At the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad, we aim to provide each visitor with an experience they cannot get just anywhere. Situated in the mountain highlands of rural West Virginia, our MountainRail Adventures take passengers on a fun and scenic expedition to some of the most obscure and historic parts of the Mountain State. These trips are great for students who care about the outdoors, have an appreciation for history, and enjoy experiencing new things.
With six historic trains departing from three locations, tour operators can pick the experience that is best for them. Whether it’s riding the Durbin Rocket behind a more than 100-year-old steam locomotive, or climbing the mountainous grade of the Cass Scenic Railroad in Cass, we customize each of our group packages to the needs of the visitor.
What is the objective of each trip, you might ask? We want to provide each visitor with something they simply will not experience elsewhere. We are West Virginia’s premiere tourist railroad and the largest operator of geared steam locomotives in the entire world. At Cass, we give riders the opportunity to experience remnants of the former logging towns in an area where you are surrounded by nothing but pine trees and wildlife. In Durbin, the rocket will take you alongside the Greenbrier River where you may witness a Bald Eagle sighting or other wildlife.
For an entirely different experience, check out the New Tygart Flyer in Elkins, where you can enjoy a 4-hour round-trip train ride from Elkins to the High Falls waterfall and return while riding an enclosed passenger train. This trip includes lunch at no additional cost.
We recommend riding our trains early in the spring season as a way to celebrate the end of the academic school year. Join us in April and early May for a MountainRail adventure at either Cass, Elkins, or Durbin. Our company’s group sales staff will work directly with tour operators to figure out a train that fits both the schedule of the institution and the railroad.
Once you arrive at our properties, friendly staff will escort you to the train and from there, on-train narration will give visitors the chance to better connect with the area in learning about its history, animals that are native to the region, and other fun facts about the areas in which the trains operator.
In addition to your train ride, our staff will coordinate other venues for you, as well, including hotels, lodging, and other entertainment.
“Our goal is that once passengers get here, all they have to do is unwind, relax, and take a few hours to appreciate what’s around them,” says Chase Gunnoe, external affairs manager at Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad. “We don’t want our visitors to be preoccupied with figuring out what to do when the train ride ends, but instead, we want them to relax, and let us do the bulk of the planning. We will connect them with the best in local food and entertainment to make for a truly memorable experience,” Gunnoe adds.