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Climb Aboard the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum with Kids
Rocket City Mom | Huntsville events, activities, and resources for families.
Rocket City Mom | Huntsville events, activities, and resources for families.

Climb Aboard the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum with Kids

by
June 21, 2023
A little girl in pink excitedly points out the window of the train car she's in as they pass by another train engine.
A black train engine with smoke billowing from it makes its way down the railroad tracks at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum.
A young girl tosses a blue bean bag towards a colorful cornhole board.
A toddler girl and pink and her mother stand in front of a pink Thomas the Train character.
A Thomas the Train engine replica waits on the tracks for a special train ride at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. +6
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Climb Aboard the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum with Kids
A black train engine with smoke billowing from it makes its way down the railroad tracks at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum.
1 A black train engine with smoke billowing from it makes its way down the railroad tracks at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum.
2 A young girl tosses a blue bean bag towards a colorful cornhole board.
3 A toddler girl and pink and her mother stand in front of a pink Thomas the Train character.
4 A Thomas the Train engine replica waits on the tracks for a special train ride at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum.
5 A blonde-haired toddler girl with a pink bow in her hair peers out the window of the train at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum.
6 A toddler girl in pink crouches on a mini golf course hole with a plastic green club in hand.
7 A large inflatable slide can be seen next to a parked black train engine at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum.
8 A little girl in pink excitedly points out the window of the train car she's in as they pass by another train engine.
9 A toddler girl in pink plays at a small blue water table with small character toys inside it.
10 A toddler girl in pink hops her way down a blue checked hopscotch mat.
tnvalleyrailroadmuseum (9)

Your visit to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum will allow you to see plenty of train engines.

Climb Aboard the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum with Kids
A young girl tosses a blue bean bag towards a colorful cornhole board.
tnvalleyrailroadmuseum (3)

Enjoy a little extra fun before the train ride.

Climb Aboard the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum with Kids
A toddler girl and pink and her mother stand in front of a pink Thomas the Train character.
tnvalleyrailroadmuseum (8)

The Day out with Thomas event is just one of the special rides the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum offers throughout the year.

Climb Aboard the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum with Kids
A Thomas the Train engine replica waits on the tracks for a special train ride at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum.
tnvalleyrailroadmuseum (2)

Special events like a Day out with Thomas can add to the fun at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum.

Climb Aboard the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum with Kids
A blonde-haired toddler girl with a pink bow in her hair peers out the window of the train at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum.
tnvalleyrailroadmuseum (7)

Your little train lover will be thrilled to enjoy a ride aboard the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum.

Climb Aboard the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum with Kids
A toddler girl in pink crouches on a mini golf course hole with a plastic green club in hand.
tnvalleyrailroadmuseum (1)

Part of the Day out with Thomas event included an activity area with mini golf and yard games.

Climb Aboard the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum with Kids
A large inflatable slide can be seen next to a parked black train engine at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum.
tnvalleyrailroadmuseum

Inflatables added to the fun at the Day out with Thomas event.

Climb Aboard the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum with Kids
A little girl in pink excitedly points out the window of the train car she's in as they pass by another train engine.
tnvalleyrailroadmuseum (6)

The kids will love taking in the views from their train ride.

Climb Aboard the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum with Kids
A toddler girl in pink plays at a small blue water table with small character toys inside it.
tnvalleyrailroadmuseum (5)

Part of the Day with Thomas ride included yard games.

Climb Aboard the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum with Kids
A toddler girl in pink hops her way down a blue checked hopscotch mat.
tnvalleyrailroadmuseum (4)

Yard games helped pass the time before the train departure.

All Aboard! We took our three-year-old to A Day Out with Thomas event at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (TVRM), and she loved it! The TVRM in Chattanooga is about a 2-hour drive from Huntsville and is well worth it! The highlight of the event was a beautiful scenic 25-minute ride with the talking Thomas the Tank Engine. The train ride is just one of several activities at the Thomas event. There are photo opportunities with Sir Topham Hatt, an activity zone with train sets, live magic shows and various Thomas & Friends themed activities such as mini-golf, inflatables, and yard games (think ring toss, hopscotch, bubble machines). For all of those little ones (up to about the age of 8) who love trains, this is a must!

A toddler girl and pink and her mother stand in front of a pink Thomas the Train character.
The Day out with Thomas event is just one of the special rides the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum offers throughout the year.

Year Round Fun at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum

A Day Out with Thomas is not the only reason to visit the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum! Did you know it has various seasonal train rides for all ages to enjoy? Each year they host their most popular event … the North Pole Limited! Think pictures with Santa, holiday cookies, writing letters to Santa and Christmas decorations galore. If you are looking for a more (slightly) spooky event, they also host the annual Halloween Eerie Express train ride, which includes a “gentle thrills” fun house, storytelling, apple cider, a treat bag and a mini pumpkin to take home.

A blonde-haired toddler girl with a pink bow in her hair peers out the window of the train at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum.
Your little train lover will be thrilled to enjoy a ride aboard the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum.

Throughout the year, the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum offers a lengthier ride on the Missionary Ridge local. This 65-minute train ride starts at the Grand Junction Station, takes passengers over four bridges and through the pre-Civil War Missionary Ridge Tunnel. This experience also includes a demonstration of the turntable and a brief tour of the TVRM restoration shop. No matter your children’s age, you are bound to find a themed train ride the whole family will enjoy! Don’t forget to stop by the Tennessee Vally Railroad Museum Exhibit Building to learn about the history of the TVRM and the trains serviced there and view some really cool historical train exhibits.

A black train engine with smoke billowing from it makes its way down the railroad tracks at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum.
Your visit to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum will allow you to see plenty of train engines.

Things to Know Before You Go:

See Also
Huntsville Weekend Roundup May 10-12

Address: 4119 Cromwell Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421 (map)
Phone: 423-894-8028
Website | Facebook | Instagram 

General Admission – Prices vary based on theme ride attended. View upcoming rides here.
Parking – Spacious free parking lot surrounded with lots of old steam engines on display (perfect for photo ops).
Bathrooms – Restrooms located inside the train museum exhibit building.
Allotted time – Around 2-3 hours for train ride, train museum and all the various kids’ activities.
Other – Purchase tickets in advance to ensure to get the train ride time slot you want. Food and drinks are not allowed inside museum. Strollers and carriers will do just fine. Arrive about an hour before your scheduled departure.

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Born and raised in Pasadena, CA, I now call Alabama home. While growing up, my parents loved exploring and traveling and so I am always on the lookout for new places to explore with my family (if I’m not behind the desk being an auditor). I have three wonderful children, ages 2, 9, and 13, a wonderful husband, a turtle and a cat. Life is precious and short. I love the saying “we travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.”

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