Visiting
The Eagle Point Railroad (EPRR) is privately owned and does not host "open to the general public" runs or have facilities for unlimited visiting. It is not in a public park and will never have the facilities to handle very large meets, as one would typical find at public park railroads. The Chattanooga Society of Model Engineers, Inc. (CSME) does host scheduled structured visits from organized groups such as schools and Scouts and other large scale clubs.

While we try to keep access easy, the railroad grounds are not maintained to commercial public park standards, with paved walkways and all of the comforts of your home. We are located very rural, in the woods. We share the land with all of the local wildlife, which were here first and remain today; they even come into the buildings on occasion... If you are allergic to anything, bring your own medications, all we have on hand is well water and towels. No one is trained in first aid or emergency medical procedures. The closest "limited" medical care is 20 plus minutes away, longer if you are out on a train. A real hospital is over an hour away.

Anyone who does visit the railroad must complete and sign a WAIVER upon arrival, which allows you to be on the property and ride trains. If anyone under 18 is coming without a parent or legal guardian, the waiver must be signed in advance and brought with the youth.

All large scale railroad fans are welcome to schedule a visit. The scheduled CSME Run Days are the best time to plan such a visit so you'll see a variety of operations. We are always glad to schedule visitors to the EPRR site on workdays to view our progress. The work session schedule is posted on the CSME web page. Let us know when to expect you and we will e-mail or "snail mail" a map showing how to find the track. The railroad is about an hour northwest of Chattanooga, past Dunlap, TN.

If you would like to visit and operate your own equipment, please contact a club officer for details. Visiting trains may operate alone after completing a short open-book exam on the EPRR operating policy and an orentation run. Safety chains and current boiler inspections for steamers, are also required.

EPRR Visiting Engineer Policy

Any engineers expecting to operate any type of motive power on the Eagle Point Railroad need to understand and follow the established operating and safety guidelines.

  1. Sign in sheet to be filled out by visiting engineer, which includes the visitors name and address, home club affiliation and equipment to be used on the railroad.
  2. Visiting engineers will be supplied the EPRR Operating Guidelines and Engineer's Exam, and a current railroad map or diagram. The short exam is "open-book" and only intended to insure you understand the EPRR policy for safe operation.
  3. Visiting equipment will undergo the same Safety Inspection as all CSME equipment is subject to, prior to use on the railroad.
    • A working FRS radio set to the club frequency is required.
    • Working brakes on locomotive if not part of drive system.
    • Safety chains or wires between each piece of equipment.
    • Lights if operating after dark.
    Steam locomotives also require:
    • A current Boiler Certificate or have a hydrostatic test preformed. We can normally do test and inspections if you schedule it prior to visiting.
    • Working ash pan for coal or wood burning locomotives.
    • Stack ash screens.
  4. After engineer's exam and train safety check, visiting engineers will have an introductory familiarizing run over the railroad with a CSME engineer to learn the railroad, its operation and to demonstrate they understand the operating guidelines of EPRR.
  5. Once the CSME members feel visiting engineers appear to understand the EPRR railroad and operating guidelines and demonstrate safe operation of their equipment, then the CSME member will sign their sign-in sheet and they may operate on their own.