DINNER TRAIN

ENTREE CHOICES:

New Menu for 2024

• Pan-seared Airline Chicken with parmesan sauce served with sautéed green beans and garlic herb mashed potatoes
• Burgundy Braised Beef with mushroom demi-glace served with sautéed green beans and garlic herb mashed potatoes
• Southern Shrimp and Grits with andouille tomato cream
• Vegetarian Zucchini Lasagna

BEVERAGES:

• Water
• Coffee
• Lemonade
• Iced Tea (Sweet or Unsweet)

Onboard the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum’s Dinner Train, you can enjoy a variety of drinks for purchase (price varies by item):

• Wine
  • Rose
  • Red
  • White
• Champagne
• Bourbon
• Irish Coffee

*You may bring your own bottle of wine, but a corkage fee of $30 will apply.

These options are available to complement your dining experience for a delightful evening aboard the Dinner Train.

DESSERT:

One dessert per person. Dessert options rotate seasonally. Passengers will select their desserts on the train.

We do not have a formal dress code for the dinner train, but most passengers seem to enjoy dressing up a bit.

NOTE: The Dining and Pullman seating are in different cars. You will not be seated together if you select different seating types.

Passengers may choose from true vintage dining in the Dining Car (four to a table) or the smaller tables for two in Pullman Car Clover Colony.

Dining Car Table Ticket (Seats up to 4 passengers):

Southern Railway 3158/”Travelers Fare”

Tennessee Valley’s Autumn Dinner Train: A Culinary Journey on Rails

Current Dining Cars in uses:

• Southern 3158/Travelers Fare
• Grand Trunk Western 899/Silver Lake

Pullman Section Table (Seats 2 passengers):

What is a Pullman car?

• Pullman-Standard continued manufacturing sleeping cars and other passenger and freight railroad cars until 1980. For nearly a year at the end of World War II the United States government banned sleeping cars for runs of less than 450 miles (720 km).

What did a Pullman car look like?

• During the day, the sleeper looked like a regular, if especially lavish, passenger car, but during the night it transformed into a 2-story hotel on wheels. Seats were unfolded into lower sleeping berths, while upper berths, instead of lowering from the ceiling on pulleys, folded out from it. Learn more about our Pullman.

Interesting history of our Pullman car:

• Southern Pacific Railroad 97/Clover Colony was used during the filming of Marilyn Monroe, “Some Like It Hot” movie. Click here to watch the movie clip.

The trains board at our Grand Junction depot, located at 4119 Cromwell Road in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Chattanooga is in the Eastern Time Zone. Please check the calendar for dates of operation and departure times.

Located within 10 minutes of our location:

Sonesta Select

Experience Comfort at Sonesta Select Chattanooga Hamilton Place

Can Children Ride the Dinner Train? 

Not recommended for children under 8 years old.  Please note that our signature dining car menu and per-person pricing is the same for adults and children.

Dress Code and Etiquette 

Meals served in dining cars were often a highlight of train travel for travelers to socialize, relax, and enjoy first-class meals and service from stewards and wait staff.  We do not have a formal dress code for the dinner train, but most passengers seem to enjoy and are encouraged to dress up for the occasion.

Historically, hats will also be removed in the dining car as you board and are seated for the duration of your meal service.  Your Dining Car staff will be dressed in early-mid 20^th century attire as they attend to your needs, and your participation with period-correct passenger etiquette helps to create an authentic and memorable experience for everyone!

Note:  Due to the historic nature of this first-class dining setting, we ask that all passengers kindly exhibit noise etiquette as a courtesy to fellow passengers and our staff. 

Do you offer Gluten-Free or Vegetarian Options?

The vegetarian zucchini lasagna is both vegetarian and gluten free. Please contact us at 423-894-8028 for any special dietary inquiries prior to purchase.

What sights will I see from Dinner Train? 

As a key route for passenger and industrial service in the early and mid-20^th century, this historic excursion line begins on a pre-Civil War route crossing four bridges and through the Missionary Ridge Tunnel.  As the train makes its way past East Chattanooga, additional sights that can be viewed from the train include the Chattanooga Zoo established in 1937 and the Warner Park fields, previously called “Olympia Park” near the turn of the 20^th century, which served as a public recreation area for horse races, ballgames, and even mock Army maneuver demonstrations for soldiers training during WWI.  The train then travels alongside the historic Chattanooga National Cemetery established in 1863 and the Sculpture Fields at Montague Park, a 33-acre outdoor international sculpture museum prior to the return trip back and arrival at the Grand Junction Depot. Note: the tracks are located along parts of urban East Chattanooga. This ride will not go along any scenic mountains or rivers.

About Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum:

The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum is a railway museum located in Chattanooga and Delano, Tennessee. It was established in 1961 to preserve and operate historic railway equipment for the education and enjoyment of future generations. The museum features a variety of vintage trains and railcars, including steam locomotives, diesel locomotives, passenger cars, and freight cars. Visitors can experience the history of rail travel through excursions, exhibits, and hands-on activities. The museum operates on a historic rail line, offering scenic rides through the Hiwassee Loop and providing a unique perspective on the region’s history and culture. With its rich heritage, educational programs, and engaging events, the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum is a must-visit destination for railway enthusiasts and history buffs alike.

As a non-profit organization, it takes a lot of resources to restore and maintain our vintage trains and equipment. In fact, it can cost up to $1.5 million to completely rebuild a steam engine, which must be done every 15 years or sooner. Your support helps us to continue to share this important piece of history with the community. So not only are you enjoying a unique and memorable experience, you are also contributing to the preservation of railroad history.