Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad, operator of the Cass Scenic Railroad, has announced a series of special events:
— Steam Rail Heritage Weekend trains Nov. 4-6;
— Rare steam winter excursions Dec. 2-4 and 9-11, 2022;
— The return of West Virginia Central Railroad excursions, powered by classic diesel locomotives, from Elkins to Tygart Junction and return, on Fridays and Saturdays from Jan. 13 to March 18, 2023.
Rail Heritage Weekend offers the opportunity to capture images and videos of Cass geared steam locomotives pulling trains of vintage freight cars, both up Cheat Mountain and north along the Greenbrier River. This year’s event will mark the debut of never-before-seen rolling stock refurbished, repainted, and relettered by the Cass Scenic Railroad Restorations Department in 2022. This event is limited to 55 participants; $500 tickets are still available here. Reservations are required, and tickets will not be available on the days of the event.
Cass Scenic Railroad has operated few winter excursions through the years. The trips planned for December will operate north from Cass along the Greenbrier River, will last for 70 to 90 minutes, and will cover all available former C&O Greenbrier Subdivision track between Cass and Durbin. Participants will ride in one of two heated, decorated coaches or one heated, decorated caboose available at extra charge. Tickets, priced from $35 to $50, are sold out, but for more information and to purchase should any become available, visit this page at the Mountain Rail website.
When Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad first began operating the West Virginia Central, one of the first excursions itoffered was Elkins to Tygart Junction and return, a 4-hour, approximately 40-mile round trip through the spectacular but remote Tygart Valley River canyon. Those trips were discontinued in 2000 but will resume on Fridays and Saturdays Jan. 13 through March 18. Coach passengers will receive a cold-cut lunch on the return trip, and can upgrade to Parlor Car service with more amenities for an additional charge. Tickets range from $57 to $92, depending on age and accommodations. More information and reservations are available here.
