ALL ABOARD!!! THE RAILROAD DINERS ARE OPEN!

A Dinner onthe Diners event is coming up on Saturday evening, June 25, 2022, in Jonesborough,Tennessee’s oldest town.  Proceeds from ticketsales will help fund the restoration program of Watauga Valley’s historic rail passengercars, and to fund new exhibits and educational experiences at the Chuckey DepotMuseum.  The museum is housed in the formerSouthern Railway train depot, which Watauga ValleyRailroad Historical Society & Museum (WVRHS&M), the town ofJonesborough, and the Heritage Alliance partnered to relocate and preserve.

Thehighlight of the evening will be an elegant meal in oneof WVRH&M’s vintage dining cars, followed by stories from anauthentic Railroad Storyteller. We will also have train songs by the TrunkMonkes. This unique opportunity allows young and oldalike to relive a bygone era.

TheMoultrie reflects the golden years ofpassenger train travel. Originally owned by Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL),it operated between New York City and Miami until 1971. In 1971 Amtrak tookover passenger train operations on the ACL and operated it until 1982. Purchasedby the WVRHS&M in 1989, the Moultrie wasmechanically upgraded and the interior restored.

TheClinchfield 100 began its long lifein 1911 when it was built by the Pullman Company for the ACL as Coach 964.In 1929 it was rebuilt as a dining car and renamed the Orlando.  It operated between Washington, DCand Miami for the next 40 years. It was purchased in 1951 by the ClinchfieldRailroad, headquartered in Erwin, TN, where it was used as an executive car foranother 32 years, including service on the locally famous “CSX Santa Train” outof Kingsport, TN. The WVRHS&M bought Car 100 in 2013, completelyrestored it, and renamed it the Clinchfield.In 2019, it once again served as theofficial Santa car on the CSX “Santa Train” after a 37-year absence. The Clinchfield100 just turned 111 years old.  

Please note:  these diningcars will be in the rail yard on static display and will not move.

Both cars were builtbefore the American with Disabilities Act, and due to their historicsignificance and age, they are exempt from ADA Compliance requirements. Pleaseconsider suitability when ordering tickets.

Dinner will be served at 5:00 p.m., 5:45 p.m., 7:00 p.m.,and 7:45 p.m.  Diners may choose a table for two or four. Parties with fewer than four will beseated with other diners. Youmust pick a seating time and an entrée option when purchasing tickets.  Option 1:  Oven Fried Chicken; Option 2:  Spiral Sliced Ham;  Option3:  Vegetarian  Pasta Primavera.A Pasta Dish made with Corkscrew Pasta accompanied by Garden Fresh Vegetables Zucchini, YellowSquash, Asparagus, Peppers, Tomatoes in a Butter Garlic Sauce Garnished with Parsleyand Fresh Parmesan

The chicken and ham entrees are served with rosemary roasted potatoes and green beansand served with salad..  All mealsinclude your dessert selection from an assortment of cakes.

Dueto limited parking at the rail yard, all patrons will park at the JonesboroughSenior Center, 307 E. Main St., and beshuttled a short distance to and from the dining cars at no charge. Pleasedress casually for comfort while boarding, dining, and listening to thestorytelling.

Come enjoy this dining experience!  You cannot find anything like it anywhere elsein East Tennessee or Southwest Virginia.

Alltickets must be purchased in advance. Tickets are $56.00and are available atthe Jonesborough Visitors’ Center, located at 117Boone St., or by calling [423]753-1010, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.  Ticketsmay also be purchased online atwww.jonesboroughtn.org.Refunds are not available.