SMOKE& Cinders VOL 56 NO. 3 Third Quarter 2017 ISSN: 1083-1606

In This Issue:

423.894.8028

history and development of our region. our of development and history

www.tvrail.com

public concerning the role of railroads in the the in railroads of role the concerning public Riding in

artifacts in an authentic setting to educate the the educate to setting authentic an in artifacts

operation, interpretation and display, railroad railroad display, and interpretation operation, Museum is to collect for preservation, preservation, for collect to is Museum The mission of the Tennessee Valley Railroad Railroad Valley Tennessee the of mission The Luxury...... 1

Eden Isle. . . . . 3

Do You Know?. . . 4

Photo by: Bo Ellis Elsewhere Date: July 30, 2016 Location: Grand Junction Station, Chattanooga, TN 2018 TVRM Calendar www.tvrail.com • 423.894.8028 in Steam Preservation . . . 5 Riding in Luxury In the last issue of Smoke and the Hiwassee. These have Highlights from Cinders we talked about the special constraints on the number of cars the Collection . . . 6 events that are used to boost that can be handled, so how does TVRM’s income. While these TVRM maximize the revenue from In the events generate a higher ticket price those trains? Gift Shop. . . . . 6 (and cost) they represent a relatively In addition to the cars with standard small part of our operating coach class seating TVRM offers Latest from schedule. For a much longer part Premium seating in one of five Soule Shops. . . . 7 of the year we operate off site specialty cars. Included are the excursions in North Georgia and on observations cars at the end This Quarter in History. . . . . 7

Meet the team. . . 8

From the President. . . . . 8

Dining room on the Eden Isle tvrail.com Observation on the Hiwassee River Rail Adventure table set for dinner

of the North Georgia and Hiwassee the revenue to the same level or trains (which also includes 24 dome higher. Further on almost any seats), the Pullman sleeper Clover given departure date the Premium Colony and office car 98 The Eden seating sells out, reflecting both Isle. In each case there are options the desirability and scarcity of the that include specialized seating, seating, while the regular coaches complementary snacks, special may have available seats remaining. attendants and in the case of the This popularity is leading North Georgia trips Breakfast and TVRM toward completing the Lunch are included in the ticket rehabilitation of former Chesapeake price. and Ohio 30-seat Torch Lake and exploring other avenues While each car typically seats for capacity. e fewer than a standard coach the Observation suite on the 6604 higher ticket price helps to boost round-end

Clover Colony section on a Dinner Observation suite on the Eden Isle

tvrail.com 2 Thank you to our Generous Supporters

Superintendent. . . $5,000 - $10,000

Division Engineer. . $1,000 - $5,000 EPB (Sponsorship)

Train Master ...... $250 - $1,000

Conductor...... up to $250 Frank Patty Wayne & Marilyn Toppins Chattanooga Area CFC Kirk Haveman

Rail Camp Our first year, 2010, was a week- Each year generous contributors long day camp with just a few help TVRM make progress on at TVRM campers. One other counselor and I many fronts but particularly in By Trevor Lanier, Rail Camp put together a few classroom lessons extraordinary projects (such as Coordinator coupled with some train rides and thus began our first summer camp. rebuilding a steam engine) and Rail Camp is exhausting. I start The next year we made it better, a off setting costs for unique events planning for the following year trend that we work hard to continue. like the North Pole Limited. within a couple of weeks of the Today, Rail Camp is five sessions end of camp. My counselors and I spread over four weeks, with more As we work our way to our talk over what worked, what didn’t than 70 kids ages 7-17, six counselors busiest season of 2017 we begin and how to make camp better. We and countless other support staff. The preparing our annual request take this planning very seriously last two weeks of camp are overnight and enjoy the challenge of always asking for your support. We doing something new, something will be mailing out our year end special for next year. Preparing for appeal soon - we hope you will 14 young people per session requires a lot of careful planning as well as consider supporting TVRM as anticipating what the kids will enjoy, we keep history rolling into the and what they won’t. Registration future. usually opens around January and it’s a constant madhouse from then until the end of camp in June.

SEPT 9, 23 & 30 SEPT 2 & 16, OCT 7, SEPT 9 & 10 OCT 7, 13, 14, NOV 24, 30 STARTS NOV 24 14, 21, 22, 28, 29, 20, 21, 27, 28 DEC 1, 2, 7, 8, 14, NOV 4, 11 & 12 15, 16, 21, 22, 28, 29 3 423.894.8028 Do you know? sessions where campers stay on a 1920s Pullman car and take TVRM is beginning our fundraising their meals in our vintage dining effort to restore Car #98 Eden Isle. car. Campers spend their days A great deal of time, planning and touring rail yards, exploring repair money go into a restoration like this, shops, and riding turntables, the and we need your help to make it Missionary Ridge Local train and in happen! Below is our estimate of just the of a steam . They how much it will take to restore this also work hard building dioramas, historic 100-year-old Pullman private blacksmithing, learning to arrange office car: cars using models, field trips, and photographing passing trains. The New Roof:...... $40,000 above list gives you an idea that we Side sills and try to have something for everyone sheet metal: ...... $40,000 that loves trains. Window gaskets:. . . . $15,000 In addition to coordinating all Trucks/:. . . . . $30,000 of the activities, the Rail Camp Brake system/rigging:. . $15,000 staff are also preparing meals, transporting kids to doctors (a Wiring:...... $40,000 rare occurrence!), calming kids Paint: ...... $15,000 down when a fight breaks out over Rear platform: . . . . . $10,000 which steam engine is coolest, ensuring the safety of all the kids Floor:...... $5,000 throughout the day and night, and Carpet:...... $15,000 listening to a constant din of train Upholstery:...... $10,000 talk that surpasses even railroad professionals. Eventually it becomes Interior wood restoration:.$20,000 a dull roar. We learned a long time Total: ...... $255,000 ago not to try to teach rail campers about and trains. While a quarter of a million dollars may sound like a lot, it is certainly possible with your help, and is not too much to save this unique piece of our railroad history. Please join TVRM in restoring the Eden Isle by Instead, we sit back and listen visiting our gofundme page or by so that we can learn something donating via www.tvrail.com from them. Of course I still don’t understand the difference between an ES44AC and an AC-whatever it is . . . at least I’m familiar with J3 Hudson steam locomotives. Rail Camp has grown a tremendous amount since our first year, and as intense as it is, I always look forward to it. Some of our counselors were former

tvrail.com 4 Elsewhere in steam preservation: Oregon Rail Heritage http://www.orhf.org The Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation based in Portland, Oregon, is home to two large operating steam locomotives: Southern Pacific 4-8-4 #4449 and Spokane, Portland & Seattle 4-8-4 #700. They feature a state-of- the-art display building and offer occasional excursion rides. A third locomotive, 4-6-2 #197, is also housed in the facility and is under active restoration. All three pieces of equipment have separate caretakers, but they live in harmony with a common purpose inside the Oregon Rail Heritage Center.

Tweetsie Railroad http://www.tweetsie.com campers and it’s great to see kids who share their enthusiasm Tweetsie Railroad “Wild West” theme park has been a North Carolina family tradition for 60 them becoming involved in and interests. Some of our years. Even though Tweetsie is an amusement raising the next generation of campers wait the whole year park, the draw has always been the train ride. people who will be champions of just for this. When camp is over, Two steam locomotives are operated, East railroad preservation. We host Rail some campers cry. Others hug Tennessee & 4-6-0 #12 and White Pass & Yukon 2-8-2 #190. Camp because we want to support us telling us “thank you.” We ET&WNC #12 is its jewel, having served on those who love this industry and also receive notes telling us how the original 66-mile, narrow gauge railroad its history. When we first started important camp was to them. from Johnson City, TN to Boone, NC. Why is this in 2010, I was naive as to just Rail Camp is more than just a fun it called Tweetsie? Mountain dwellers thought the whistle echoing through the valleys had a how important Rail Camp would week of riding trains and may be melodic “tweet” to it. be. Today, we have campers exhausting, but it’s a worthwhile from New York, California, investment in our future. e The Oregon Coast South Carolina, Florida, Illinois, Scenic Railway Massachusetts and the rest of http://www.oregoncoastscenic.org/ The Oregon Coast Scenic Railway has the country who love trains and an interesting collection of historic steam want to spend a week with other locomotives, including Deep River Logging #7 which was one of only three 2-4-4-2 engines constructed by Baldwin. Built in 1909, it was ordered by the Little River Railroad of Townsend, Tennessee, as their #126. They quickly realized it was too large for their operation and it was returned to the manufacturer. It was then sold to and used by several different logging companies in Oregon and Washington before being transferred into private ownership. Under restoration for a number of years, #7 “Skookum” should be operational in the near future.

5 423.894.8028 In the Gift Shop Highlights of throughout the Tennessee Valley

Region with U.S. postal workers Available in our gift shop

history and development of our region. our of development and history

public concerning the role of railroads in the the in railroads of role the concerning public

the collection on board, sorting as the located the educate to in setting Grandauthentic an in Junctionartifacts

operation, interpretation and display, railroad railroad display, and interpretation operation,

Museum is to collect for preservation, preservation, for collect to is Museum

car rolled from one location to (4119Railroad Valley CromwellTennessee the of mission Road, The

423.894.8028 K&T #10 and www.tvrail.com Southern RPO 40 the next. Postal patrons could Chattanooga, TN 37421) or call 423 .894 .8028 to K&T #10 order by phone . Built in May of 1920 by the , 2018 Calendars this 2-8-2 locomotive originally are here! operated on the Kentucky & Tennessee Railway—a shortline constructed to serve the Stearns Coal and Lumber Company in Stearns, KY. The K&T once boasted over 25 miles of track and 12 steam locomotives but is perhaps best remembered Photo by: Bo Ellis Representation of Date: July 30, 2016 for also having owned former- Location: Grand Junction Station, Chattanooga, TN what RPO 40 will look Southern Railway Locomotive like after restoration 4501. TVRM purchased K&T 10 in 1965, renumbered it as 6910, 2018 TVRMwww.tvrail.com • Calendar 423.894.8028 and utilized it on an autumn mail letters from a slot in the excursion from Chattanooga to side of many RPO cars while it Cleveland, TN in October of was standing at a station, and TVRM Engineer Hat that same year. However, due its trains carrying mail were given very poor operating condition, top priority. The postal workers that one excursion was the first on board could not fraternize and only trip it would lead. With with railroad workers; in fact, plans to cosmetically restore this no one except authorized postal engine, TVRM will soon make employees were allowed in the it a much more visible part of the RPO car. Some cars carried both collection in the Grand Junction passenger baggage and mail. In Display Yard. such cases, the mail area was Southern RPO 40 completely sealed off from the baggage area, with only a small Railway (RPO) Car escape hatch in the event of an 40 was built by American Car emergency. The 40 is on display and Foundry for the Southern at TVRM’s East Chattanooga Ornaments Railway shops awaiting restoration. e in 1922. It operated

K&T #10 from her glory days tvrail.com 6 Soule Shops: Preserving History

710 Modifications recently acquired second headlight 1829 Paint we have corrected those parts of the locomotive's appearance and Since it was found in a used added a fresh coat of paint as well. equipment dealer's lot in Ohio twenty years ago former NC&StL There are not too many TVRM 710 has been an active part of folks who have been around the TVRM operating roster. since former Army GP7 1829 Serving on the Hiwassee and arrived from the Holston Army now at TVRM it has been a Ammunition Plant. Those who popular part of TVRM's operating are, have been here as long as collection. There was only two the only TVRM paint job it has little problems. An extensive ever received. That has now been rebuilding prior to going to corrected as body work and a new had modified the hood coat of paint were applied during to use the paper air intake filters mid August. and had a large "blister" installed on the long hood. Second, the Watch Facebook and this "gyro-light" headlights had also space in the next issue for been removed and we only had announcements regarding recent one to use as a replacement. Now additions to our after a turn through the shop, collection and track maintenance some donor hood pieces and a equipment fleet. e

Eric Warren working on 4501 during her annual inspection: lapping and servicing the throttle valve 1829 Fresh out of the paint shop

This Quarter printed in the newsletter. The recent operated out of East Chattanooga #4501 from Paul Merriman to “Rails to Rockets” excursion was to Tunnel Boulevard on Sundays. TVRM was finalized with fine-print in History: 1976 diesel-powered due to an ailing Monthly meeting were usually legal agreements. Planning was in #4501, which was slightly past held at the Jaycee Towers, and place for a new bridge across Tunnel The July issue of Smoke & Cinders due for a time out. The locomotive at one, discussion turned toward Boulevard and annual “Autumn included a festive cover of red, had been in use on excursions for whether the dues should be raised Leaf Specials” to Crossville, while white, and blue, boldly illustrating ten years and, as printed in S&C: above $6 annually. Members were member John Coniglio presented a “Where would America Be without “In that decade 4501 has been participating in a community coal membership meeting, photographic the Iron Horse” in recognition of our galavanting over a large part of as some local residents report about several locomotives nation’s Bicentennial celebration. the Eastern US acting more like a still had piles in basement bins used on the American Freedom Also during the quarter, TVRM young maidenly princess instead of leftover from replaced furnaces. Train. Thirty years before assuming had recently received publicity in being herself – the regal, matronly This free, reclaimed coal would the presidential position at TVRM, several outside publications, while queen.” TVRM work sessions took be used to fuel the “3 Spot” steam local college student Tim Andrews a number of editorials about “what place most Tuesdays, Thursdays, locomotive on Sunday runs. The was listed in S&C as a new a museum means to me” were and Saturdays, while public trains official donation of Locomotive member. 7 423.894.8028 A NON-PROFIT First Class EDUCATIONAL U.S. Postage CORPORATION PAID Chattanooga, TN 4119 Cromwell Road Permit No. 95 Chattanooga, TN 37421-2119

The Mission of The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum is to collect for preservation, operation, interpretation, and display SMOKE& Cinders railroad artifacts in an authentic setting to educate the public concerning the role of railroads in the history and development of our region.

Meet the From the President’s Desk TVRM team: As this issue of Smoke and Cinders have thought, in 1961, that we Steve Freer has been goes to press TVRM is completing would evolve into the $7 million, a supporter of TVRM since he stepped on the the second third of 2017, the end of 100,000+ visitor operation with property in 1971. His the summer season and celebrating over $10 million of assets we have first excursion ride was our 56th birthday. We now face the become. We have often stretched aboard the 1972 “Rails fall third of the year and what has the organization to bring steam to Rockets” which began a family tradition become our largest season. There locomotives back to life, construct as his Dad worked in the commissary car, while he and his brother acted as was a time when we closed the doors the Shop and Depot, expand into gophers and “butchers” (selling snacks the weekend after Thanksgiving and three operating districts and operate throughout the train.) He spent many didn’t reopen until the end of March, hundreds of trains per year. years volunteering on excursions, later but not anymore. TVRM has evolved began providing photos for the Smoke & Has everything we have tried into a year-round organization and Cinders newsletter in the 80’s, and took worked out, of course not, but over as editor in 1994. After using his is continually looking for events and we continue grow stronger than employer’s fax machine to send TVRM promotions to fill the calendar with before and we have never taken press releases for several years, he was revenue producing activities and hired at TVRM in early 1999. One of two our eyes off our mission, To generate funds to reach the next steps employees in the office, out of necessity collect for preservation, operation, in our physical development. he became somewhat of a utility worker interpretation, and display railroad answering phones, covering conductor This effort often requires TVRM to artifacts in an authentic setting to positions, providing coordination for “think outside the box,” something educate the public concerning the school group visits, and filling in wherever needed. Steve and wife Cindy recently we have been adept at doing since role of railroads in the history and celebrated their 25th Anniversary (their we were founded. Who would development of our region. e wedding reception was held at TVRM) and participate together in many TVRM special tvrail.com 8 events with their son Matthew.