous, and Helpful. My Grandson (3 yrs) Loved it and had a blast (just because he was finally on a train). For the Teens/ Adults there wasn't much to see except for trees and some dilapidated Scrap Trains. Displays along the way were mediocre at best. Santa's workshop was cool to see, but because of "COVID" could not be visited with (which is understandable). The Train ride back was even worse because the Train was put in Reverse and backed up the Tracks. Overall it's Fun for the Little Train enthusiast but way too hyped up for Adults to enjoy. I wish I could have rated this higher, but the Price for what you got was not worth it.

The kids thoroughly enjoyed the train ride to the North Pole. Santa couldn't get on because of covid. The hot choc was delicious along with the chocolate chip cookies. We received bells and an ornament for the tree. Everyone was smiling. Highly recommend for the family. We had so much room for our group of 5. Pretty much the whole back of the car.

Great experience, we did the 1 hour train ride to the turn table. It was really cool to ride with a steam engine and a super bonus was the air conditioned cars to escape the heat. The turn table is mind blowing that you can move that much weight. We also go some great photos when the next steam train left due to the Y turn it has to do by the station/parking lot.

Great experience! My wife & i had a great time, we enjoyed every moment. Everyone was very friendly, knowledgeable' & respectful. Very relaxing ride. Great way to end our week in Tennessee & a great start to the Mother's day weekend. I will be sure to tell my friends when i get home. Thank you! "Tennessee Valley Railroad" 🙏🏾🥰👍🏽

Justin did a great job narrating the tour. This is a great experience for somebody who wants to have a nice short train ride and be able to watch how they turn a train around. There are both air conditioned and non air conditioned cars. The car without air conditioning has Windows that can open. It is just the right amount of time for those to get the train ride experience but short enough that little children will not become impatient. We thoroughly enjoyed it and would do it again. Also they started on time and were prompt. Buying the tickets online was quick and easy and when we arrived they actually had tickets printed out for us.

We took the 11 am train for a round trip. It was very easy to prebook our tickets online and printed the email to receive hard copy tickets at the train station. We got there early to look at all the trains in the area and the gift shop. There is a snack bar with food which you can bring drinks and snacks onto the train. The gift shop had great little things for anyone that loves all things train related. Next once the train pulled into the station we got to line up outside and get our tickets punched. There are two options an a/c train and open window train section which because of the temperature we picked the first one. We had an employee sit with us in the cart to give us a tour when we rode. At the end of the line we get off and tour that area and turn the train around. It is fun to watch this as only a few places still do this. Then we ride back. Overall I was very pleased with the whole event. Very relaxing and fun for all ages. I would recommend it.

I really enjoyed this train ride. I was up in the dome and loved the view! It was especially pretty with all the changing leaves. The narrator/guide/entertainer was so fun and animated! I loved how he explained everything and that he would tell us car by car when to be on the lookout for what was coming up. He definitely kept it fun! It's a bit of a long ride at just around 4 hours but it was worth it. It's very nice that snacks are included in the dome seat price. I will be back :)

We took this trip for my birthday. This train ride extended to Copper Hill where my mother’s family come from. The ride was interesting 1/2 way with the conductor giving information about the areas we would pass. The last 1/2 of the ride you were on your own. The speed of the train was a slow pace to me which made it feel like a long ride. On way back, the first 1/2 was quite time and last 1/2 the conductor spoke again and played the banjo for us. We are history buffs so we enjoy taking in the info. I think it would be cool to have old movies of the mines and mountains we traveled. That’s just us.. I read one review and they complained about too much talking on mic and they couldn’t talk or sleep. I guess each to his own.. but we really enjoyed it and the people are really trying hard to keep a part of this history alive. We are thankful for the opportunity to have traveled in a time of the past..Thank all of you on the train for what you do.

Awesome experience. The ride was fantastic. The historical info awesome. Looking forward to the Etowah loop ride. My children's great grandfather drove that train backwards down the loop in the 1920's.

Riding the dinner train was an unforgettable experience. The servers were exceptional and the food was absolutely delicious. I consider this experience a MUST whether you are a local or a tourist.

My husband and I recently celebrated our anniversary by taking the Dinner Train. We loved it!!! Read below for our experience. The one thing I will note is that it is dark outside during the fall dinner train. You can only see out the windows when you go through a well lit are which isn’t often. This experience was SO fun. We didn’t know what to expect and were more than pleasantly surprised. The staff was outstanding. From check in to boarding to the servers...every one was friendly and went the extra mile to make sure we enjoyed ourselves. They have done an excellent job at maintaining the train cars while preserving the look of the time period. Even the music was from the early 1900s. The vibe was just fun! The food was good and the portions were the perfect size for one person. My husband loved the salmon. I enjoyed the stuffed chicken. We sat across from a lovely couple and enjoyed talking to them throughout the night. With social distancing in place, they were seating one family per table. My husband and I were the only two at a table for 4. We had plenty of room. Make sure to gets lots of pictures at the rail yard before you board as well as pictures during the trip. Oh, and take time to explore the other train cars. That was neat too!

The website clearly stated that we would experience a 1 HOUR train ride. At $84 for 4 people, I thought that was reasonable. However, after riding on the train for less than 10 min, we stopped to turn the train around so we could head back to the station. So, all in all, we rode the train for LESS THAN 20 MINUTES!! The website is very misleading because it clearly states that the train ride was from 11:30-12:30. We were very disappointed at the false advertising and misleading information.

Nice experience for the kids (missionary ridge) but I suggest a longer trip to get your money's worth. The train drives 10 minutes stops at a station, everyone gets out to watch it turn around/restroom breaks, then gets back on to drive 10 minutes back.

This was our first time on the Christmas ride and it was lovely. The staff were all warm, welcoming, and ready to assist. The gift shop has something for everyone. There were lights everywhere to see. The train ride itself was so much fun. You get used to the wobble after a time and getting to explore the cars for a history glimpse was timeless. My only complaint was that the roast beef was very dry. The chicken was amazing and I highly recommend it. All together, despite the pricey tag, we will come back next year.

We enjoyed the North Pole Express with my two-year-old daughter. She loved everything from the lights to the cookies and cocoa, and most of all the sighting of Santa & Mrs. Clause at the North Pole. I recommend doing this with children old enough to sit still for a little while between sights and activities but young enough not to question all the details. It was very magical for her. Using the website to buy tickets was easy, email communication was thorough, staff was helpful and great with the kiddos, and they kept them busy enough between sights with refreshments (cookies and cocoa) and activities (such as writing a letter to Santa). There were restrooms available, unlike I saw in another comment. The North Pole really could use some fixing up, as it seemed a bit run-down, but those details were certainly lost on my toddler. Oh, and adults get refreshments also, and those chocolate chip cookies were GOOD Overall great experience to do once with your little ones!

This is my 3rd year riding the Christmas Train! We love it! This year both our parents came with us, they are in their 80’s, and they loved it! It is fun for young and old. Our grandkids look forward to it every year 😊. The Elves on the train make the ride so much fun! We are all excited to get our bell and our wooden ornament for our tree. Santa and Mrs Clause are amazing, they interact so much with the children and even older passengers. The Elves will even take pictures with your phone for you. I would definitely recommend this as a new family Christmas tradition.

The train was nice. They had an air conditioning side and a non-air conditioning side. This is a great family adventure. Just a few minutes off of i-75 well worth the detour. The real cars are all refurbished old post 1930 rail cars. The trip on the local is about 15 minutes each way and has a great historic tour to go long with it. The museum itself does not have a lot of exhibits, but a nice little quick walkthrough is worth it. The gift shop in Deli is good. Follow us for more great reviews ™

What a COOL experience! We rode the Evening Ridge Runner and I could have stayed on the train and rode back and forth, all night. There is such a deep sense of nostalgia induced by riding in the open air 1925 passenger car and hearing the 100 year old steam engine blow its horn as it pulled us along. The bridges were awesome. The tunnel was awesome. I loved it all. 100% I’ll be back from FL to take some the other rides offered.

We went on the Missionary Ridge trip. It was very educational and well worth the price. Comfy seating, beautiful views, historical facts, and sneak peeks at restoration projects! There are picnic tables outside that are also a perfect place to sit and watch the trains go by, which is often.

My daughter and I had a lovely time riding the train, visiting the machine shop, and learning the history of Chattanooga's Missionary Ridge tunnel. Top notch museum of train cars outside too. Highly recommend this stop! Extra special for me was riding on a car that was built the year after my grandparents were born and knowing that they used to take the same train sometimes.

Such a fabulous experience this evening during the Dinner on the Diner trip. Booked online and was such an easy process. Received an email earlier today reminding us with additional helpful info. Arrived at the station and were quickly checked in and then boarded. Did notice that they also made arrangements for another guest to be picked up on the ramp after most boarded, so I would assume that means they are very understanding of guests with mobility issues. ❤️ Our table had the beef and salmon options and they were very good. Salmon was different than I expected but in a good (and unique!) way. Mashed potatoes were excellent! Our service was amazing! Drinks were continually refilled and while we opted out of coffee with dessert, many around us partook, and they offered cream as well. Dessert was the 'icing on the cake' and well received all around. Glad we went during the summer when everything was green but recommend going for the experience of eating on the train and ambience, not the scenery. Although the kids loved seeing several deer and fawns. So glad we got do this!

This was such an enjoyable experience. Of course the views are amazingly beautiful. The tour was so calming and relaxing.The guides give you a description of what you’re seeing as well go into the history of the railroad. They are very friendly. The do have snacks available for purchase but I think when I come back in October for the fall foliage ride ( decided this while riding ) I will bring a sandwich .

Our family of 5 had the most wonderful time combining the train ride with the Homefront tea experience. Everything was delicious starting with the cinnamon plum tea all the way down to the food and treats. The highlight of the whole experience for our 3 teenage kids was getting to go out the back of the train door to the outside area while going through the tunnel. So fun!!! We will be back for another ride soon!! We highly recommend the whole experience!! Thank you to all the employees for making this a memorable time for us all.

I enjoyed the entire experience. Everyone working there was happy and helpful. The visitors - kids, couples parents, and grandparents - were happy too. The train ride was great, and the back shop and exhibit areas were equally great. Everything on display was well chosen, well displayed, and well described. If this is not already the #1 attraction in Chattanooga, it should be

I went on the Evening Ridge Runner run. It was supposed to be the 4501 engine, but it had to be replaced with the 630. It actually meant we got to ride behind an even older engine from 1904. The entire staff was great, very friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. You get a nice history lesson while riding down the tracks being pulled by an engine that was built almost 120 years ago. I recommend booking online in advance, well in advance if you want something like the dinner trip. I didn't and it wasn't available during my trip. They say the specialty trips book fast and I can see why.

Whew had a great time visiting the Tennessee Valley Railroad. My kids loved it, even with all the Covid rules. The train ride was great and relaxing, they loved going through the tunnel. One of the best parts was taking a nickel and putting it on the track while the engine changed direction. We will be coming back.

My boyfriend and I went on the dinner ride tonight. It was wonderful. The food was delicious. The salmon was the best I've ever eaten, not kidding. Tomato bisque soup, omg, so good. Dessert was great, as well. Our waiters were Brock & Charles. They were very attentive.

The most incredible experience! Nicholas (@ the ticket booth/depot), and both conductors David Johnston and Zach were so accommodating, kind, and helpful. They made the trip as amazing as they could! HIGHLY recommend to any family!! Can't wait to come back for the North Pole train!

We did the Hiwassee Train Loop and it was awesome! Wasn't boring at all and the views were awesome. The conductor was very knowledgeable and kept it entertaining during the ride up with the historical information. The conductor playing a banjo on the way back was also awesome! Definitely recommend it.

I always wanted to ride on a train! This was so fun! 4 hour ride - Hiawasse Loop. I went on Halloween & I dressed in Halloween attire. I think I was the only one dressed for Halloween, besides the awesome staff. Everyone was so nice & friendly! Social Distancing measures in place, complimentary snacks, lots of history. Beautiful views!!! I visited from GA. I plan on going back again soon!

Very nice elves and rail road workers. They helped the kids forget about covid for an hour. It sucked nit being able to meet Santa ang go to his work shop but they made it work for them.

Really enjoyed our New Years Eve dinner train! The food was great and so was the service! Jim Jordan our server was awesome and made the experience even more memorable! We will definitely be booking more train rides in the future! Found a new tradition!!!

Just an awesome day with the grandson. We plan on going back soon

Our three-year-old is an absolute train lover, so we've done a variety of different train experiences. This was probably my and my husband's favorite one. Our guide, Zach, was wonderful. He shared some really interesting information. The highlight was definitely watching the turntable and then watching the train re-couple afterwards. We'll definitely be back, hopefully after COVID to see more exhibits.

My fiance and I had a wonderful experience! We took an hour train ride to East Chattanooga and back. ( 1/18/21) The staff was incredibly welcoming. The lady in the cafe was extremely accommodating and the cinnamon roll was delicious! The young lady at the entrance was very kind and the gentleman who ran and boarded the train were phenomenal! We will be visiting again!

Train history is always fascinating, there's a lot here, wish they did a little more.

Great unique experience. Reasonable price. We went in January when there wasn't any foliage so I would love to go back in the different seasons. Just long enough to keep young ones interested. Enjoyed all the local and train history that was shared by the conductor and seeing the switch yard in action.

Disappointed because of Covid. What a great place to visit a lot of history, and a great time.

Great experience! Very cool place! Nice Train ride and lots of Train and Railroad History! Will definitely go back for one of the longer rides ,we did the missionary ridge ride this time.

We had a great time with our grandsons!

We only took the 1 hour trip but it was nice to take the kids for a quick trip.

Nice little ride. Ride was only 25 min total the and back 3 miles

We just came to see the trains and it wasn’t worth the trip. Based on the other reviews it seems like the train rides are the big draw, but unfortunately they were sold out. I’d come back for a train ride, but the “museum” didn’t have much to see.

We went during the pandemic, so we were unable to get the full experience. However, if you are looking to blow a couple hours off and learn a little local history, it's a nice little side trip.

We went during pandemic so some of the things you could normally do were unavailable. However, it was a good way to spend a couple of hours and learn a little of the local history.

Loved it!! Definitely recommend it.

Love the train ride and all the history

My wife enjoyed the evening ride my wife enjoyed her dinner I did not like the Salmon I think they may speak about certain history areas you pass on the ride.

Even with the COVID restrictions we had a great time on the North Pole Limited! It has become a yearly family tradition to ride. This place never ceases to accommodate, overdue themselves each year and always show great hospitality from the conductors the train car assistants to the very awesome ladies in the deli.... the staff alone will make your experience extra special!!

Due to covid restrictions on the North Pole Express we could not interact with Santa, but saw him and ms. Clause outside the the train.. It was an amazing experience for us all. Definitely plan to do it again.

Really enjoyed the trip to north pole with my wife and son. Will cherish these memories

Kids love this train ride.

Great job

My kids loved it..

This was a surprise to go to! The North Pole Limited was nice! We got to ride on the train and have Hot Chocolate and cookies. It was a great experience.

Had an awesome time

Great place. Everyone is so kind. Grandchildren from Illinois, came to ride the train.

Despite COVID restrictions, this was such a great experience! Funny conductors, great history lessons, comfy seating, and an operating wheelhouse viewing experience! Great scenery as well, and our 20-month old absolutely loved it! The Christmas decor was an added bonus!

Fun time for all ages!

The facility is clean, the trains are well kept, the history is shared abundantly, and the trainmaster and personnel are very friendly and informative. We enjoyed a quite Sunday afternoon ride!

My child had a blast her on her birthday today! Olivia with customer service did a wonderful job honoring our coupons. Cannot recommend this for children enough!

Always love to take the grandkids here. The two yr old got to go this time and loved it! Even the bigger kids love to take a train ride! If you get a chance to take family, it is a great place to visit.

Ride was short and not a lot of information.

Always enjoy the train ride .every one there is so polite and nice they all make sure that everyone is comfortable and the ride is so relaxing

This was a wonderful experience. The Christmas Dinner Train was something we had not ever done and I think we picked the perfect railway. It was great and the wait staff was superb and the food was just amazing!!!!

Had a wonderful time on the train ride. Looking forward to doing it again for years to come.

Great family experience! The staff was very friendly and kind to us. Highly recommend for all families.

Took our granddaughters to the north pole. Everyone was very nice & friendly.

Great ride for all good little boys and girls. Saw Santa and Mrs. Clause. Had cookies and hot chocolate! Good time.

Wow, such a WONDERFUL experience! From the time we arrived until we departed was outstanding. The food and service was even better than we expected. The staff was amazing! It's definitely something we will do again soon. My chicken was really good but my husband's salmon was incredible! Thank you for a fabulous Valentines dinner.

This year was our second Valentine train trip. It was wonderful and romantic. In 2021due to covid-19 only had half the passagers which was nice;however, hard on the waitstaff. The staff is great. When you go bring cash to tip for the great service.

We took my 4 year old nephew and family for a train ride and it was wonderful. The staff there is top notch and did everything possible to make our ride fun. Its not a long ride ( which is perfect for little ones), but its full of history so adults enjoy the ride as well. I would recommend this historic adventure to anyone.

We have went on the Valentine’s Dinner train several times and each time has been a wonderful experience.

Ok, you might be thinking if it is worth going to get the free view. It is! If you have time, go in and walk around, if more time ride the train. Bi if you looking for a drive by you will find many trains in plain sight for enjoyment. Look at the way we used to travel and enjoy the variety of cars!

My husband and I did the Valentine's-themed dinner train and really enjoyed it. The COVID-19 precautions were excellent and I felt very safe. The food was delicious, and the staff was very friendly. Very fun for a special occasion.

Great fun for preschool railroad engineer types. Ride was narrated well by conductor and history lesson was fantastic for adults. Shame that Covid has to hinder full experience! Would definitely do again!

My family and I got a chance to ride the North Pole Limited train. The Christmas lights and decorations leading up to the North Pole were amazing! Unfortunately, we did not get to meet Santa in person because of Covid, but the rest of the ride did not disappoint. Our train attendant, Kaylee was an absolute gem. She was so sweet and friendly. My granddaughter thought Mrs. Kaylee was one of Santa's angels because she gave her cookies and hot cocoa. We will definitely go again next year! Hopefully Kaylee will still be there; Prayerfully Covid will have resigned:)

I was there not long ago and I enjoyed it it was a long but fun ride

Beautiful Scenic Trail ride in great sure God full of History

“WONDERFUL VALENTINES DAY EXPERIENCE!” “WIFE AND I ENJOYED THE DINNER TRAIN AND ALL THE BEAUTIFUL DECOR.” “WONDERFUL STAFF AND HOSPITALITY.” DHHG MMXXI

It was kinda of disappointing .. but to see all the old trains not in use anymore . It's a train grave yard . Dont go expecting a museum because there isn't one.

We did the regular 55 minute train ride and it was just long enough that my 4 year old didn't get bored. The turntable demonstration was pretty cool. I think it's a little over priced but it was pretty cool.

You aren't able to go inside any of the trail cars. You were only able to see outside. entrance is only $5, but not worth that.

Was a great experience for the whole family. We all thoroughly enjoyed this on our vacation. Zach did a great job as tour guide.

The best working rail museum I've been to. I doubt you will find better in the entire country. They have a lot of track (50 miles IIRC) that they can use for weekend rides on a REAL steam train. I highly recommend coming here if you want to see a real steam engine in action.

Super nice static displays.

Great place and very friendly

Fun experience for the whole family! Kids will love this and parents will get to relax while riding a train for one hour! We got to ride up to “The North Pole” and got to pass Santa and Mrs. Clause. Little cookies, hot chocolate, and a little jingle bell was given out. Family pictures could be taken in the train. A letter to Santa was also given out to be filled out and placed in the mailbox to Santa at the train station! There were cute North Pole tickets given to board the train. The train depot was super cute and decorated for Christmas. It is definitely a cute experience that I would highly suggest! Make sure to remember the time change! We came from Nashville and they were so accommodating to get us on the next time slot since we missed our original time due to traffic!

If you are searching for a family friendly way to fully immerse yourself in the Holiday spirit, this should be your first choice. Every demographic was represented. My wife and I had the HollyDome tickets and were surrounded by other couples and young families with children. From the start it was a wonderful experience. From hot cocoa to impromptu Christmas sing a longs, to Holiday stories and pics with SANTA it was a great time. We will definitely do this again (and intend to try out the other trips as well!)

This is one of the best experiences I've had in a long long time. I really love Train rides. The TV rail has a lot of options for how long you want to ride and I chose the 4.5 hour one that does the Hiwassee loop. It's so beautiful! I have no words to describe it and even the photos I took don't do it justice. I wanted to see fall colors but I went too early (the 2nd weekend of October). Fall colors through the valley would be the best experience ever! The crew on board are retired Service men and they do a wonderful job of getting everyone seated, talking about the history of the railway line, and entertaining in general. I wish I knew before I got on, I never carry money. I would suggest that you carry money for tips at the end of the ride. The TV rail museum tours are non profit and these tips help them get better equipment and maintain the lines so that we can enjoy the beauty of the Tennessee valley. I will definitely visit again next year (I didn't get any tickets during the fall colors season this year). The whole 4 hour trip is a wonderful experience and worth the time and money.

The train ride we took was the missionary ridge local, for the ride being short on mileage it gave a lot of history and the turntable demonstration and back shop tours were nice. I’m very great full I was able to get photos of the 630 and 4501. My only wish of improvement would be the website, no where was I able so see what days the steam motive power operated on, I understand there might be a last minute change but this would be nice to know. (The 4501/630 seem to operate on the weekends only.) Otherwise this was a nice experience with the ride, museum, and exhibits.

Came for the afternoon tea and trains ride, and had an absolutely wonderful and delightful time. Tea was every bit as elegant and delicious as we hoped. The selection of food and drink was great. Service was above and beyond. The train ride was a lot of fun, with great guides. Will absolutely bring more family here again!

The depot had a great deli menu and lots of options for a sweet treat. The facility was clean and the staff were friendly and helpful. I gave it a 3 star rating because I don't think it was interesting or a good value for my money. I knew it was a historic ride and not a scenic one but I expected to see some pretty scenery on the way. The bridge in the picture I posted was the best of the 3 bridges.

The tour was very educational! It was the first time our children rode a train, so it was especially fun for them. Our Conductor was very knowledgeable about the history of the Tennessee Valley Railroad, and gave us a lot of great historical facts during the train ride and the demonstrations. It was a very nice visit. We will be sure to return for more train tours in the future!

We love The Hiwassee River Scenic Railroad! It's a fantastic ride for the whole family. Everyone with the Tennessee Valley Railroad is so friendly and helpful, and we loved every second spent with them. The scenery is absolutely beautiful. Schedule a trip, and you will not regret it!

Took the Hiawassee loop trail and it was awesome. Will definitely be back for more. The cars were climate controlled and it was neat and clean. Live learning the history if the railway and the cars. Worth it and can't wait to do it again.

We enjoyed our ride on the TVRailroad. Missionary Ridge. It was a wonderful educational ride. We saw a locomotive turned! Amazing! We watched a steam engine connect to our cars! It was a Great experience! Thank you Tennessee Valley Railroad! Thank you to all those that made our experience so memorable!! A trip worth taking for all ages!!!

My kids and I love to visit and support railroads on our travels, especially those running steam. Our time was brief, so we rode the Missionary Ridge Local behind stream locomotive #4501. The trip was short at just under an hour round trip but interesting. We would love to take a longer excursion if we're ever in the area again.

We always love coming to the TVRM and riding the train. We enjoyed all the things there with our children from the mid 1980's to today with our grandchildren. It's a great historical and fun time together. The staff are very friendly and the facilities are in step with the age of steam and early diesel. Don't miss this opportunity. We returned on Saturday to ride the steam train. Great time together. The Singer's.

Rarely have I been moved to tears by an experience. This train tunneled through my soul and childhood memories like a mole. The sound and sight of the approaching locomotive give you chills, the bell, followed by the whistle, make your emotional bubble burst. What a grand piece of engineering! The human brain is capable of such amazing things...

Our first experience at the museum was Saturday, with a family group of ten, ranging in ages from 4 to 70! It was the first train ride for several, and it revived happy memories for the experienced rail travelers. The narration was great, just enough info and with some great jokes. The turntable demonstration was impressive. We all found appropriate souvenirs, and we are interested in returning for a dining experience. With a 3 hour commute, we will definitely have to plan ahead. The tea might be another option to consider. I was SO glad we scheduled on Saturday and were able to ride on the train drawn by the steam locomotive! I would enjoy a return trip to spend more time in the museum I HIGHLY recommend this destination!

I did the Missionary Ridge Local and it was definitely the best train ride. Not crowded at all and watching the diesel locomotive on the turn table was awesome! I'd recommend this experience to anyone that loves trains. They also have an informative museum as well.

Outstanding tour, phenomenal trains, super friendly staff. This is a ‘must-do’ if you’re anywhere near the area. Kids of all ages will love it. I’m a big railroad buff and watching a steam engine on the turntable was a first time thrill for me. I can’t recommend a visit and a ride enough. Make sure you don’t miss the exhibits set up in a separate building. You will not be disappointed!

Took my parents (dad loves trains) and we loved it. We rode the Missionary Ridge and they had hooked up the steam engine which was nice. The gift shop and deli were very nice and all staff were great! We didn't get to see the turn table in action but that was okay. A 120 year old steam engine can be quite finicky. 😁

Took my wife here for her birthday, she loves trains! We took out kids and our nephews along with some good friends to join in on the adventure. Very informative guide answers all your questions. Some great scenery and nice bridge crossing. Don't forget to stop bu the little cafeteria for some great food as well.

My 2 sisters and I got these tickets for our mom (the train lover) and we made a weekend girls trip. We had a wonderful time and would highly recommend going on this and any other train ride by these people. They were super nice and very informative during our trip. It was very enjoyable!! Great scenery, smooth ride and all around wonderful trip!

The ride on the Summerville Steam was an exciting one! We loved everything. The train is majestic. Her looks and sound are unmatched. The food in the dining car was really good, as well as the servers. The conductors and other staff were great too. The whole experience was one for the books. And letting us off to watch her come down the tracks? WOW! Thank you all for such a wonderful day. We did not go to the museum though.

An amazing experience worth every penny! We took our 3 boys, one of whom is 10, and I think he enjoyed it more than our younger ones lol. The elves made it such a memorable time and really brought the magic to life! 10/10!

The money we paid for the great tour, the train ride, observing the train round table and visiting the back garage where they work on the trains and refurbish old trains is well worth the money and time! They are funded mainly by the public not a big corporation and purchase their own trains and workers.The museum is full of history for all you train enthusiasts and those of us who like history. The ride is inside and very smooth. Tour guides (conductor) present information well, are helpful and pleasant. There is even a gift shop. Go check it out and support this great history.

Mission Ridge Railroad is fantastic! Wonderful train ride through the mountain tracks and very interesting display of trains, working track turntable and other exhibits. Very friendly and personable. The delirious snack bar has great sandwiches for lunch! Been several times over the years and always enjoy!

We went the weekend of December 15th and had a wonderful time. We were in car # 4 and it was comfortable. The staff did a wonderful job. The story about how the train started was perfect. The kids loved the interaction from the staff, and enjoyed the hot chocolate and cookies. Santa was great and did not disappoint. We went at dark and I would definitely recommend it, it just felt more like a “polar express” experience. Would come back again. The ride lasted almost hour and half going to Santa’s Warehouse and back.

We had such a wonderful time! Jason was the guide, and he was absolutely perfect! He was informative and funny at the same time. It was wonderful getting to see the turntable, and the trains that are housed and maintained at the facility. We were glad that we arrived early so that we could spend time looking around the museum.

Me and my daughter absolutely loved this experience!! This was her first time on a locomotive and it was perfect. The staff was amazing, jolly, attentive, and informative!! Santa was so down to earth and funny not scary or intimidating for kids like it sometimes is. Would recommend to any and everyone!!

We had never been on a train ride before so we enjoyed all the things of the whole experience. After traveling all morning one of my kids was tired of more riding, but as far as our overall experience it was great! We got there about an hour early so we could look around and not be rushed. We departed at 3:30 so we got to see out the window and was knowledgeable when we went through the tunnel and was able to see other trains traveling. When we got back they had the Christmas lights on all the decorations so that was nice to see. Our train was from the 60s and even had its original seats which was cool. Well organized!!

Everyone was so very friendly and happy! They were personable and took time to talk a bit and ensure our experience was what we wanted it to be. The drinks and treats were delicious! It was obvious that the elves enjoyed what they were doing. Santa and Mrs Clause were perfect and made it special especially for our 13 year old The scenery was stunning and I want to come back to visit the riverside parks I saw along the way! It was fun, entertaining and relaxing…it was exactly what we wanted it to be!

We rode the North Pole Limited. I recommend buying tickets when they go on sale for best time selection. It's a nice family activity. However, if you or your child are sensitive to noise, the train does get fairly loud with Christmas merriment. The only thing I'd prefer to be different would be reduced price for lap children...under 3 years old or so. The cost of the excursion does get pricey quickly.