Steam Locomotive : Best Family Experience

FrankOceanXray · Oct 16, 2019

Train experts and family experience pros,

I am looking at a steam train ride for the family (ages all under 10).

Northern Central Railway seems great and close to Annapolis area.

Western Maryland is far out there but could be doable.

I'm sure there are others, just quick searches so far.

What's the best train ride experience for the kids to see, smell, feel, hear... Total train experience?

Can do a Santa themed or just a November trip...

LMK. Thanks!

CrazySanMan · Oct 16, 2019

Strasburg, PA

XCheckR · Oct 16, 2019

Strasburg Railroad by Lancaster is fun.

Farther away New Hope PA is awesome.

Both have other things to do nearby.

Doctor_M · Oct 16, 2019

I think that there is one based out of Frederick as well...Walkersville Southern.

Haven't done it yet, but it is on my list to explore with the family.

Doctor_M · Oct 16, 2019

I think that there is one based out of Frederick as well...Walkersville Southern.

Haven't done it yet, but it is on my list to explore with the family.

ca18thc · Oct 16, 2019

Cass Senic Railroad in Pocahontas County West Virginia is the best. It’s a bit of a trek to get there, but well worth it! Cass is an authentic logging railroad with restored Shay steam engines. You can take the 1 1/2 hour train to Whitaker Station and back or the 4 1/2 hour round trip to Bald Knob. The scenery is unparalleled in the east. They have added other options as well. As a side benefit, West Virginia has constitutional carry!

CrazySanMan · Oct 16, 2019

Georgetown!
https://www.georgetownlooprr.com/

It might be a little far, but the family will love it.

Boxcab · Oct 16, 2019

ca18thc said:
Cass Senic Railroad in Pocahontas County West Virginia is the best. It’s a bit of a trek to get there, but well worth it! Cass is an authentic logging railroad with restored Shay steam engines. You can take the 1 1/2 hour train to Whitaker Station and back or the 4 1/2 hour round trip to Bald Knob. The scenery is unparalleled in the east. They have added other options as well. As a side benefit, West Virginia has constitutional carry!

This. We made a week of it several years ago by renting someone's ski house during the cheap summer rates. They have short and long trips. We did both on different days with a bit of hiking between. The long trip with a bar-b-que at the summit was great. Blue grass band and great views. Pocahontas hospital was great when one kid needed stiches after doing something dumb. Good place, good people, good time, good memories.

The grand kids are just about old enough to take the trek now.

.

Biggfoot44 · Oct 16, 2019

Unless any of the kids are already hard core train buffs, Strasburg RR .

The excellent Railroad Museum of Penna is literally across the street, you can get discounted combined admission . Also you are close to all the usual Penna Dutch attractions.

CrazySanMan · Oct 16, 2019

Boxcab said:
Pocahontas hospital was great when one kid needed stiches after doing something dumb. .

Did you bring my kids with you? Every multi-family outing or scouting event we went on, my kids were always the first ones to bleed.

Doctor_M · Oct 16, 2019

Anyone ever done one of those mystery dinners on a train? Was thinking that might be a neat thing for our next anniversary... or the next time I have to apologize for doing something stupid.

Doco Overboard · Oct 16, 2019

There was one a week or two ago in Hurlock but I think they use a small diesel loco. Probably not the experience your looking for but a suggestion. I would go up to Hamburg and check out the ride Andy Mueller does out of Port Clinton if they're running fall rides yet. He has full blown steam lokies and some nice Pullman cars. The work shop is about 1 mile north on 61 from the PA Cabelas.
About 35 minutes up the line my cousin Ronnie and a few of his buds own a little steam line in Minersville. They run down through Schuylkill Haven have back towards Hamburg or Mueller's line somehow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmz6DNdOjYY

tallen702 · Oct 16, 2019

Close by? As others have stated, Strasburg in PA

Destination trip? Cass in WV. You can rent an old company-owned house to stay in, or stay over in the Snowshoe vicinity (over the mountain). You also have the luxury of being close to the 'shoe for other entertainment (they have a very nice clays course there) as well as the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Greenbank which has guided tours and is home to the largest moving radio telescope in the western hemisphere.

The way there and back also provides opportunities to see Seneca Rocks, Dolly Sods, Spruce Knob, the Via Ferrata, etc. etc.

delaware_export · Oct 16, 2019

If you feel like Wilmington, suburban, outside town a little, the Wilmington western is still in operation, I think.

And a trip for tax free shopping to boot. Not sure about current offerings, but used to have holiday trains, mystery, dinner, and all the mix. Some steam some DE. Not the longest line, but nice.

Biggfoot44 · Oct 16, 2019

In the general vicinity of Cass, I have also been enjoying the Durbin & Greenbrier , in Durbin, WV .

bkuether · Oct 16, 2019

XCheckR said:
Strasburg Railroad by Lancaster is fun.

Farther away New Hope PA is awesome.

Both have other things to do nearby.

Is there still a New Hope PA fall festival of some type ? I remember going as a kid, can't remember the name. Something to do with apples?

1874sharpsshooter · Oct 16, 2019

just a note; western Maryland scenic is running diesel only. old steam engine out of service long term and new one not ready till who knows when.its a year past due. but the trip is a good one this time of year. Fall foilage is great this time of year. They also do dinner trains. First class

Mini14tac · Oct 16, 2019

Cass in WV is really cool in a beautiful part of WV.

Mr H · Oct 16, 2019

CrazySanMan said:
Strasburg, PA

Always a fan.

Closer to here (and with a Santa Train), is Walkersville Southern, in Walkersville (near Frederick).

http://wsrr.org/ws/

Kinetic · Oct 16, 2019

Doco Overboard said:
Probably not the experience your looking for but a suggestion. I would go up to Hamburg and check out the ride Andy Mueller does out of Port Clinton if they're running fall rides yet. He has full blown steam lokies and some nice Pullman cars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmz6DNdOjYY

We took this ride a few weeks ago. (Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad). Reading to Jim Thorpe and return on old RDC cars. They run steam on occasion. Mr. Mueller owns the railroad and he was on our car for the trip.

Best part is in Jim Thorpe you can take another train ride up the Lehigh Gorge Scenic RR. We got a cab ride there in a GP39 - 17 miles!

Cass is great as well if you don't mind driving over the mountains. Best to stage overnight in Staunton or Harrisonburg VA. The observation car right in front of the Shay is the ticket. You can feel the boiler heat from a few feet away as it grunts it's way up the mountain.

Steam Locomotive : Best Family Experience

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