Potomac EAGLE Scenic RR

I think it is a great operation.  If you spend the extra $$$ (highly recommended) to ride in the club cars (Eagle Canon and Chessie Club), your meal is included and the cars are restored but retain a classic feel.  The route runs along the South Branch of the Potomac River.  Good staff.  No, they don't have steam, but I believe they still have an F-unit that is resplendent in B&O colors.   I'd give them the proverbial "two thumbs up".  

They had steam - at least for one weekend! A few years ago, we took the New Hope Valley 0-4-0 Vulcan No. 17 up there to pull trains. It was an awesome event. We didn't haul the entire route, but what we did run was very pretty indeed. The staff are first-class.

Here is some of their stored power at the shop area from my visit last year. I think they use the little GE for a shop switcher. 

smd4 posted:

They had steam - at least for one weekend! A few years ago, we took the New Hope Valley 0-4-0 Vulcan No. 17 up there to pull trains. It was an awesome event. We didn't haul the entire route, but what we did run was very pretty indeed. The staff are first-class.

The Gramling's #126 0-6-0T was there for one or two weekends in June running trips. 

Other excursions run from Elkins over the Western Maryland, Baltimore & Ohio, Chesapeake & Ohio and Cass: http://mountainrailwv.com/  They connect with the Cass Scenic Railroad at Spruce. There are plans to repair the washout near Cass on the C&O Durbin Branch and connect with the Cass there. Running between Elkins, Spruce and Cass would resemble the Narrow Gauge Circle excursions from Denver CO, years ago.

I remember when 17 was there..back in 2010. My how time flies.

click on photos for the big  'uns.

The 17 looked pretty darn good, too.

There she is pulling a train

This little fella was there, too.

It was the Petersburg, WVa Railfest, June of 2010

A couple more, but not steam. This was the event that WMSR 734 was to attend, but CSX would not allow her on it's rails.

Ed

That's when we were there, too. It's a beautiful trip in good weather. That was a very hot week, and no steam was disappointing when it seemed like such a sure thing, but still worth the long drive.

As we left the hotel that morning, a couple who had ridden behind the diesels the day before handed us their tickets since 734 wasn't there. I still recall that generous gesture and how much fun we had.

Does anyone know any information about 8016?  I have heard that it is not at the Potomac Eagle RR anymore. 

Ed Mullan posted:

I remember when 17 was there..back in 2010. My how time flies.

click on photos for the big  'uns.

The 17 looked pretty darn good, too.

There she is pulling a train

This little fella was there, too.

It was the Petersburg, WVa Railfest, June of 2010

A couple more, but not steam. This was the event that WMSR 734 was to attend, but CSX would not allow her on it's rails.

Ed

Man, Ed, was it really seven years ago? Those photos bring back great memories.

Yep, it was a while back. I do remember that the  17 looked like she was just outshopped, the engine was immaculate!

As for the 8016, (I did not know it was no longer at Potomac Eagle) is at Spencer, privately owned. the locomotive was CSX 116, but new was Clinch 800, and it's hoped it will be restored as the 800.

Ed

I've done the Potomac Eagle twice.  The meal in the club cars was excellent, but you do miss some of the scenery while eating, so you really need to do this ride twice.   Long stretches of this ride is through valleys only accessable by this train or by raft/canoe on the river, and you are almost guaranteed to see bald eagles, as they nest along the river (easy fishing for them).  The narrators usually point out the known nesting sites so you don't have to be much of an eagle-eye to spot them [all puns intended ].  On one of my trips, we were also treated to a full moon... courtesy of a cheeky boater...   So there may be other scenery as well.

This is definitely a repeat-worthy ride, even without steam.

Andy

Photos I made back in 2007 when my nephew and I made the trip on the Potomac Eagle. A real fun trip.

As usual click image for large version.

8016 is on rear end, will bring us back leading

Former B&LE 722, now is in B&O paint.

Big open window car, bench seats on gon, for when we ride up the trough

On the way

Ya gotta like the view from these big windows

Big country

Near the Rt 50 crossing

Old home along row

Coming up to the trough

We stop before going into trough, folks are allowed on the gon.

I had asked if anyone was allowed to ride in the cab, and to my amazement I was told I could ride to the end of 722's lead, and so here's my intro to Wayne Badger, running 722 today!

So we start up the river. Only way thru here is boat or train.

And so the only way to this place is same, boat or train!

Some Canadians on the river!

Boaters..the water is usually not swift, and it's a big thing to float down the trough!

Passing a spot called "Eagle Rock"

A look back

Eagle Rock

I had more fun watchin' the boaters than Eagles!

Crossing the river

Going into farm country

My ride in F is almost over.

Wayne's work is done, 8016 will lead us home after a brake test, and I'll go back to the open window car.

Heading back to the river, great view from the open window car.

Back to "Eagle Rock"

The boaters enjoyed us as much as we them!

Back around the rock

View down river just as we round Eagle Rock

More boaters!

Near Romney, where we started.

Remains of old home

Back at the start. What a fun ride. If you are going to ride in the fall you need to book very early.

We were lucky, the weather was great. Also, there are (I don't know how many) open window cars in the train.

One final shot, the 722 in B&O colors.

Shot at the Rt 50 crossing, during her debut in that Baltimore and Ohio scheme.

Ed

Great photos! Thanks for posting!

I'm impressed by the open window car.

Ed Mullen,  I had heard a rumor that 8016 had been purchased to be restored to Clinchfield once again.  I hope they do the Gray with the Yellow on the front.  I also heard that this person is planning to create  a complete ABA set.  Would love to see that happen.  Saw a lot of Clinchfield units in Kingsport Tenn. 

Ed Mullan posted:

Yep, it was a while back. I do remember that the  17 looked like she was just outshopped, the engine was immaculate!

We spent a lot of time repainting her and applying new vinyl lettering (which have held up pretty well these past seven years, with no cover from the elements).