Chattanooga TN: WANTED Train Layout to Visit

Jeff, a bit of a wasteland. Closest hobby shops are either Atlanta or Nashville. Not sure how much time you have but the Hiwassee River rail adventure out of Etowah is a good ride. The Hiwassee River gorge is really scenic and the Hiwassee loop is a railroad engineering highlight

Thanks ... Normanb

I have previously done the Hiwassee River Adventure ... very nice

Have a safe July 4th and enjoy your trains.

I read where you have been on the Hiwassee loop.  That' a great ride with lot's of history.  Have you seen the rest of the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum facilities in Chattanooga?  It's a great place to visit.  Also, the NMRRA Headquarters is located next to TVRM's Grand Central Station. 

Happy 4th of July ...

Thank you ... dvbull for your reply ... I will be riding the Summerville Steam Special from Chattanooga TN to Summerville GA ... in addition to several other TVRRM events.  I am not sure that the NMRRA Headquarters will be open during the time that I will be in Chattanooga since they will be having their national convention in Atlanta GA at the same time I will be in Chattanooga.

Thanks again normanb and dvbull for your replies.

Are there any train layouts to visit in Tennessee?

Be safe ...

There is a small model/toy train store in Murfreesboro, TN.  The guy told me that much or most of his inventory (mostly O gauge Lionel) came from stores that closed in Nashville.  He said there are none in metro Nashville, which is a fair sized city.  Murfreesboro is a couple of hours NW of Chattanooga.  If you are driving that general direction, it would be worth a stop. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEQxDvEdpTc Thor is the guy in the video.  I was initially skeptical with "furniture" in the business name, but he has more Lionel than most large Lionel dealers.  I am MTH DCS, but I did find a couple of Premier freight cars, NIB for $30 a piece. 

Don't they have a number of area layouts on pre-arranged tours during the convention?  That's usually a part of most conventions, so I would be surprised if arrangements for that activity haven't already been made.

Allan,

Yes, there are a few layout tours that are offered as part so the LCCA convention tours.Transportation is provided on an air conditioned bus.

Al K. 

The LCCA is sponsoring layout tours in Blairsville, GA of the Misty Mountain Railroad and the Great Georgia Central Southern.  Both layouts have been featured in DVD videos from OGR Great Layout Adventures Volume 3.  My wife and I are on one of the tours and am looking forward to seeing these great layouts in person.

Neal Jeter 

There is an HO layout at the hotel. We stayed there about 20 years ago on our way to Florida.

http://www.choochoo.com/modelrailroad.php?dest=35

Bill Cantrell ... Thanks for the introduction to Thor's Furniture.  My wife is music teacher ... she will enjoy Thor's playing and singing while I visit the trains.

Lionlman ... My wife and I are scheduled on the LCCA tour #4B Misty Mountain RR & Great Georgia Central Southern and tour #13B Gerald Jackson's layout ... I hope to see you at the convention.

Gerry Burns ... Thanks for the reminder about the HO layout in the hotel.

About a week to go ... to attend a GREAT LCCA Convention in Chattanooga ... where you will enjoy GREAT events GREAT people and have a GREAT time ...

There is nothhing in Nashville, except one list price toy store, Southbound is gone.

Train shops are a thing of the past since you get anything cheaper online if you dig deep.

There is a train shop in Marietta listed as a Lionel dealer, north 'burbs of Atlanta.  I know nothing about it; have never been there.  

MTH shows a couple or so dealers on the NE side of Atlanta toward Athens, but they will likely be a hike from Chattanooga unless you are going through Atlanta anyway.  There a few Lionel dealers on that side of Atlanta too.

Layouts are on the LCCA Convention tour.  My son and I signed up early and got reservations for all of them.

When did Southbound close?  

There's Hudson Classic Hobbies, they have a few trains, but the whole store is about the size of my bedroom.

Thor's is... interesting.

My THANKS to all who have responded to my request for choo choo information (stores and layouts) in the Chattanooga area.

With less than a week to the LCCA 2013 Chattanooga Convention ... I am excited and ready to have a GREAT TIME ...

See you all in Chattanooga.