Chattanooga

Yesterday we did a road trip by car to Chattanooga, TN.  To travel there, we passed through Georgia for about 10 minutes and can add another state to our journey.  We've passed through nine states:  MI, WI, IL, MO, KY, TN, MS, AL and GA.

The first stop was the Antique Tow Truck Museum where we got to see over a dozen trucks from all different era's in American History.  Below are a few highlights.

1913 Locomobile w/ 485 Holmes Wrecker
Notice the original wood wheels
6 cylinder engine w/ 82 HP

1929 Chrysler w/ Weaver Crane
was in continuous use from 1930 to 1971
2 years to restore it

1970 Cony (Japan) 1/4 pickup w/ 2 cylinder engine

1947 GMC "Bubble Nose"
Used by Pabst Brewing to Haul Beer & Later used to tow school buses
Found abandoned in a field in 1988 in need of a water pump

Holmes W-45 Military Wrecker Diamond-T "Redball Express"
15 Ton rating.
Used in WWII in France to deliver supplies to front line.

1926 Graham Brothers w/ 3 Ton Manley Auto Crane

World's Fastest Wrecker - 08/01/1979
Talladega, AL
Driver:  Eddie Martin exceeded 130 MPH on straightaways

World's Fastest Wrecker

1929 Packard Model 640 w/ 3 Ton Manley Crane

1929 Packard Model 640 w/ 3 Ton Manley Crane

There is even a two truck for the "kids" to play with - tee hee

Once we finished with the tow truck museum, we moved onto the Tenessee Valley Rail Road Grand Junction Station and took an hour ride on a steam engine.  The route was the Missionary Ridge Local and is on 3 miles of track that was donated and we crossed over 4 bridges and went through a pre-Civil war tunnel completed in 1858.  The trip takes riders to the railroad restoration shop and demonstrates how the train gets "turned around" on a giant turntable.  Video Clips below.

630 being driven onto the turn table

Diesel engine at the restoration yard

Restoration projects in progress

Once we completed our train ride, we moved onto the Chatanooga Choo Choo Hotel complex.  From there we took the electric trolley to the riverfront and walked the Trail of Tears.  In May 1838 soldiers rounded up Cherokee Indians in the area and marched overland resulting in the death of many.  The Trail of Tears, which resulted from the Indian Removal Act passed by U.S. Congress in 1830, is one of the darkest chapters in American history.

Part of Trail of Tears

Chattanooga is also home to one of the worlds longest pedestrian bridges at 2,376 feet long.  It was built in 1890 and closed to  motor vehicles in 1978.

Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge that crosses the Tennessee River

The Chattanooga Choo Choo engine now on display at Terminal Station is the same type of wood-burning train used on that first run from Cincinnati to Chattanooga in 1880.