I just wanted to do a little write up on the New Tygart Flyer now that I've actually been on the trip
Here's what their website has to say:
My family and I took this train on Saturday, July 23rd. Our gang consisted of myself, my wife, our 3 kids (aged 1,3, and 5) my mother and my grandmother. My wife and kids had never been on a real train before, so I was very eager to introduce them to something that I love so much.
When we first go to the Elkins, WV Station I was greated by the two former Western Maryland F7's. They were parked right in front of the station and everyone had a good time getting a very up close look at them. After a brief wait we boarded the train and were shown to our car. You aren't given a specific seat but assigned to a car that is made up of 4 person tables (they run a lot of dinner trains too) and seating is first come first serve. All the cars were nice and clean and had AC. The train began to move at 11am sharp. My kids eyes all lit up when we pulled out of the station. After backing onto the main line we headed off to our destination, roughly 2 hours of steep grades away. I took my two oldest kids to the vestibule so they could hear some of the great sounds a train makes while climbing up the mountain. At some point we were called to lunch which consisted or a cold, make-your-own sandwitch buffet. We passed through one tunnel and went over a few smaller bridges and one final large bridge before the locomotive broke off and moved to the then rear of the train to push us up the final climb to our destination.
The destination of this trip was the High Falls of the Cheat River. If you're not taking the RR the only way to get to the falls is a at least full day hike. The "station" consisted of a small trackside shack. There were two nicely maintained trails leading to views above and below the falls. After about 25min. the whistle went off alerting us all that we better get back to the train ASAP, remember it's a days hike back to civilization if you miss the train! The ride back was as smooth as the trip up, we were back in Elkins in no time.
As were were leaving we stopped to ask the conductor if my son could see in the cab, as he had asked me a few times about where the "driver" sat. They were more than accomadating and he (and I) got a nice tour and he got to sit in the engineer's seat!
I took a lot of great photos that I will post here soon!
Here's what their website has to say:
http://mountainrailwv.com/choose-a-train/tygart-flyer
This ride features two separate mountain grades, an “S” curve tunnel, passage into a 1,500 feet deep canyon with steep, densely forested slopes, and a high bridge over the rushing Shavers Fork of the Cheat River.
This smooth climate-controlled passenger train has gained a reputation as one of the most exciting mountain wilderness excursion rides in the US. The 4-hour, 46 mile round trip departs at 11 AM from the restored Elkins Depot on Railroad Avenue.
This trip culminates at the inspirational “High Falls of Cheat,” an 18’ high, 150’ wide waterfall in one of the most remote and pristine settings in the Eastern United States. So for a comfortable ride through spectacular mountain wilderness on a vintage passenger train, come ride along with us on the NEW TYGART FLYER!
My family and I took this train on Saturday, July 23rd. Our gang consisted of myself, my wife, our 3 kids (aged 1,3, and 5) my mother and my grandmother. My wife and kids had never been on a real train before, so I was very eager to introduce them to something that I love so much.
When we first go to the Elkins, WV Station I was greated by the two former Western Maryland F7's. They were parked right in front of the station and everyone had a good time getting a very up close look at them. After a brief wait we boarded the train and were shown to our car. You aren't given a specific seat but assigned to a car that is made up of 4 person tables (they run a lot of dinner trains too) and seating is first come first serve. All the cars were nice and clean and had AC. The train began to move at 11am sharp. My kids eyes all lit up when we pulled out of the station. After backing onto the main line we headed off to our destination, roughly 2 hours of steep grades away. I took my two oldest kids to the vestibule so they could hear some of the great sounds a train makes while climbing up the mountain. At some point we were called to lunch which consisted or a cold, make-your-own sandwitch buffet. We passed through one tunnel and went over a few smaller bridges and one final large bridge before the locomotive broke off and moved to the then rear of the train to push us up the final climb to our destination.
The destination of this trip was the High Falls of the Cheat River. If you're not taking the RR the only way to get to the falls is a at least full day hike. The "station" consisted of a small trackside shack. There were two nicely maintained trails leading to views above and below the falls. After about 25min. the whistle went off alerting us all that we better get back to the train ASAP, remember it's a days hike back to civilization if you miss the train! The ride back was as smooth as the trip up, we were back in Elkins in no time.
As were were leaving we stopped to ask the conductor if my son could see in the cab, as he had asked me a few times about where the "driver" sat. They were more than accomadating and he (and I) got a nice tour and he got to sit in the engineer's seat!
I took a lot of great photos that I will post here soon!