In the usual discussion with fellow historians in the Chattanooga area, it is my duty to report that the tower at the former Chattanooga Terminal Station (now Chattanooga Choo Choo) is threatened with demolition to make way for new luxury apartment housing. A link to the latest newspaper story is attached.

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/busi ... ar/435026/

My (limited) understanding is that the developer who formerly owned the site of the tower offered to donate the structure to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum if they paid for the removal. The deadline for removal was sometime in 2016. That development deal fell through and the museum figured that the structure was safe for the time being (a dangerous assumption to make). However, the developer sold the property to another company which now intends to develop the site.

Unfortunately, the development of the site flies in the face of the reason that the original developer bought the site for-Mr. Casey bought the site to save the Terminal Station complex and developed it as a hotel/resort to generate the revenue necessary to maintain the property.

I have been informed that the Tennessee Historical Commission (State Historical Preservation Office for Tennessee) has been informed of the developing situation.

So what happens to the streetcar ride? It runs right through this spot if I remember correctly.

The streetcar ride was discontinued a while ago but the car itself is on display just outside of the concourse.

I also believe there is another tower in the station area called CT tower, built in the 1970's.

Thomas Dyrek

I have been informed that there are ongoing discussions regarding the Terminal Station tower.

As to the Canal Street trolley on display, originally Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum received two Canal Street cars. One is the one at the Choo Choo and the other was returned to New Orleans. The second car has since been loaned to the Market Street Railway in San Francisco in consideration for the Municipal Railway of San Francisco loaning a cable car to the City of New Orleans.

CT Tower was opened when Terminal Tower ceased operations. CT consolidated the operation of the interlocking plants at East End, Main Street and 23rd Street. I am not certain whether Main Street had a tower, given its proximity to Terminal Tower and changes in track configuration-East End and 23rd Street were each operated by a tower. East End was built and maintained by the Southern but staffed by the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway. The General Railway Signal NX interlocking machine that was installed at CT is on display at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. The interlocking machine from Terminal Tower was (last known) on display in the Baggage and Express building at Terminal Station.

Wow, I didn't know any of this.
I stayed there in October last year (the first time I'd been there in over 35 years), the night before I rode behind 4501 to Summerville, GA and back. All the railroad car rooms were full up so I had to stay in the 'normal' hotel at the end of the old depot platforms.
I asked around about the streetcar ride as the wires were still in place but the hotel staff either couldn't answer the questions or didn't care to. I didn't know the trolley ride had long ago quit running until I just read this, as I got in at night and left very early in the morning, so it was dark the entire time I was there (though it's a really neat place to look around at night).
I recall seeing the tower and wondering what-if anything- would be done with it. It'd be a shame if they tore it down, but I'm not terribly surprised at hearing it might happen.

Threatened? You can say that...

Saw these online yesterday. A moving company apparently had surveyed it the day before and were planning to donate the move to TVRM. Next day, it came down.

Sad. If something is given to your organization, time is never a guarantee.

Did they tear the actual tower part down?

Thomas Dyrek

Yes, it is all gone.

The article says TVRM is going to put the building back together again... I highly doubt it when you look at how broken the bricks are now.

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/busi ... ed/441656/

From better times for the trolley and the tower. November 2011 and an impromptu mini fantrip following the business meeting of the Association of Railway Museums (Heritage Rail Alliance today) fall conference. The trolley's motorman, a genial Southern Gentleman who's name sadly escapes me, came in early and made a special run for a couple dozen trolley fans from the convention. We made multiple photo stops along the route of the trolley. At the time I never imagined the images shot that day would become irreplaceable. Glad I participated in that event.

Steve

Maybe TVRM can construct a replica using some of the salvageable pieces of the original. The Monticello Railway Museum in Monticello, IL constructed a replica tower using the interlocking machine and a couple other pieces from TY Tower in nearby Tuscola which was also demolished.

TD

Nothing left to be salvaged. The interlocking machine is property of the Chattanooga Choo Choo and was last displayed in the baggage building near the entrance to the model railroad exhibit (which is now gone). Who knows where the machine is now. TVRM has the NX machine that was at CT Tower. Terminal tower had been used for office and storage space.