Suggestions for riding the Potomac Eagle?

I'd be interested in hearing some opinions too. I rode the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad and would highly recommend it. I would have hit up the Potomac if I had known it was a short ways from WMSR. The Potomac looks to be a longer ride with slightly different scenery. Surely somebody here has ridden the Potomac Eagle?

I rode it about 10 years ago so details are a little foggy. As scenic railroads go it was good, sort of on par with the diesel only version of the WMSRR. I did the canyon trip which was nice as the track takes you beside a river so the scenic views are good. Too often on these mountain area excursion trips, there are shear rock walls and dense vegetation close to the tracks which aren't very scenic. Ride on the river side which I believe was on the left side of the train.

The best part was most of the cars were non air conditioned heavyweight coaches where you could open the windows and get a good view rather than being stuck in a sealed window car. The old walkover seats were pretty well worn out though. I don't remember it having an open gondola you could ride in. There was a club car and maybe a concession car but I did the whole trip in one of the heavyweight coaches.

Of all the scenic excursion train rides in the western Maryland/ West Virginia area Cass is by far the best. If you haven't been there go.

Ken

We took our steam locomotive up there, in what? 2010? Fitted with a N&W Hooter whistle. That sounded crazy echoing off the canyon sides. There was an open gondola, and as mentioned, some un-airconditioned coaches.  The area is really pretty, and Petersburg was a neat little town, with a greasy spoon near the tracks where we ate nearly every meal.

Very good point. On the right side you see nothing. Other than that it’s a beautiful train ride.

@romiller49 posted:

Ride on the river side which I believe was on the left side of the

Very good point. On the right side you see nothing. Other than that it’s a beautiful train ride.

Do they turn the train or does the engine run around?  If they don't turn it, are the seats assigned seats or is there an opportunity to move?

When I rode it, the train stopped soon after leaving the canyon. The engines uncoupled and ran around to the other end of the train. We couldn't leave the train while it was stopped. The coach I rode in had walkover seats so to change direction of the seat it was a simple matter of moving the seatback from one side to the other. I don't remember if the crew or I did it.

Ken

My wife and I just returned from riding the Potomac Eagle.  We were on a dinner excursion and I have to say the food was delicious!  The scenery was beautiful. We saw several Bald Eagles in flight and a number of Eagle nests.  The people were very friendly.  Nothing better than to ride a train while eating shrimp cocktail!

Oh my gosh.  We are in Romney now.  We rode the train yesterday for the 3 hour trip.  Perfect ride.  I just saw the train pass my camp site 5 mins ago.

Small world.

My tips.... definitely go for dinner.  We did premium.  It's a little pricey, but worth it.  The staff works their butts off and my beverage never had a chance to get empty.  Wife had steak and I had chicken alfredo.  Delicious.

When they give you the opportunity to move to the gondola car for 45 mins.  DO IT.  That was the best part of the trip.  We saw more than a dozen eagles.

Try to secure seats on the River side during the reservation process.

We are already talking about coming back.

Ron

My picture

What is the maximum speed at which the Potomac Eagle runs?

I've done this trip twice, once regular coach and once at top level service.  At the top level service trip I took (keep in mind this was some time ago), the food was excellent and was served on what I hope was reproduction RR china.  Real classy, but I would not do it again as I wanted to spend as much time in the open air gondola as possible, as that is where you get the best views.  If the weather is good (and you are dressed appropriately for the temperatures), the gondola is where you want to be.

Andy

@Number 90 posted:

What is the maximum speed at which the Potomac Eagle runs?

3-hour round trips 35 miles southbound to Sycamore Bridge, no layover.  There were three short stops at the 45 minute mark to allow people to the gondola.  A stop at the halfway point to swap people out at the gondola.  One last stop at the 135 minute mark for all people to depart the gondola.   

I'll let you do the math on the speed.

Ron

There was talk about them getting a steam locomotive, do they have a new owner? This is probably one of WV's best kept secrets, Cass is more well known but it looks like from pictures that the Cass area where the mountain line branches off of the Durbin line that was recently reopened from the Cass end that there are these big old dilapidated buildings falling apart and other junk on the ground that was never cleaned up after the railroad stopped being used in revenue freight service. Then there's the tourist operation out of Elkins which is now the owner of Cass Scenic. A lot of tourist railroads are in remote rural areas, the WMSR is one exception being at a good size city, Steamtown in Scranton is another and Reading and Northern at the Reading end. But, after leaving the departure points these railroads then go into rural areas. Potomac Eagle, Grand Canyon, TVRM, Steamtown, Reading and Northern, Elkins, WV operation, Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, Durango and Silverton, and Cumbres and Toltec all have longer rides available that are much longer than 10 miles round trip.