GGRS Excursion
December 4, 2010, 1:1 Scale Train Ride
Three Rivers Rambler, Knoxville, Tennessee
Article and Photos by Ted Yarbrough
Each year the Georgia Garden Railway Society takes a real train
ride. We call it our 1:1 Scale Train Ride. This all started in 2002 with a
charter of a private business car on the Tennessee Valley Railroad. We have
since done several rides with the Tennessee Valley as well as trips on the
Great Smokey Mountains Railroad (someone said some of our 'ladies' mooned
railfans on the photo run-by, but this could not be confirmed), a railfan
weekend at the Tweetsie Railroad, a trip on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railroad,
TVRM's Hiawassee Loop Trip, and last year's charter of a caboose on the Three
River's Rambler in Knoxville.
On December 4 Mac Cross, Dan & Deb Michel, Ray & Barbara
Barr, Joan Stultz, Larry & Betty Wilson, and Ted & Deborah Yarbrough
journeyed to Knoxville, Tennessee for the annual 1:1 scale train ride for
the garden railway society. They all met at the train platform at 2 pm, with
the Yarbrough's being the last to arrive, which was unusual for them and had
some folks concerned. The train pulled out on time. The motive power was the
Three River Rambler's steam loco from 1925 named 'Lindy'. The 90 minute trip
was in Christmas themed passenger cars, Unfortunately, as with old equipment,
the heat was not functioning and it was cool inside the cars and the windows
frosted over preventing the best views of the loco and scenery. A Christmas
story was read along the way and Santa visited the passengers.
After the train ride, members went about two blocks away to
Calhoun's on the River for a nice relaxed meal with fantastic river views.
Food and fellowship was enjoyed by all. Everyone expressed how good the food
was!
The final stop was at UT Gardens Christmas Express, a garden
railroad themed Christmas display. It was the creation of Mark Fuhrman (know
to most by his gold fish cars/saw mill display at the Dalton show). He has
made a few changes for those that had seen the display before. Everyone enjoyed
looking over the brilliantly lit groups of villages and Christmas trees as
the trains ran flawlessly all evening. Mark said he enjoyed talking with our
members because of their knowledge of the g scale trains.
Talk is already underway for the 2011 1:1 Scale Ride. Dinner on the Diner, Polar Express, and a new Railfan Weekend at Tennessee Valley Railroad will be considered. The railroad museum in Chattanooga will be celebrating their 50th Anniversary with several special events (even talk of a mainline excursion or two) and they will sell out very fast, so ticket order time may be very short! Watch for e-mails, newsletters, or contact Ted Yarbrough for more info on the upcoming 2011 trips!