Saturday started as a warm clear day in Chattanooga, TN.  I decided to head over to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in the afternoon since I still hadn't had a chance to see them.  The Missionary Ridge Local was on schedule for a departure at 1:15pm and 2:25pm, and I found out that the power was going to be engine 610.  As I arrived at the depot the train was just getting ready to depart at 1:15pm.  First the train pulled through out of the depot heading east.  Then it backed up the wye track and pulled out heading west.  The entire length of this line is only about 6.5 miles, and the roads do not parallel the tracks very well.  I did not realize this and was quite surprised to find that I couldn't beat the train to any photography spots.  After shooting the train at the Grand Jct. Depot, I next caught up with it after it pulled into the station at East Chattanooga.   Here the locomotive dropped the cars and pulled onto the turntable.  The passengers all climbed off the train and walked over to watch the operation of turning the locomotive.  I took several pictures before heading back to the car.  I wanted to find a good spot for the return trip.

     The railroad tracks go through a tunnel under Missionary Ridge, and I tried to find access to the east end.  After several fruitless attempts I gave up and found a spot a mile after the tunnel.  After a few minutes the train rumbled passed.  I chased it back to Grand Jct. where the passengers disembarked and the crew prepared for the next trip.  Since I had about 10 to 15 minutes I spent some time checking out the NS tracks in the area.  The NS tracks run right next to TVRM's Grand Jct. Depot.  And a mile down the TVRM tracks they cross over CSX's mainline to Atlanta.  The signals were all red, and no trains showed up.   I needed to find another spot for the next trip on TVRM.  I decided to head back towards the tunnel and shoot from the same location I had before.  Soon after I set up for the train it rounded the corner and rolled by.  I ran back to the car and tried to beat it down to East Chattanooga, but I was too late again.  I talked to one of the crew members briefly and found they were planning to run the power back to East Chattanooga after the run because of several other trains running later on in the evening.   Since the sun was getting low in the horizon I decided not to shoot the return trip because of bad lighting.

     I next explored the NS tracks up to DeButts Yard and the Tennessee River Bridge.  I wanted to get a shot of the bridge, but with light running low I decided against walking the mile into the bridge.  After some more exploration I drove back to see if the TVRM had left.  It was in the process of leaving Grand Jct. and hoping that I could beat it down to the other end I raced off.  I should have known from the previous two tries because I was too late yet again.  Next I drove back towards the NS tracks.  On the way I ran into a southbound CSX auto train.   Then I found a southbound BNSF coal train on the NS line.  I decided this would be a good train to follow home.  I beat the train to Ooltewah where I grabbed a couple shots of the DPU.  Then I followed the train east to Cohutta, GA taking a few more pictures.  Finally with the last rays of sunlight disappearing I headed back home.

December 16, 2006