This year has brought some of the most vibrant fall colors ever experienced in the West Virginia and Maryland mountains, and tourist railroads that serve the area have benefitted.
“This has been one of the prettiest, longest lasting fall color displays that I can remember,” says John Smith, CEO of Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad. “All tickets for all four of our venues” — steam-powered Cass Scenic Railroad Whittaker Station, Bald Knob, and Greenbrier Express trains, and diesel-powered West Virginia Central New Tygart Flyer trains — “have been sold out since mid-September. Even the November Greenbrier Express and New Tygart Flyer trips are at near capacity.”
The nearby Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad (Romney, W.Va.) and Western Maryland Scenic Railroad (Cumberland, Md.) reported in phone conversations that their trains for the rest of the regular season are also sold out.
There may still be some opportunities to enjoy fall colors by rail at these sites. As of this writing, some late-season tickets may remain for Cass Scenic’s Greenbrier Express and West Virginia Central’s New Tygart Flyer trains. And while the other trains mentioned are sold out, the possibility always exists that tickets will be freed up by cancellations if you call at the right time.
Visit the railroads’ respective websites — for the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley, Potomac Eagle Scenic, and Western Maryland Scenic — for more information.
This is one area where the train has all other forms of transportation beat. You can;t get or experience the breath taking views and beauty and color of the fall season from any form of transportation but only a train as it goes along deep into the woods or mountains at a modest pace givng riders a chance to take in the scenic views and also get some great photos and videos all while relaxing in a comfortable seat in a nice coach on the train. Fall foliage tours and trains go hand in hand and offer its riders Mother Nature at her best in the changing landscape and colr
Joseph C. Markfelder
Great for them!
Dr. Güntürk Üstün