About the WVRHS&M
Our membership is diverse and comes from many different backgrounds and occupations. We are working hard to ensure that the sound of a steam whistle will once again echo through the mountains of our region. We extend a welcome to you to join us so you won't miss out on all of the exciting things that we have planned.
Membership includes:
- Monthly copies of our newsletter, "Whistle Stop", our monthly newsletter containing photos, historical archives, railroad news, up-to-date news of upcoming events, and first-hand reports of current, local rail activity.
- Monthly membership meetings with railroad programs, DVDs or special speakers.
- A chance to work on authentic and vintage railroad passenger cars.
- Participating in parades and events in the Watauga Valley's "Whistle Truck".
- The opportunity for fellowship with fellow railroad enthusiasts.
- The ability to volunteer on Watauga Valley RHS&M sponsored railroad excursions throughout the year.
- Hosting at the Chuckey Depot in Jonesborough and sharing our railroading enthusiasm with our visitors.
- Going on tours to rail facilities and special rail interest locations.
- We have an active excursion program. We usually sponsor six trips a year, including visits to scenic railroads and mainline excursions. We also have carpool tours for members only.
- Our Mechanical Staff, composed of dedicated members, have successfully restored two vintage coaches, a vintage dining car, a vintage lounge car and Historic Clinchfield 100, which was the General Manager's car for the Clinchfield Railroad. All our cars are well respected among the railroad historical and preservation communities. Our Mechanical Staff diligently work to keep our six vintage cars in operating condition and ready for lease status.
- We have an active excursion program. We sponsor several excursion trips a year, including visits to scenic railroads and mainline excursions. We also have carpool tours for members only.
- We hold membership meetings every fourth Monday of the month (excluding December) at the Chuckey Depot Museum in Jonesborough, and work sessions on the cars are held every Tuesday and Saturday at our coach yard in Jonesborough, TN. (NOTE: The May meeting is held on the THIRD Monday due to the Memorial Day. Our December meeting is a Christmas fellowship.) Members receive the "Whistle Stop", our monthly newsletter containing photos, historical archives, railroad news, up-to-date news of upcoming events, and first-hand reports of current, local rail activity. Volunteers are welcome at the coach yard and Chuckey Depot.
- In partnership with the Town of Jonesborough, TN, we helped move, restore and establish the 1906 Chuckey Depot Museum, a former Southern Railway depot. This museum, now open to the public, houses the many railroad-related artifacts that have been donated to us over the last 30 years for everyone to enjoy.
- Other Activities
- Christmas gathering
- Rebuilding train signals
- Train Show
- Preserving Railroad Artifacts and History
- Hosting CSX and NS radios on Holston Mountain to the public
- Hosting Virtual Railfan Cams at Chuckey Depot
We have been a National Railroad Historical Society Chapter since May 1981. Note that membership in the National Railway Historical Society is open to all WVRHS&M members.
If this sounds appealing to you, and we hope it does, get your membership application below!
Note that membership in the National Railway Historical Society is open to all WVRHS&M members. For more information on the NRHS, please visit NRHS.