u/Mobile_Mix5217

Took a trip out to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga and wanted to share some of the highlights. The collection out there is incredible—everything from beautifully restored mid-century passenger cars to massive vintage locomotives.

Caught some great shots of both the active steam engines and historical diesels, plus watched the crew operate the turntable to spin the locomotive for the return trip. It really feels like stepping right back into the golden age of railroading. If you haven't been out to the Soule Shops or taken the Missionary Ridge Local, it's well worth the trip!

And feel free to help identify this equipment in the comments.

On a side railing in East Tennessee.

DJI Air 3. Some still shots with Canon EOS SLR. Rode by this relic on my side-by-side a few weeks ago and went back to get footage. Eerie place.

Shot some 4K drone footage of the abandoned ALCO switching locomotive and two passenger cars sitting out near the old coal washing facility facility in Devonia (Cumberland WMA area).

Thought the railfans and urbex community here would appreciate a clean look at how the site sits right now.

• Location: Near Devonia, TN / Cumberland Mountain WMA
• Subject: Abandoned ALCO Switcher & 2 Passenger Cars
• Media Type: short drone clip / aerial survey

For anyone unfamiliar with this equipment, this is a Loram Rail Grinder.

How it works:

As heavily loaded freight cars travel down the line, the steel rails experience plastic deformation, corrugation, and rolling contact fatigue (micro-cracks). Left unchecked, this can lead to catastrophic rail failure or derailments.

The machine uses a series of high-power, 30-horsepower electric grinding modules (ranging from 24 to 120 grinding stones depending on the specific train configuration). These stones are independently tilted and shifted at precise angles (from 75° gauge to 45° field side) to grind down the top and sides of the steel, completely renewing the work-hardened layer and restoring the original mushroom-shaped railhead profile.

Looking interesting places in the southeast that would provide good aerial footage - abandoned buildings, waterfalls, ruins, and the like. Not interested in wandering around inside of them but places like the unfinished nuclear plant near Kingston, TN.

https://youtu.be/fOo7-BxmmRE?si=3Tr3FsTimeEpzcJr

Been doing this for a while and running out of places to explore from the air.

Thanks for your help.