Virginia Short Line Railroad Expands into Tourist Railroading

July 2022

STAUNTON, Va. — Virginians will soon enjoy a regularly scheduled tourist train. The commonwealth’s Buckingham Branch Railroad, a 275-mile short line freight railroad, has expanded into tourist railroading with the launch of its Virginia Scenic Railway.

Diesel-powered climate-controlled passenger trains will join local freight, overhead CSX Transportation trains, and Amtrak’s triweekly Cardinal on the scenic and independently-owned short line located in central Virginia. The railroad is debuting two distinct excursion trains beginning in August, departing from historic downtown Staunton four days a week.

The railroad’s Alleghany Special, a 3-hour, round-trip excursion. will depart from Staunton at 10:30 a.m. ET each Thursday through Sunday for a near-66-mile round-trip excursion train to Goshen, Va., and return, passing through the state’s Shenandoah Valley nestled between the Blue Ridge and Alleghany mountains.

A second offering is marketed as the Blue Ridge Flyer. This is also a 3-hour round-trip excursion beginning at Staunton, running east to Blue Ridge Tunnel and Ivy, Va., before returning to Staunton. The approximate 62-mile afternoon excursion will depart Staunton Thursdays through Sundays, leaving at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Each excursion will feature diesel-powered EMD four-axle GP-series locomotives and passenger equipment. Passengers will be provided a meal and dessert selection, as well as non-alcoholic beverage options served in complimentary souvenir glasses. Ticket prices are $110.00 per person for either trip.

The Virginia Scenic Railway’s new website has started selling tickets on line, with the first train scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 4. The railroad also intends to dabble into special events, with plans to operate Santa Trains in December.

The railroad’s expansion into tourist railroading marks the commonwealth’s first tourist train service in recent history. Uniquely, it is also one of the few tourist trains that will operate along with freight and Amtrak passenger service.

Amtrak’s Cardinal operates along the same route on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, with eastbound train No. 50 scheduled to arrive at Staunton at 2:38 p.m. ET, and its counterpart, westbound train No. 51 scheduled to arrive at 2:54 p.m. ET when on-time. The Cardinal will operate in conjunction with the Buckingham Branch excursions trains on Fridays and Sundays.

TRAINS magazine