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Taking the Train at New River Trail State Park

By Amy AtwoodPosted August 15, 2015

The phrase "all aboard" will once again ring out from the train depot at New River Trail State Park. Beginning on August 20, 2015 New River Trail will kick off its newest opportunity, the New River Trail Train Tour.

New River Trail is a 57-mile Rail-to-Trail park built along an abandoned railroad bed. It only makes sense to offer a program to let visitors experience the trail as it was originally, a view from a train. The staff has been working tirelessly to create an experience as authentic as possible.

No passenger train has traveled along the New River Trail section of the railroad bed since 1955

They have built a train with six cars with an engine, coal car, and even a caboose to travel the trail.

The scenic trip will start out at Foster Falls. The participants will meet at the train Depot and begin this one of a kind program. The ride will follow the New River Trail with the majority of the route paralleling the historic New River. Park interpretive staff will be on board as guides through areas that are culturally, historically, and naturally significant. Periodically, the train will make stops along the trail emphasize spots with particular importance. Some of those stops include the Shot Tower, Austinville Lead Mines and Fries Junction.

The day will end with one last stop at the parks southern access, Cliffview in Galax, Virginia. Participants will be shuttled back to Foster Falls.

The $25/person fee ($20 for groups of four or more) is more than worth it. The fee will include train ride, shuttle, brochures and a boxed lunch. To register call the park office at (276) 699-6778.

If you cannot make it on August 20th don't worry the program will be offered again on September 10 and 17, 2015.

If you are interested to taking this train at New River Trail State Park another time, be sure to check our Virginia State Parks events database for future departures. Check back often as the updates happen frequently when events are added.

PARKS

New River Trail State Park

CATEGORIES

Community | Get Outside | Kids | Learn | Outdoor Activities

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If you have read the article and have a question, please email nancy.heltman@dcr.virginia.gov.

COMMENTS

Virginia State Parks (February 23, 2016 09:21:36 PM): We don't have the schedule for 2016 completed yet. We will let you know when it is ready.

Holly (February 23, 2016 06:11:35 AM): Are you offering this train ride again any this year? I would so love to be able to make plans ahead of time. Can you send me more info at the email provided please. Thank you - Holly
For calender year 2016.

PHOEBE POFF-NEWLON (September 18, 2015 09:59:00 AM): My husband and I did book the the trip! We went yesterday 9-17-15 and enjoyed the beauty of the trail and the places it went through. Beautiful day and perfect weather! Book, you will enjoy! A little bumpy ride but the adventure was great! Our Rangers were excellent and knowledgeable about every thing along the way. We are "seniors" and the Rangers were very helpful with getting on and off the train. A great box lunch was provided from Subway and Fries Junction was a great place to stop for lunch. I have lived in the area all my life and saw parts of the New River that I have never seen before, beautiful!

Sheila W H (August 25, 2015 08:06:38 AM): It sounds grand. I look forward to having the opportunity to do this with my sisters. I hope I will get emails. Thanks much.

Virginia State Parks (August 20, 2015 07:18:55 PM): Thank you Stacy! I am hoping I can get out there and take the trip too.

Stacy Pruitt (August 20, 2015 07:17:08 PM): Woo Woo My family and I did this today. We had a wonderful time on it's first run! The train crew did an awesome job. I would highly recommend catching this train on Sept 10 because Sept 17 is sold out! Thank you for developing this program, I have lived here all my life and today I saw things I have never seen before..it was fantastic!

Virginia State Parks (August 20, 2015 03:50:53 PM): Thanks Ronald - I am glad you enjoyed the trip.

Amber - yes, one of the cars is wheel chair accessible.

Bill - the train is "upcycled" - it was an old aircraft baggage handling cart that our staff modified for this purpose. As such it is gasoline powered.

Ronald Cheeks (August 20, 2015 03:41:55 PM): This was one of the most amazing adventures it is well worth the time spent to get to see gods creations and wildlife it is a nature lovers dream so much to see and learn I really enjoyed the show

Amber (August 20, 2015 11:00:58 AM): This looks awesome! Would it be wheelchair accessible?

Bill (August 20, 2015 08:15:04 AM): Is this "train" powered by batteries, an alternative fuel like LP or is a gasoline or diesel engine which will add to pollution and climate change? If gasoline powered is it at least equipped with catalytic converter?

Citizen (August 19, 2015 10:57:42 AM): You folks should relax and instead of complaining, thank the staff at Virginia State Parks and at the New River Trail State Park for this innovative new offering! It's new, so give it a chance before dismissing and insulting it. Great work everyone!

Cynthia (August 17, 2015 09:22:46 PM): This is a wonderful opportunity! Thank you so much for offering this! I think Thursdays are a great place to start. I understand that there are conflicts, but the trail is so busy on weekends, it would be hard to have the train run on busy days.

Ginny Collins (August 17, 2015 07:15:21 PM): I understand people wanting it to run weekends, but that also is the only time hikers, cycle and horse back riders can enjoy the trails. It would be impossible to do all four at the same time. Not safe. Maybe every other weekend Spring and Fall would be a compromise. However it works out thank you for continually striving to find new ways to enjoy these beautiful trails.

Susan (August 17, 2015 04:17:13 PM): Such a great idea! However, Thursday? As a family we cannot do this due to school and work. Please rethink your schedule so that families with children can take advantage of this wonderful outing. Agree with Danny: Was this a retired folks outing only?

Virginia State Parks (August 17, 2015 12:18:40 PM):

First, we aren't doing the whole 57 miles of the trail because it will take most of the day to just do 27 miles. The train only goes 4-5 miles an hour.

Second, we have to do this on Thursdays because the regular hiking, biking, handicapped users in golf carts and equestrian users make the trail too busy for the weekends. After these trial runs, the park will decide if other options are available.

Third, please see the details on start and end times and what you should bring in the link at the end of the first paragraph. It also tells you have to reserve your spot on the trip. You can also find a map to Foster Falls on our park web page http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/new-river-trail.shtml by clicking on the Google Map in the left corner and then asking for directions from your address.

We are starting at Foster Falls and ending at Cliffview as they provide the best logistical locations for us to start and end.

We hope you will all understand that this is a new venture that we are offering to see how it will work.

Rita (August 16, 2015 11:43:14 PM): I wish it could have been from end to end, instead of starting at Foster Falls.

Janice (August 16, 2015 10:40:09 PM): I wish this was on a Saturday ir Sunday because my son has school & I have a feeling I am not the only one who feels this way. He would love this!

Crystal (August 16, 2015 08:14:59 PM): Definitely would be good to have on weekends. And more than once. Do you know how many people are going to be there on that day???? There's no way everybody will get to ride.

Kim Spencer (August 16, 2015 06:17:10 PM): What time?

Susan (August 16, 2015 05:30:33 PM): This would be absolutely beautiful in October (weekends)!

Heather (August 16, 2015 04:51:20 PM): Would be even better if it went from one end of the trail to the other. Would also be great in October to see all the leaves in full color. Thurs-Sun would be a great option for Sept and Oct. This would be a huge draw if you could ride the entire trail or atleast ride back to Foster Falls instead of a shuttle back.

John A Blair (August 16, 2015 03:11:16 PM): I would love to go on this train ride. However, the statement that no passenger train has been on the trail since 1955 is not quite accurate. My father headed up a Pulaski Lions Club committee which sponsored an excursion train ride to Galax in 1963. I remember the train ride well, because the only way the Lions Club made any money was by selling concessions. My dad, R. J. "Pat" Blair even used my record player to advertise the event using an Andy Griffith recording of "Riding on That New River Train." The train ride was modeled after Galax's trip from Galax to West Jefferson, NC. My uncle, John Spencer, and I had taken that excursion train the year before in 1962. That date coincided with Marilyn Monroe's unfortunate death.

Tony Blair

Kerry (August 16, 2015 02:56:28 PM): Hope they offer it again in October when I'll have the extra money. My boys would love this!

Phoebe (August 16, 2015 02:52:09 PM): Love it, want to do a trip! Will book one for my husband and I. Directions to Foster Falls from Christiansburg?

jessica (August 16, 2015 02:44:32 PM): I agree such a shame it should be available on weekends so kids could go my son loves trains

tracy webb (August 16, 2015 02:37:23 PM): This saddens me, because the train is schedule on a week day. I have two small children and grand children that would love this. With kids in school and my hubby working there's no way we can do this

danny (August 16, 2015 02:25:55 PM): This would be a great thing for local scouts and families but Thursday's ???? Kids have school and parents work? Was this for retired folks outing?

Mary Stoots (August 16, 2015 02:07:35 PM): I would absolutely love to do this because I've never walked the trail before! But because all the trips are during the week it won't be possible for me or my husband or to take any of my grandchildren. Was it planned to you wouldn't have many bookings? Such a shame,it would be so great, the price is reasonable but the dates don't make sense for any but retired or nonworking people.

CATHY VAUGHAN (August 16, 2015 10:58:02 AM): I AGREE,NOT MANY WILL BE ABLE TO DO THIS BECAUSE OF WORK.THIS IS SOMETHING I WOULD LOVE TO DO WITH MY GRANDCHILD.

Cyndy (August 16, 2015 10:28:16 AM): Bummed they are all Thursday's. This would be so nice on a Sunday afternoon!