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To the Chattanooga Choo Choo 8/20/2007



by Chris Guenzler



8/20/2007 Following that great trip on the Big South Fork Scenic Railroad, Chris Parker and I went to the Huddle House for dinner and I had my all time worst steak. Chris went back out to try for more trains while I worked on my stories. It poured down rain as I worked before Chris came back but had no luck. We called it a night and got a night of rest.

8/20/2007 The next morning we drove south down US 27 back into Tennessee and checked out the yard in Oakridge but had no trains there. Next we checked at Harriman but again no luck. We next stopped off in Spring City to take a few pictures.





The Spring City Station now the Chamber of Commerce Building where there is a former Southern Railroad Caboose. From Spring City it took less than an hour to get to Chattanooga and we followed the sign to the Historic Chattanooga Choo Choo Holiday Inn. We parked the car out front and walked into the Grand Hall. We checked into the NRHS 2007 Convention and got our trip tickets and name badges. I then went to the front desk of the Holiday Inn to see if we could check in and was given card keys to our room.





The front of the Holiday Chattanooga Choo Choo is very impressive.





The Holiday Inn Sign and the Train Sign on the roof of the former station.





The main entrance into the Chattanooga Choo Choo.





There is the Front Desk.





The top of the roof in the lobby.





Looking around the Great Hall.





A look up at the ceilings.





The north window above the front entrance.





The south window above the rear entrance. We then drove back towards the Hotel Building 2.





There is a trolley that runs around the grounds of the hotel. We parked the rental car and walked into the hallway finding Room 188.





We walked into the room and found two beds. This bed was Chris'.





This was my bed.





This room has a large television.





There is a desk where I set up my computer so I could write stories while I am here.





The bathroom with toilet, sink and shower/tub.





Another sink in a vanity area. The room also has two chairs and table along with lamps. The rooms are equipped with wireless Internet. The rooms are large and really comfortable. Now let's look around the grounds.





There are passenger cars that people can sleep in as hotel rooms. The rooms in them are large and comfortable.





Fountains are located in the gardens between the platforms.





The views from both sides of the center canopy.





The gardens are very beautiful.





There are lines of passenger cars looking back to the Terminal Building.





The trolley is kept here between runs.





This car is "Dinner in the Diner" where I would be eating on Friday night.





There is the Chattanooga Steam Engine 2-6-0 29 ex Smoky Mountain Railroad 29 {209}.





More views of the gardens.





Another fountain in a beautiful setting of the gardens.





Another view of the passenger cars.





There is a statue of some important gentleman.





The view of the hotel from the parking structure.





Overlooking the grounds.





The morning light with a caboose and lit sign.





There is a fountain by the "Dinner in the Diner".





Another fountain.





The Terminal Tower at the rear of the property.





The Steam Engine 29 at night.





The Garden Restaurant in the main building.





The one place I would not spend time in is the bar!





There is the Cafe Espresso.





Also here is the Gift Shop. Next let us go upstairs.















The Model Railroad "The Chattanooga Southern Railway", the South's Largest Model Railroad Display, on the second floor. Most impressive! I will next take you to "Dinner in the Diner".





The Dining Area of the railroad car.





The inside the kitchen of the "Dinner in the Diner� where all meals are prepared. Now I will show you a "Dinner in the Diner" that Chris Parker and I ate Friday Night instead of the NRHS Banquet.





Chris and I were seated at this table by Keith, the Dining Car Steward.





Keith our Dining Car Steward.





There is a view of the garden outside our window.





The menu for the dinner. Chris Parker was looking the menu over.





Our excellent Chef was Wolfgang.





I had Steak Au Poivre which was fantastic!





Mr. Parker's meal.





Both of the Chris's enjoying a "Diner in the Dinner".





As it got dark the view truly improved. It was a magical meal in the Dining Car for our last meal at the Chattanooga Choo Choo.

There is a lot more to this hotel than I could possible show you so let me tell you more about the Chattanooga Choo Choo. On the grounds there is the Centennial Theater, Imperial Ballroom, Finley Lecture Hall and Galleries. There are three swimming pools on the grounds. Restaurants on site include the Cafe Espresso, Dinner in the Diner, The Gardens, the Silver Diner Pizza Car and the Station House. Retail shops include the All Aboard Train Shop, Artifacts, Depot Gift Shop, Hale's Woodcrafts, Little Lace Linda, Rugina's Afrikan Village, Sweet Stop and Sweetly Southern. There is also an ATM Machine, Fax and Business Center. Two lounges called the Victorian and Penn Station are also on the grounds. Let us not forget the trolley ride you can take around the grounds.





All this and more can be yours when you stay at the Chattanooga Choo Choo.



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