Diesel Locomotives

Today, Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum preserves railroad equipment not only to preserve machines but to preserve an experience as well. In providing this historical experience, TVRM hopes to educate our visitors about the importance of this industry and how it helped create the modern world in which we live.

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum

Built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division in 1968, this locomotive was the first high-hood GP38 produced, developing 2,000 horsepower. It was built for the Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia Railway. The locomotive was named “The John A. Chambliss” in honor of the railroad’s vice president, and was dedicated on his 80th birthday, hence being numbered 80. After the TAG was acquired by the Southern Railway, the 80 became Southern Railway 2879, and later Norfolk Southern 2879. Norfolk Southern sold the locomotive to the Chambliss Family at auction in 2001, who then donated the locomotive to TVRM. The locomotive was restored mechanically, electrically and cosmetically between 2015 and 2016, returning to service in March 2017. The TAG 80 was also returned to its original number and paint scheme.

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum

General Motors Electro-Motive Division built the 710 in 1950 for the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis (NC&St.L) Railway. The 710 was built as a GP7, developing 1,500 horsepower. The NC&St.L 710 later became Louisville and Nashville (L&N) 478. The 478 was sold to Amtrak in 1978, being again renumbered 772, to be used in maintenance of way service. Amtrak had the locomotive converted to a GP9, increasing its horsepower to 1,750. TVRM would later acquire the locomotive, completing its restoration in 2004. TVRM also returned the locomotive to its original 1950s appearance, including paint scheme and number. Today, the 710 can be found in operation on many of the museum’s trains.

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum

The 913 was built in 1950 by the American Locomotive Company as part of an order of ten RS-1 units for the Atlanta & St. Andrews Bay Railroad (Bay Line). It was later sold to the Hartford and Slocomb Railroad, who donated it to TVRM in 1992 when that railroad was largely abandoned. The unit operated briefly at TVRM before mechanical issues forced its retirement. The unit today remains on display in TVRM’s display yard at Grand Junction.

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum

Built in 1972, this locomotive was the first of 257 GP38-2 locomotives purchased by the Southern Railway, producing 2,000 horsepower. Unlike most other railroads, the Southern Railway had all 257 of these locomotives built with high short hoods, rather than the factory default low short hoods. TVRM traded another GP38-2, Southern Railway 5033, to acquire the 5000 in 2016. The locomotive can be found in operation at TVRM today, having been repainted to its original Southern Railway paint scheme it wore when new.

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum

The American Locomotive Company (ALCO) built this RSD-1 in 1945 for service in the U.S. Army. Producing 1,000 horsepower, the RSD-1 differed from the RS-1 in that it had six axles, rather than the four axles of the RS-1. The 8669 served later with the U.S. Air Force at Eglin Air Force base. TVRM acquired the locomotive in the late 1978. This diesel-electric locomotive is a long-time veteran of TVRM’s passenger trains hauling the Missionary Ridge Local, as well as longer excursion trains. This locomotive is currently out of service in need of electrical and mechanical work before being returned to service. The 8669 can currently be found on display at Grand Junction.

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum