Southern Railway 630

Southern Railway 630 is a Consolidation-type steam locomotive with a 2-8-0 wheel arrangement on display at Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga. The engine features a separate tender for carrying water and fuel during operation.

The engine was built in 1904 by the American Locomotive Company and initially served the Southern Railway. It later moved to the East Tennessee & Western North Carolina Railroad for additional service.

The locomotive represents early 20th-century American railroad craftsmanship through its regular demonstrations at the museum. Visitors can see how steam power moved trains and understand the engineering skill required to build and operate such machines.

Visitors can experience the engine in operation during weekend excursions on the Missionary Ridge Local train route at the museum. Arriving early is advisable since seating for rides is limited.

The locomotive underwent a comprehensive restoration in 2011 and returned to operational service after years of being stored. This revival required extensive work on all mechanical and steam systems to function safely again.

GPS coordinates: 35.06194,-85.25028

Latest update: December 10, 2025 15:57