Visiting |
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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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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