West Virginia’s many mountains and seemingly endless
forests required ingenuity and pure determination to be penetrated by the railroads.
The venerable Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (B&O) is the nation’s oldest
line and more than half of it is situated within West Virginia’s borders.
Baltimore and Maryland lawmakers constructed the B&O to avoid having to ship
goods from the Ohio Valley by the wagonload, a process that took weeks. This railroad
was considered so important that both the Union and Confederacy fought desperately
to keep the B&O from falling into enemy hands.
The Railroads Discover the Mountain State
As American industry became more mechanized, factories needed vast quantities of
coal to heat their furnaces. The Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad (C&O) made mining
in the mountainous southern part of West Virginia possible, and soon the railroads
were hauling countless cars
 filled with
coal out of the mountain state. It was on this railroad that the legend of John
Henry was born. A monument to this “steel drivin’ man” and his
epic victory over a steam drill stands near Talcott, WV. In Huntington, the C&O
Heritage Museum, an old depot newly refitted with a rail-oriented restaurant and
numerous quaint shops, as well as an outdoor railroad museum near Ritter Park, showcase
the state’s rich rail heritage.
A Celebration of Rail Heritage
While companies moved in to take advantage of West Virginia’s
abundance of coal, timber companies started building their own smaller railroads
to haul lumber. Trains at Cass Scenic Railroad State Park once hauled tons of lumber,
but now these historic trains are used solely to take visitors on breathtaking scenic
tours. One of its engines, Shay #5, celebrated its centennial birthday on August
27, 2005.
Cass Scenic Railroad offers regular mystery theater and bluegrass music
rides, as well as a birding/wildflower ride. In the fall, Cass offers its renowned
fall
foliage train rides that take visitors to see the colorful landscape. With varied
pricing and destinations for families and groups, Cass Scenic Railroad is a fun
and affordable way to enjoy a taste of the days of railroading old.
Download our Rail Heritage
brochure.
While the views from any train that travels through West Virginia could be called
scenic, there are many in the state worth a special mention. The Potomac Eagle runs
out of Romney and bald eagles are spotted on more than 90% of all trips! The Tygart Flyer, originating in Elkins, offers four-hour and
six-hour scenic railroad journeys through beautiful countryside and past a picturesque
waterfall 18 feet tall and more than 150 feet wide. The Cheat Mountain Salamander, named after the endangered animal
that resides in the area, is the highest railroad east of the Mississippi River.
The Salamander also boasts the two tightest track curves in
 the United
States. New River Train Excursions offers fall foliage tours in
the New River Gorge sure to impress even the most restless children. This rail road
trip ends in scenic Hinton, host of Railroad Days, a celebration of everything railroad,
with street fairs and a railroad museum. The Durbin Rocket goes through the Monongahela National Forest,
offering spectacular views and a chance to ride one of only three remaining “Climax”
engines.
Rail Commuting in West Virginia
In addition to sightseeing tours, there are also commuter
trains that run in West Virginia. In fact, so many people work in Washington, DC,
but choose to live in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, that the Maryland
Rail Commuter (MARC) system offers service to Harpers Ferry. Amtrak’s Cardinal
line runs through the southern part of the state and services five different stations.The
Capitol Limited makes a brief stop in the Eastern Panhandle in
Harper’s Ferry and Martinsburg.
Not only did railroads help West Virginia grow and
prosper, they continue to showcase the state to visitors from around the world.
Even rail lines no longer in use attract new people to the state through the Rails-to-Trails
project. These rail-trails, as they are called, are formed when communities come
together to turn an old unused railroad section into a trail that can be used for
hiking, biking, walking, and running. There are currently more than 375 miles of
rail-trails in West Virginia, with another 140 miles in
the planning stages. These trails offer a unique exercise opportunity as well as
a way to appreciate and commune with nature. Whether you like riding legendary locomotives,
seeing spectacular displays of WV fall colors, or riding a bike on a smooth rail-trail,
West Virginia’s rail heritage has something of interest to all.
Fall Foliage Tours
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FALL FOLIAGE IN FULL "BLOOM"
As the West Virginia summer moves into fall, it brings a
flood of autumn color to one of the most forested states in the country. The state's
varied topography provides a wide range of altitudes, temperatures and tree species,
making for a foliage show that starts in September and continues into November, depending on what
part of West Virginia you visit.
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West Virginia caters to those who want to see nature’s
best and enjoy unique Appalachian culture. Celebrate the season at one of our fairs and festivals and create memories that last
a lifetime.
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Rail Events for 2008
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West Virginia Division of Tourism
Calendar of Events
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