The Hocking Valley Scenic Railway, Through The Rolling Hills Of Southeastern Ohio

The Hocking Valley Scenic Railway, located in Nelsonville, Ohio is a tourist railroad operating in the southeastern region of the state. The Hocking Valley operates over a former Chesapeake & Ohio Railway branch line and owns a total of 12 miles between Nelsonville to as far north as Logan. Since its creation over 30 years ago the railroad has steadily grown and today features a small locomotive fleet of diesels, passenger cars, which are climate, controlled, two different standard excursions and several special trains operated throughout the year.

The Hocking Valley Scenic Railway is named for the railroad, which originally operated the line between Logan and Nelsonville, the Hocking Valley Railway, which was taken over by the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway in 1930.

The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway was one of several Appalachian coal haulers and is perhaps best remembered for its buyout of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in the early 1960s and its excellent management through much of the second-half of the 20th century, which earned the company substantial profits, especially during the waning years of the railroad industry in the 1960s and 1970s. It thrived on West Virginia and Kentucky coal and was a gateway between Chicago and the ports of Virginia. More so than its ownership of the B&O the C&O is best remembered for the legendary publicity campaign it created in the early 1930s; Chessie the sleeping kitten. An icon even outside the rail industry, many people today still recognize the kitten and its association with railroading in some way.

The HVSR itself dates back to 1972 as a non-profit organization, which eventually purchased the 12-mile route directly from C&O successor Chessie System in 1985, after the railroad deemed it unprofitable and redundant.

Today, the Hocking Valley Scenic operates two different regular excursions along with several specials. Its regular runs include a 14-mile round trip from Haydenville and back to Nelsonville and a 22-mile round trip along the entire line between Nelsonville and Logan. Along with its regular excursion the HVSR also operates the Robbery Train, Easter Train, Murder Mystery Train, Fall Foliage Train, Santa Train, Wine and Cheese Train, and specials during Memorial Day and the 4th of July.

To power its excursion trains the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway has a fleet of five diesel locomotives, with its EMD GP10 and GP7 (painted in original C&O colors) doing most of the work. Below is a roster of the railroad:

· #701 – EMD GP10 (Originally Illinois Central)

· #4005 – BLH (Whitcomb) RS4TC

· #5833 – EMD GP7 (Originally Chesapeake & Ohio)

· #7318 - GE 45-tonner (Originally US Army)

· #8122 – Whitcomb 65DE19A (Originally US Army)

So, if you’re ever in southeastern Ohio and have some spare time I would strongly suggest a visit to this little tourist railroad run entirely by volunteers. Lastly, if you have the time please consider volunteering to help them with not only restoration work but also maintaining their railroad. I am sure they would very much appreciate the help!

For more information on tourist railroads like the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway you might want to consider the book Empire State Railway Museum's Tourist Trains 2006 from the Empire State Railway Museum. Given excellent reviews this guidebook covers nearly all of the tourist railroads and museums operating in the country in fine detail. So, if you’re interested in locating a tourist train or railroad near you, or simply want to know more about a particular one, you will certainly not be disappointed in Empire State Railway Museum’s guidebook to tourist railroads and museums. If you're interested in perhaps purchasing this book please visit The Railroad Diamond by clicking the tab in the menu to your left marked "TRD Store".