Riding the Rails in West Virginia

Watch leaves turn and eagles soar on the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad’s fall foliage tours or be transported to the North Pole on the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad’s Polar Express expedition. Take in a haunted Halloween train ride or a nightly lunar excursion from the Cass Scenic Railroad, be part of a murder mystery with the Mountain State Mystery Train or shop and play the slots on The Greenbrier Casino Excursion on the New River Train by the Collis P. Huntington Railroad Historical Society, Inc. These are just a few of the spectacular rides offered in the Mountain State, and no matter which you choose, you can’t lose.

Fall Foliage

The Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad™ offers fall foliage trips on weekdays throughout the month of October. Departing from Romney, WV, and traveling through the “trough,” also known as a mountain valley, this three-hour ride will make you fall in love with the beautiful Mountain State. The train travels through the mountains, by historic farms, near forests and over the South Branch of the Potomac River. The journey is narrated throughout, so you’ll get to learn about the scenery and its history as you pass it by.

Possibly the most exciting part of the trip, though, is the wildlife. The American Bald Eagle calls this area its home, and you can often spot them flying above during the ride. You may also be able to see fish in the river as you pass. Cameras are encouraged to capture these special moments.

The ride also features a snack bar and concession car. Another option offered is first-class seating with climate-controlled lounge and dining cars, light snacks, beverage service and a gourmet dessert. If you prefer, you may also bring your own picnic.

The Polar Express

The Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad features a special ride for the holiday season: The Polar Express™. The train, based on the film from Warner Bros. Pictures and the children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg, departs from Elkins, WV, and takes children and their families on a one-hour journey to the North Pole by way of their imaginations.

Passengers are encouraged to wear their pajamas as they listen to stories and eat goodies made by dancing chefs. The motion picture soundtrack plays in the background until the train reaches the North Pole, where Santa comes aboard with gifts.

After starting only two years ago, this ride sells out fast; they’ve had to nearly double the number of trips each season, so reservations are required. Rides take place at 5 p.m. and 7:15 p.m., Thursday through Sunday from November to mid-December. Also available are multiday packages with lodging and a RailYard Holiday Package on Saturdays. Partnering with the RailYard Restaurant, in this package the Polar Express offers lunch or dinner and an hour of classical Christmas music by local jazz musicians.

Rides that Go Bump in the Night

The Cass Scenic Railroad season runs from May 25 through October 27 in 2013. In addition to daily trips, Cass offers several special trains, including a Halloween train ride one day a year—on October 26 for 2013. Riders are encouraged to wear costumes, and a contest is held in the Cass Community Center before the train departs Cass Depot at 6 p.m. As the train travels to Whittaker Station, passengers are entertained with haunted surprises. Upon arrival at the station, a haunted caboose, hot chocolate and a variety of treats await. The ride lasts approximately an hour and a half.

Also, debuting this year are four lunar trips: the New Moon Run to Whittaker Station on August 20 and September 19 and the Full Moon Run to Bald Knob on July 9 and August 6. These are late evening trips that leave the Cass Depot at 8 p.m. Advanced reservations are required for all special train trips.

Murder Mystery Theater

The Mountain State Mystery Train©™ hosts Murder Mystery Theater©™ trips with audience participation made possible by a fully-interactive theater company. Based in Huntington, WV, they do their best to accommodate your desires for when and where you’d like to go, offering various regional and national destinations. Performances may have themes, and guests can wear the appropriate costumes to match.

Most of their events are about four hours long and include a reception, dinner, show and awards ceremony for guests who choose to participate in the show. Anywhere from 50 to 500 guests can attend at a time, with smaller groups by special arrangement.

The Greenbrier Casino

The Collis P. Huntington Railroad Historical Society, Inc. sponsors The Greenbrier Casino Excursion on the New River Train™ year-round, a one-day trip that travels through the beautiful New River Gorge. The ride includes an Amtrak trip to The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, WV, and a bus for the ride back. Passengers receive $15 of free slot play in the new casino and a buffet lunch at The Greenbrier. Patrons may also walk around the resort and shop independently or take an optional bunker tour at an additional cost. On the way home, the bus will stop at Tamarack for shopping and dinner.

The train boards at both Huntington and Charleston. The ride to the resort is approximately three and a half hours from Charleston and four and a half from Huntington. The train will depart from Huntington at about 7 a.m. and from Charleston at 8 a.m. and arrive at the resort at 11:30 a.m. Later, the bus will leave The Greenbrier at 5 p.m. and arrive in Charleston at 8:30 p.m. and Huntington at 9:30 p.m.