The Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad operates several separate, distinct trains in the Mountain State. The Cheat Mountain Salamander offers a ride into the high country of Cheat Mountain, the Durbin Rocket is pulled by a Heisler locomotive, and the New Tygart Flyer is a diesel-powered train that takes coaches and first-class cars through the wilderness. It also now operates the Cass Scenic Railroad.
Choices
This railroad is all about choices. The Cheat Mountain Salamander offers an 8-hour round trip through remote mountain country to Old Spruce where passengers can transfer to the Cass Scenic Railroad. The Durbin Rocket is a 2-hour ride aboard a caboose, coach, or open gondola behind a Climax or Heisler steam locomotive, traveling along the Greenbrier River. The New Tygart Flyer provides a 4-hour round trip through a curved tunnel, across a deep canyon, and over a rushing river to a spectacular waterfall. A Mountain Explorer dinner train also operates.
When to go
Trains operate from April through December. Murder Mystery, Polar Express, Elf Unlimited, and other special trains are scheduled throughout the season.
Good to know
For several years the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad has been rehabilitating the track between Durbin and Cass, W.Va. The Greenbrier Express connects the company’s Durbin Rocket to the Cass Scenic Railroad, which connects to the Cheat Mountain route at Spruce, W.Va., providing an interconnected excursion network.
Worth doing
Departures from Durbin offers an up-close nature experience with the “Castaway Caboose,” an overnight adventure where guests rent a caboose, which is dropped off by the Durbin Rocket in West Virginia’s wilderness.
Don’t miss
All Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad stations are located close to each other, enabling multiple train excursions in one impressive mountain setting.
Getting there
Route 250 connects Elkins and Durbin, which is 35 miles south. The Elkins station, where the New Tygart Flyer and the Cheat Mountain Salamander board, is downtown near the river. The Durbin Rocket takes off from the restored C&O Railway depot in Durbin. Cass is 19 miles south of Durbin via Routes 92 and 66.
Location: 315 Railroad Avenue, Elkins, WV
Phone: 877-686-7245
Website: mountainrailwv.com
E-mail: Form on website
See more West Virginia tourist railroads you must visit.
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