Byways Great American Railroads 2023

FeaturingNorthAmerica’sLeadingTravelDestinations

WelcometotheGreat AmericanRailroads issueofByways.

Inthisexcitingissue,wewill exploreseveralofthenation’s heritagerailroads,eachwithits ownuniquehistory,attractions, andscenery.

First,wevisittheRoyalGorgeRailroadinCañon City,Colorado.Thisstunningrailroadrunsalongthe ArkansasRiver, throughthemajestic RoyalGorgecanyon, whichfeatures dramaticviews,rock formations,and wildlife.

TheRoyalGorge Railroadisoneofthe mostpopulartourist attractionsin Colorado,carrying over200,000 passengersayear.

Next,wetravelto southwestern Coloradotovisitthe DurangoandSilvertonNarrowGaugeRailroad.This historicrailwaywasoriginallybuiltinthe1880sto servetheminingindustryandhasbeenincontinuous operationforoveracentury.Therailwayoffersboth steamanddiesel-poweredlocomotives,providing breathtakingviewsofthemountainsandcanyons alongtheway.

WealsovisittheBlackHillsCentralRailroadin SouthDakota,locatednearMountRushmoreand CrazyHorseMemorial.Thisbeautifulheritage railroadoffersregularpassengerservice,aswellas specialexcursionssuchasthe“PolarExpress”and “WildWestTrainRobbery”rides.

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Preview

ByStephenKirchner,Editor&Publisher

InNewJersey,weexploretheBlackRiverand WesternRailroad.Thisheritagerailroadhasbeenin operationforover50yearsandoffersbothpassenger andfreightservices,aswellasspecialexcursion trainsandthemedeventsthroughouttheyear.

WealsovisitthePotomacEagleScenicRailroadin WestVirginia,runningalongtheSouthBranchofthe PotomacRiverandthroughtheAppalachian Mountains.Here,passengerscantakepartinspecial excursiontrains,suchasthe“PolarExpress”and “MurderMystery”trips,andenjoybeautifulscenery, includingthe chancetospot Americanbald eagles.

Inhiscolumn,Bill Gravestakesusto theMuseumofthe Yellowstone, locatedinthe originalend-oflinedepotofthe OregonShortLine Railroad.This museumoffersa uniquelookinto thehistoryofthis iconiclocation.

In What’sHappening,theNationalMuseumofthe UnitedStatesAirForceiscelebratingits100th anniversary.LocatedatWright-PattersonAirForce BasenearDayton,Ohio,themuseumfeaturesmore than350aerospacevehiclesandmissiles,makingit thelargestmilitaryaviationmuseumintheworld. Admissionandparkingarefree.

WehopeyouenjoythisissueofBywaysandourtour ofthesegreatAmericanrailroads!

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TheRoyalGorgeRailroadisaheritagerailroad locatedinCañonCity,Colorado.Itoperates alongastretchoftrackthatfollowsthe ArkansasRiverthroughtheRoyalGorge,adeepand narrowcanyonthatisapopulartouristdestination.

TheRoyalGorgeisacanyonknownforitsdramatic andbeautifulscenery.Itisoneofthedeepest canyonsinColoradoandishometoanumberof hikingandrockclimbingroutes,aswellasother outdoorrecreationopportunities.

TheRoyalGorgeBridge,whichspansthecanyon,is apopulartouristattractionandisthehighest suspensionbridgeintheUnitedStates.TheRoyal GorgeRailroadoffersauniquewaytoexperiencethe RoyalGorge,withscenictrainsthatfollowthe ArkansasRiverthroughthecanyon.

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History

RoyalGorgehistorybeginswithsilver.Inthelate 1870sminersdescendedontheupperArkansas ValleyofColoradoinsearchofcarbonateoresrichin leadandsilver.Thefeverishminingactivityinwhat wouldbecometheLeadvilledistrictattractedthe attentionoftheDenver&RioGrandeandtheSanta Ferailroads,eachalreadyhavingtracksinthe ArkansasValley.

TheSantaFewasatPueblo,andtheD&RGnear CañonCitysome35mileswest.Leadvillewasover 100milesaway.Fortworailroadstooccupyariver valleyordinarilywasnotaproblem,butwestof CañonCitywasanincredibleobstacle–anobstacle thatwouldresultinawarbetweentherailroadsinthe racetothenewbonanza.

WestofCañonCitytheArkansas Rivercutsthroughahighplateau ofigneousrocksforminga spectacularsteep-walledgorge overathousandfeetdeep.Atits narrowestpointsteepwallson bothsidesplungeintotheriver creatinganimpassiblebarrier.On April19,1878,ahastily assembledconstructioncrew fromtheSantaFebegangrading forarailroadjustwestofCañon Cityinthemouthofthegorge.

TheD&RGwhoseendoftrack wasonly¾ofamilefromCañon Cityracedcrewstothesame area,butwereblockedbythe

SantaFegradersinthenarrowcanyon.Byafew hourstheyhadlostthefirstroundinwhatbecamea two-yearstrugglebetweenthetworailroadsthat wouldbeknownastheRoyalGorgeWar.

AninterestingpartoftheSantaFeconstruction throughthegorgeisthehangingbridgeatapoint wherethegorgenarrowsto30feet.Heretherailroad hadtobesuspendedovertheriveralongthenorth sideofthegorgeassteeprockwallsgorightdown intotheriveronbothsides.

C.ShallorSmith,aKansasengineer,designeda175ftplategirdersuspendedononesideby“A”frame girdersspanningtheriverandanchoredtotherock walls.Thebridgecost$11,759in1879,aprincely suminthosedays.Althoughithasbeenstrengthened overtheyears,thisuniquestructurehasservedona mainraillineforover118years.

ModernDayRailroad

RoyalGorgeHistoryreachesthemodern-daywith TheRoyalGorgeRouteRailroadbeingreestablished inthefallof1998andhasbecomeapremier destinationattractioncarryingmorethan200,000 gueststhroughtheRoyalGorgeeachyear.

TheRoyalGorgeRailroadhasgrownintoamajor destinationattractionwhileensuringtheRoyalGorge remainsaspecialplacetobepreservedmuchlike anyoneoftheNationalParks.Ridingtherails throughtheRoyalGorgeandspottingBigHorn Sheep,BlueHeron,BaldEagles,andenjoyingthe tumblingArkansasRiverwithyourfamilyorfriends isauniqueexperience.

Therailroadoffersbothregularpassengerservice andspecialeventtrains,suchasdinnertrainsand holidaytrains.Onboardthetrain,you’llfindfresh andtastyentreesforbreakfast,lunch,anddinner

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thatbringtolifethebeautyandbountyoftheRoyal Gorge.

TheRoyalGorgeRailroadhasafleetofhistoric dieselandsteamlocomotives,aswellasanumberof

vintagepassengercars.Itisapopularattractionin theareaandoffersvisitorsauniquewayto experiencethebeautyoftheRoyalGorge.

Formoreinformationonvisitingthearea,

https://www.royalgorgeroute.com

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TheDurangoandSilvertonNarrowGauge Railroadisahistoricnarrow-gaugerailway thatoperatesinthemountainsofsouthwestern Colorado,betweenthetownsofDurangoand Silverton.

Therailwaywasbuiltinthe1880stoservethe miningindustryintheregion,andithasbeenin continuousoperationsincethen.Therailwayis knownforitsscenicbeauty,asitpassesthroughthe

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SanJuanMountainsandtheAnimasRiverCanyon, anditispopularwithtouristswhowanttoexperience atriponahistoricsteam-poweredtrain.

TheDurangoandSilvertonRailroadisanarrowgaugerailway,whichmeansthatthetracksare narrowerthanstandardgaugetracks.Therailway originallyusedsteam-poweredlocomotives,butit nowalsohasdiesel-poweredlocomotivesinitsfleet.

Therailwayoperatesseveralhistoricsteam locomotives,includingthe“GallopingGoose”,a seriesofrailcarsthatwereconvertedfrom automobilesinthe1930sandusedtoprovide passengerserviceontherailway.

TheDurango&Silvertonisownedandoperatedby AmericanHeritageRailways.

History

DurangowasfoundedbytheDenver&RioGrande Railwayin1880.TherailroadarrivedinDurangoon August5,1881andconstructiononthelineto Silvertonbeganinthefallofthesameyear.ByJuly of1882,thetrackstoSilvertonwerecompletedand thetrainbeganhaulingbothpassengersandfreight.

Fromtheverybeginning,therailroadwaspromoted asascenicrouteforpassengerservicealthoughthe linewasconstructedprimarilytohaulmineores, bothgoldandsilver,fromtheSanJuanMountains.It isestimatedover$300millioninpreciousmetalshas beentransportedoverthisroute.

WiththeadventofWWII,theU.S.Government requisitionednarrowgaugeequipmenttousein AlaskaandthesmelterinDurangoreopenedto processuraniumforuseinthewar.

Thesmeltercontinuedtoprocessuraniuminsteadof silverintothelate1940sduetotheColdWar.By 1947theSilvertonbranchwasindangerofbeing abandoned.Adeterminedstaffsteppedinandhelped topromotetourism,keepingthelinealive.

ThenHollywooddiscoveredDurangoandthe railroad.Overthenexttenyearsseveralmovieswere filmedintheareashowcasingtherailroad: Ticketto Tomahawk, AcrosstheWideMissouri, Denver&Rio Grande, VivaZapata and AroundtheWorldin80 Days.

Duringthe1960s, theDurangoSilvertonwas registeredasa NationalHistoric Landmarkand wasawardedasa NationalHistoric CivilEngineering Landmark.In 1969the D&RGW abandonedthe trackssouthof Durango, isolatingtheline andleavingthe futureoftheline inquestion.

Hollywood continuedits fascinationwith theareaandthe

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railroadwiththefilmingof ButchCassidyandthe SundanceKid.Astherailroadpreparedtocelebrate its100thbirthday,CharlesE.Bradshaw,Jr. purchasedtheSilvertonbranchandwiththe restorationprocesscomplete,Engine#481returned toserviceafter20yearsinretirement.

Throughoutthe1980s,therailroadcontinuedtobuild onthescenictouristrailroadindustry.Enginesand coachesbegantobeweatherizedforwinteruse;a thirdtraintoSilvertonwasaddedtotheschedule alongwithanalternativefourthtraintoCascade CanyonWye,andamajor trackreconstructionoccurred asnearlytenthousandties werereplaced.

Locomotives#497and#480 wererestoredandreturnedto service,the#497beingthe onlyK-37torunontheline andtheinnovativeRailCamp wasbuiltforuseinthe summer.Engine481isthe lastofthecoalburning enginesontheline.

In1985therailroad purchasedtheSilverton Depot,returningittoservice. By1986therewerefour trainsrunningtoSilverton withafifthrunningto

CascadeCanyonWye.

TodaytheDurango& SilvertonNarrowGauge Railroadcontinuesto provideyear-roundtrain service,operatingahistorical trainwithrollingstock indigenoustotheline.The locomotivesusedtopull today’strainareeitheroilfiredorcoal-firedsteamoperatedanddiesel.

Thesteamlocomotivesare 1923-25vintageandare maintainedintopcondition. Thecoacheseachfeature bathroomfacilitiesandare heatedduringthewinter monthsforpassenger comfort.Opengondolacars provideapanoramicviewofthemountains. Concessionsareavailableoneverytrain.

Inadditiontoofferingregularpassengerservice betweenDurangoandSilverton,theDurangoand SilvertonRailroadalsooffersspecialexcursion trains,suchasthe“PolarExpress”,aholiday-themed trainride,andthe“GreatTrainRobbery,”aWild West-themedtrainride.

https://www.durangotrain.com

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TheBlackHillsCentralRailroadisaheritage railroadthatoperatesinSouthDakota,inthe westernUnitedStates.Therailwayislocated intheBlackHillsandrunsbetweenthetownsofHill CityandKeystone.TheBlackHillsCentralRailroad offersscenictrainridesthroughtheBlackHills,and itisapopulartouristattractionintheregion.

TheBlackHillsCentralRailroadwasfoundedinthe 1980s,anditoperatesonaportionoftheformer Chicago,BurlingtonandQuincyRailroad’sBlack HillsBranch.Therailwayoriginallyuseddieselpoweredlocomotives,butitnowalsohasasteam locomotiveinitsfleet.Therailwayoperatesanumber ofhistoricpassengercars,includingsomethatwere builtinthe1920sand1930s.

LocatednearMountRushmoreNationalMemorial andCrazyHorseMemorial,the1880Trainoffersa westernexperiencelikenoother.Feelthepower.Hear thebellowoftheengineandthewhineofthewhistle asitwindsitswaythroughthescenichills.

Thewhistle,thebillowingsmoke,andthechuggingof

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theengineareauthenticsightsandsoundsforthe 1880steamtrain.Celebratingits66thyear,the1880 TrainisanactivitylikenootherintheBlackHills. FollowingtheoriginalrouteoftheChicago, Burlington,andQuincyRailroad,the1880Traintakes passengersonatwo-hour,narrated,20-milehistoric trip.

TheBlackHillsCentralRailroadrestoresearly twentiethcentury-eralocomotivesandtraincarsand hasbeenfeaturedontelevisionshowssuchasthe Gunsmoke episode“SnowTrain”, GeneralHospital andtheTNTmini-series IntotheWest. Italso appearedinthemovie OrphanTrain.

TrainsoperatedailyMaythroughearlyOctoberover thescenic10-milelinebetweenHillCityand Keystone.Passengersmaystartfromeitherstation andchoosetolayoverandenjoythetownpriorto returningtotheiroriginallocation.One-waytripsare alsoanoption.Reservationsareencouraged.

TheSouthDakotaStateRailroadMuseumislocated adjacenttotheHillCitydepot.

History

TheBlackHillsminingboom beganin1874.Goldwas discoverednearthesiteoftoday’s cityofCusterbyamemberofan explorationpartyledbyLt.

ColonelGeorgeA.Custer.Bylate 1877,eventschangingtheBlack Hillsforeverhadoccurred:the BattleoftheLittleBighorn;major goldstrikesintheDeadwoodand LeadareasofthenorthernBlack Hills;andtheareabecameapart oftheDakotaTerritory.

ThefirststeamengineintheBlack Hillswasbroughtacrosstheprairie bybullteamtotheHomestake MiningCompanyatLeadin1879.In1881,theHomestakeCompanycreatedthefirstnarrow-gaugerailroad intheBlackHillstohaulitscargoandthepublicfrom Leadtoseveralminingcamps.In1885,thefirst standard-gaugerailroadreachedBuffaloGap,Dakota Territory,andwasextendedonintoRapidCitythe nextyear.

Inthe1950s,afteryearsofdeclininguse,WilliamB. Heckman,apublicrelationsmanwithrailroad experience,decidedtostartarailroadwheresteam

actuallyoperatedandwasnotjustrelegatedtostatic display.HeandRobertFreer,asalesengineerof diesellocomotivesintheElectro-MotiveDivisionof GeneralMotors,organizedagroupwhobelieved “thereshouldbeinoperationatleastoneworking steamrailroad,forboysofallageswhoshare America’sfondnessfortherapidlyvanishingsteam locomotive.”

OnthemorningofAugust18,1957,thefirstofficial trainoperatedontheBlackHillsCentralRailroad.

Theroutewasnicknamed“the1880Train”,asitwas likenedbyHeckmantoridingatraininthe1880s.

RobertandJoAnnaWarderboughttheBlackHills CentralRailroadin1990.Asaresult,therailroad experiencedarebirth.

Inadditiontoofferingregularpassenger service,theBlackHillsCentralRailroad alsooffersspecialexcursiontrains,suchas a“PolarExpress”trainrideduringthe holidayseasonanda“WildWestTrain Robbery”trainride.Therailwayispopular withtouristsandrailenthusiasts,anditis knownforitsscenicbeautyandhistoric equipment.TheBlackHillsCentral Railroadisasignificanttouristattraction intheBlackHillsregionofSouthDakota.

Sixtysixyearsafteritsinception,the BlackHillsCentralRailroadisstill providingwhatHeckmanenvisioned–a placewherenewgenerationsexperiencea

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steamlocomotiveandawaytocommemoratethevital rolethatrailroadsplayedinthedevelopmentofthis country.

https://www.1880train.com

TravelingtheHighways&Byways withBillGraves S

choolkidshere, researchingthehistory oftheirhometown, haveiteasy.It’sfoundall inoneplace,theMuseum oftheYellowstone.The buildingwasoriginallythe end-of-linedepotofthe OregonShortLine Railroad.

NexttoitistheUnion PacificDiningLodge,a massiveedificeoflogand stonewithafireplacebig enoughformetowalkaroundin.Openedfor businessin1909,itwasinthesetwo,storied structureswhereitallbeganforthistown.Andthey arewhatmakethisplaceunique.

WestYellowstonedidnotjustdriftintoMontanalike aspore,asthewildwindofthefrontierblewwest.It wasneveraroguetentcitylikethosethatsprouted aroundgoldminesandrailroadspurs.Itisatown thatisnowwhatithasalwaysbeen.

SituatedonthewestedgeofYellowstoneNational Park,itbecamethechicpointofentryforthe“jet set”oftheearly1900s.Itwasatimewhentrain travelwaselegantandtheonlywaytojourneyto Yellowstone–thefirstnationalparkinthecountry, infact,theworld.

“Theywouldarriveatseveninthemorningonthe YellowstoneSpecialin40state-of-artPullmancars,” PaulSheatoldme.Heisthecuratoratthemuseum. “Whileportersunloadedtheirluggage,theywould gatherforbreakfastinthegreatdininghall,all stylishlydressedforadayoftouringthepark,where theywouldspendthreenights.

Someevenbroughttheirmaidsandservantswith them.Thehotelsintheparkweremagnificent–and evenmoresotoday,astheyhaveretainedthe grandeurofthatera.Intheearlydays,theytoured bystagecoach,laterinopentouringcars.Theirvisits endedherewithlavishdinnersinthedininglodge.”

KayEaglewasawaitressthere.“Icamefrom

Nebraska,myfirstyearincollege–1947.Itwasa summerjobthatwasmuchsoughtafter.Youhadto knowsomebodytogetone.Wecameonthetrain. Theygaveusroomandboard.Iusedtomake20or 30dollarsadayintipsservingbreakfastanddinner. Oh...theyweredonebeautifully–linentablecloths, wineinglassdecanters.Wehadtowearwhite,pinoncollars…canyouimagine?”

ImetKayintheEagleStore–aretailinstitutionin townthatisnowrunbythirdgenerationEagles. Theysellwesternboots,hats,allthatsortofthing. Wehadiceteatogetherattheirsodafountainthat datesto1914.

Afterthewar,shesaid,thingsgotmorecasualinthe dininglodge.Itsthemewentwesterninthe1950s.

“Theyswitchedtored-checkedtableclothsand dispensedwithourwhitecollars.Iwassurehappyto seethosego.Wewereservingeverybodythen,not justtrainpassengers.”MiddleAmericawasnowon theroadandWestYellowstonewasadjustingtothis newonslaughtoftourists.

TheYellowstoneSpecialoperatedeverysummer until1960.Railservicewasabandonedherein1970. Longbeforethat,however,Kayhadmarriedoneof theEagleboys,givenupNebraska,andwasraisinga familyhere.

Thisareawasallnationalforestthen.In1920, PresidentWoodrowWilsonsignedaproclamation removingthetownfromtheMadisonNationalForest andcreatingthe49-squareblocksthatareWest Yellowstone.

Athousandpeoplelivehere,providingforthe million-plustouristswhopassthrougheveryyear. Itslocationdefinesit.Andthat’snotlikelyto change.

WelcometoAmerica’sOutback.

Abouttheauthor: Afterseeingmuchoftheworld asacareernavalofficer,BillGravesdecided,afterhe retired,totakeacloserlookattheUnitedStates.He hasbeenroamingthecountryfor20years,muchofit inamotorhomewithhisdogRusty.Helivesin RanchoPalosVerdes,Californiaandistheauthorof OntheBackRoads,DiscoveringSmallTownsof America.

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TheBlackRiverandWesternRailroad(BR&W) isaheritagerailroadlocatedinHunterdon County,NewJerseythathasbeenservingthe communityforover50years.TheBR&Wwas foundedintheearly1960sbyagroupoffriendswith aninterestinsteamrailroadingandhassincebecome abelovedattractionforvisitorswhowantto experienceold-fashionedrailroading.

TheBlackRiverandWesternRailroadisashort-line railroad.Therailwayislocatedinthecentralpartof thestate,intheregionknownasthe“Skylands”,and itrunsalongtheBlackRiver.Therailwayoffers scenictrainridesthroughthecountrysideandalong theriver,anditisapopulartouristattractioninthe region.

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TheBR&Woriginallyoperatedpassengertrains betweenFlemingtonandRingoesunderalease agreementwiththePennsylvaniaRailroad.The railroadlaterpurchasedthelinefromLambertvilleto FlemingtonandlateraddedtheformerCentral RailroadofNewJerseylinefromFlemingtonto ThreeBridges.

Inadditiontoprovidingpassengerservice,the BR&Walsooperatesasafreightcarrier,serving localbusinessesinHunterdonandWarrenCounties. TheBR&WisoneofthefewplacesinNorth Americawhereyoucanstillseesteam-powered freighttrainsinoperation.

OneofthehighlightsoftheBR&Wisthe#60steam locomotive,a2-8-0“consolidation”typelocomotive

thatwasbuiltin1937bytheAmericanLocomotive Company(ALCo)inSchenectady,NewYorkforthe GreatWesternRailroadinColorado.

Afterhaulingsugarbeetsfor25years,the#60 returnedtotheEastCoasttopowertouristrailroad excursionsonthenewlyformedBlackRiverand WesternRailroad.Today,the#60continuestopower

theBR&W’spassengertrains,justasitdidover50 yearsago.

TheBR&Wisanindependentlyownedandoperated ClassIIIcommon-carrierrailroadthatconnectsthe townsofLambertville,Ringoes,Flemington,and ThreeBridgesinNewJersey.Therailroadispartof theBlackRiverRailroadSystem(BDRV),which alsooperatesfreightservicesonother shortlinerailroadsinNewJerseyand Pennsylvania,aswellaslocomotive leasingthroughouttheUnitedStates.

Inadditiontoregularpassengerservice, theBR&Walsooffersspecialexcursion trainsandthemedeventsthroughoutthe year.AllBR&Wpassengertrainsare staffedbyvolunteerrailroaders,and passengerexcursionscurrentlyoperate betweenFlemington,Ringoes,and Bowne.

https://www.blackriverrailroad.com

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ThePotomacEagleScenicRailroadisaheritage railroadthatoperatesinWestVirginia.The railwayislocatedintheeasternpanhandleof WestVirginia,intheAppalachianMountains,andit runsalongtheSouthBranchofthePotomacRiver. Therailwayoffersscenictrainridesthroughthe countrysideandalongtheriver,anditisapopular touristattractionintheregion.

ThePotomacEagleScenicRailroadwasfoundedin 1986,anditoperatesonaportionoftheformer BaltimoreandOhioRailroad’sGreenbrierDivision. Therailwayoriginallyuseddiesel-powered locomotives,butitnowalsohasasteamlocomotive initsfleet.Therailwayoperatesanumberofhistoric passengercars,includingsomethatwerebuiltinthe 1920sand1930s.

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Romney,WestVirginiaishometothePotomacEagle ScenicRailroad.Fromthemomentyouboardthe train,youwillbetakenonanoutdoorjourney throughthemajesticscenerythatthelandhasto offer.Knownforitseaglesightings,you’llhave severalopportunitiestolookoutforthecountry’s nationalbird.

ItwasastatePublicServiceCommissionstudythat firstsuggestedthatascenicexcursiontrainwouldbe successfulontheSouthBranchValleyRailroad.

FromthatstudymembersoftheRomneyBusiness andProfessionalOrganizationbegantheireffortto maketheideaareality.Afewyearslapsedbeforethe PotomacEaglebecamethecompanyinchargeof makingthedreamofafewasourceofpleasurefor many.

AmericanBaldEagle

Andbycoincidencethattime framewasalsowhenafew Americanbaldeaglesdecidedto maketheTrough,anarrowpassage thetraintracksandtherivershare, apermanenthome.Inthefallof 1991,theEagleCanonPassenger CarCompanybeganoperatingthe PotomacEaglefromasiding namedWappocomoStationjust northofRomney.

Andthat’sbeforepassengersgetto the6-mileTrough,whereeagles almostalwaysawaittrainvisitors. Sometimespassengersseeone eagle,andthenothertripsprovide visitorswiththechancetosee

several.It’snotaguaranteetoseeAmerica’sgreatest symbolonthePotomacEagle,butit’saprettygood betthatpassengerswillseeatleastone.It’salmostas iftheycomeoutoncuetoperforminalltheir spectacularstyle.

MostvisitorsonthePotomacEagleareunawareof thelongbutstoriedpastoftheSouthBranchValley Railroad(SBVR).Thelinehasbeenavitalpartof thevalleyfromGreenSpringtoPetersburgforwell over100years.TheSouthBranchValleyRailroad comprisesa52.4-mileroutefromPetersburgto GreenSpringwhereitlinkstotheCSXTmainlinein Cumberland.

TheSBVRgenerallyparallelstheSouthBranchof thePotomacRiver–fromwhichtherailroadtakesits name.CrossingHampshire,HardyandGrant counties,theSBVRservesthetownsofRomney (1,940),Moorefield(2,375)andPetersburg(2,423). TherailroadisheadquarteredinMoorefield.Itis ownedandoperatedbytheWestVirginiaStateRail Authority(SRA).Stateemployeesperform maintenanceandfreightoperations.

FreightService

Inthemid-1970s,thelinewasabandonedbythe B&O.ItwastakenoverbytheStateofWestVirginia inOctober,1978,asgovernmentofficialsbecame concernedovertheharmthatwouldcometoexisting industryandtheprospectsofdrivingawaynew businessalongtheline.

Today,freightserviceoperatesfivedaysaweek, MondaythroughFriday,withspecialandunittrain operationsonweekendsasneeded.TheSBVR’s largestcustomerisPilgrim’sPrideinMoorefield. Pilgrim’sfeedmillreceivescornandother commoditiesusedinthemanufactureofitspoultry feed.

Nearlyallofthecornarrivesin65-carunittrains whichmustbemovedtothefeedmill,unloadedand returnedtoCSXTinlessthan48hours.Three customersarelocatedinPetersburg:AdellPolymers shipsandreceivesloadsofplasticpellets,Allegheny WoodProductsshipsfinishedlumberandGreerLime shipsoutboundloadsoflime.

ScenicPassengerService

Inthelate1980stheRomneyBusinessand

ProfessionalOrganizationbeganasuccessfuleffort tobringatouristtraintothearea.Spurredonbya statecommissionedreportshowingthelinehadgreat

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potential,thegroupworkedtirelesslytogetthe excursionupandrunning.Thespringof1991saw thefirstPotomacEaglepulloutofRomney.For someareastrainsareapartofhistory,neveragainto bealivewiththeclankingofthecarsrollingalong. ButforonesmallvalleyinWestVirginia,thetrain industrywasjustinitsinfancy.

Since1991,PotomacEaglehasoperatedscenicrail excursionsthroughtheSouthBranchValleyofWest Virginia.Inadditiontothebeautifulsceneryandrich history,passengerscanenjoytheopportunitytosee Americanbaldeagles.

Becauseofthecleanwater,talltrees,and breathtakingenvironment,theSouthBranchmakesa perfecthomeforthesebirds.Asyourollthroughthe valley,you’llbeabletoviewthesebirdsintheir naturalhabitat.Thesemajesticcreaturesareeasyto spotwiththeirdistinctivewhiteheadandtail features,andyellowbeakandfeet.

TroughTrip

Enjoythescenicviewduringthis3-hour excursion.Thenarratedjourneywillcapture thebeautythatsurroundsthetrainasitgoes southboundthroughtheTroughtoSycamore Bridgeandback.

SunsetTroughTrip

BetweenMayandSeptember,thereisone Fridayamonth,(twoinJuneandJuly), wherewehostaSunsetTroughTrip.This gorgeous3-hourtripgoessouthbound throughtheTroughtoSycamoreBridgeand back,allowingyoutotakeinthemajestic colorsasthesunsetsbelowthehorizon.

AllDayTriptoPetersburg

FromMaytoOctober,weofferan8-hour triptoPetersburgonthelastSaturdayofthe month.Duringthistrip,you’llhavea layoverinPetersburgwhereyougetto explorethequainttownandenjoytheunique shopsandrestaurantsofferedthere.

Thisyeartherailroadhasadded2additional AllDayTrips.TheyarescheduledSunday, September11,andSaturday,November12.

GreenSpringSpecial

Enjoya1.5hourtripnorthboundtoGreenSpring, andtakeintheriverviewsalongtheSouthBranchof thePotomacRiveraswellasthebeautifulfarmland androckcuts.

ComboTrip

Can’tdecideifyouwanttogoontheGreenSpring

SpecialorthepopularTroughTrip?PotomacEagle offersagreatcombinationtripatdiscountedrateto ridebothgreatexcursionsonthesameday.

Inadditiontostandardcoach,therearethreedining optionsavailable.

StandardDining

WiththeStandardDining,you’llnotonlyreceivethe samebenefitsastheStandardCoach,butalsoreceive aboxedlunch.Advancedreservationsarerequired, andyourentréemustbechosenatthetimeofthe reservation.

PremiumDining

WhenyouupgradetoPremiumDining,you’ll experiencefirsthandthevintage1947passengercars. Thesecarsoffer2or4toptables,includeameal service,andareclimatecontrolledsoyouare

perfectlyrelaxedduringyourtrip.Reservationsare required,andyourentreemustbechosenatthetime ofyourreservation.

SuperiorDining

Readytofeellikeroyalty?Thesebeautifullyrestored loungeanddiningcarsofferloveseatswithtables, andboothsandareclimate-controlledtoprovideair conditioningorheatthroughoutthecar.Withameal serviceandexpansiveviewofnature,you’llenjoy everymoment.Reservationsarerequired,andyour entreemustbechosenatthetimeofyourreservation. Inadditiontoofferingregularpassengerservice,the PotomacEagleScenicRailroadalsooffersspecial excursiontrains,suchasa“PolarExpress”trainride duringtheholidayseasonanda“MurderMystery” trainride.Therailwayispopularwithtouristsand railenthusiasts,anditisknownforitsscenicbeauty andhistoricequipment.

https://potomaceagle.com

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Thisyearmarksthe100thAnniversaryofthe NationalMuseumoftheU.S.AirForce,the world’soldestandlargestmilitaryaviation museum.

ItbeganasasmallenginestudylabatMcCook fieldandhassincegrowntohousemorethan350 aerospacevehiclesandmissiles,andthousandsof artifacts,spreadover19acresofindoorexhibit space.

“Celebrating100yearsisasignificantmilestonein thehistoryofanymuseum,”saidNational MuseumoftheU.S.AirForceHistorianDoug

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Lantry.“Thegrowthwehave experiencedoverthelastcenturyis directlyattributedtotheAirForce’s wisecommitmenttopreservingits heritageandthetremendous supportwereceivefromourlocal, nationalandinternational communities.It’sgoingtobean excitingyearaswecelebratein stylewitheventsandexhibitsthat willappealtothewholefamily.”

Tocommemoratethismomentous anniversary,themuseumisoffering avarietyofspecialeventsand exhibitsthroughouttheyear.

Thesewillincludetwospecialexhibitscomingto the4thBuildingexhibitspace:“Survival:The Exhibition”and“DiscoverSteampunk”.Bothof theseinteractiveexhibitswillappealtovisitorsofall ages.

TherewillalsobeanEnlistedForceExhibit, highlightingthehighlyskilled,trained,andtalented enlistedforcethathasbeenthebackboneoftheU.S. AirForce,andaCentennialExhibit,givingvisitorsa glimpseintothemuseum’shistory.

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Additionally,aSearchandRescueExhibitwillbe locatedintheSoutheastAsiaGallery,highlighting combatsearchandrescuemissions.

ThemuseumislocatedatWright-PattersonAir ForceBasenearDayton,Ohio,andisopendaily from9:00am-5:00pmwithfreeadmissionand parking.Formoreinformation,pleasevisitthe websiteat

https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/

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