Riding the Rails in West Virginia In the highlands of West Virginia, there’s a spiderweb of scenic rail lines used to haul passengers to some of West Virginia’s most remote and picturesque locations. Once used to haul timber and coal off the Appalachians and into small rural towns, these rail lines have been preserved for a new purpose: entertaining tens of thousands of visitors each year.
with one of our seasonal events such as the Ramps & Rails Festival, an Easter-themed Cottontail Express, Bluegrass specials, or something festive like the Polar Express! And the fun doesn’t end even as the trains stop running. In Elkins, our MountainRail packages partner with other local attractions for theatre, dining and lodging partnerships for a true weekend getaway.
The Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad, a company founded in 1997, and its portfolio of West Virginia MountainRail Adventures, offer train rides from three historic depots in West Virginia - Elkins, Cass, and Durbin. While relatively close in distance, the three depots offer a variety of train rides ranging from 2-hour day trips to overnight destinations, wine trains, and special holiday venues. Seasonal train rides, which typically operate April “It’s more than just a train ride. It’s about through December, afford visitors the creating lifelong memories with your chance to explore many of West Virginia’s kids, your friends, and family by truly experiencing West Virginia and this hidden treasures by rail. beautiful part of the state,” says Chase From Elkins, passengers can travel to High Gunnoe, business development manager at Falls waterfall on the New Tygart Flyer the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad. or tour the entire rail line on a 128-mile “From local and unique restaurants to at journey on board the Cheat Mountain least two different theatre productions and Salamander. Both Elkins trips include a local hotels, Elkins is about more than just buffet style lunch for every passenger at a train ride - it’s about exploring and being no additional cost. If you’re looking for an a part of West Virginia’s unique mountain added bonus, plan your trip in coordination heritage for a weekend,” adds Gunnoe.
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