Opportunity to photograph vintage trains in Bristol

The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum is offering train excursions this spring as part of Norfolk Southern's "21st Century Steam" program.   Power is scheduled to be ex-Southern Railway 2-8-0 #630 built in 1904 and recently restored to service by TVRM in Chattanooga.  Two of those excursions will be leaving from Bristol Virginia.   Both are sold out, but they offer the opportunity to photograph steam engines and vintage train cars.

Saturday March 9 - Bristol to Radford Virginia
Departure location will be from the Old N&W Depot on the corner of State St. and Martin Luther King Blvd., adjacent to the Tennessee/Virginia State Line.  They will be departing at 8:00 AM and returning approximately 7:00 PM.

Sunday March 10 - Bristol to Bulls Gap Tennessee
Departure location will be from the Old N&W Depot on the corner of State St. and Martin Luther King Blvd., adjacent to the Tennessee/Virginia State Line.  They will be departing at 9:00 AM and returning approximately 5:00 PM.

Updated information -
The trail will be at the Bristol Depot about 30 minutes before departure.  That might be a great time for early light photography.   There will be a diesel engine right behind the steam engine but you should be able to get some great shots without the diesel if you plan it right.


More info about the routes and times available here