Ohio Scenic Train Rides In Nelsonville!

Published: January 23, 2026

The Hocking Valley Scenic Railway (HVSR) offers something rare in today’s world: the chance to experience a working slice of 19th- and 20th-century railroading on an historic right-of-way. Based in Nelsonville, HVSR is a non-profit, volunteer-operated 501(c)(3) dedicated to preserving and operating vintage railroad equipment for education and entertainment—and it has been doing so since 1972.

While the railroad is a popular attraction for families visiting the nearby Hocking Hills region, it’s also a genuine treat for railfans: vintage diesels, an operating steam locomotive on select dates, classic coaches, open-air cars in warm weather, and a route that traces the same valley corridors once used to move coal, clay products, salt, and brick to wider markets.

What follows is a look at HVSR’s deep roots, how the modern scenic operation came to be, and a tour through the excursions that keep this line humming year after year.

Chesapeake & Ohio GP7 #5833 has been restored to its original C&&O livery from the 1950s and regularly leads excursions along the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway. It is seen here in Nelsonville on August 20, 2011. Doug Kroll photo.

From Mineral Railroad Dreams to the Hocking Valley Railway

The line HVSR operates is more than a pretty ride through river valleys—it’s a corridor built for industry.

In the mid-19th century, rail access was the key to unlocking the Hocking Valley’s resources. The region’s salt and coal were valuable, but without efficient transportation, growth was limited. The early railroad story includes the chartering and reorganization of lines that ultimately became the Columbus & Hocking Valley Railroad, with construction beginning in the late 1860s. HVSR’s own historical overview notes that the route’s purpose was to transport salt and coal out of the Hocking Valley, with the famed brick industry rising soon after.

The chronology is part of the fun:

The railroad’s name changed to the Columbus & Hocking Valley Railroad in 1867, and construction pushed forward soon after.
The first freight train from Nelsonville arrived in Columbus on August 17, 1869, complete with a cannon aboard that was fired as it approached towns along the way—a wonderfully theatrical detail that captures how transformative rail service felt at the time.
As the system matured, the corporate identity evolved, eventually becoming the Hocking Valley Railway in 1899.
In 1930, the Hocking Valley Railway was absorbed by the Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O), a common pattern across American railroading as larger systems consolidated regional lines.

All of that history matters because it explains why the route exists where it does: the rail line follows the valley geography that made it efficient to build and operate, especially for heavy bulk commodities like coal.

A Scenic Railway Is Born

Fast forward to the modern era. As rail industry patterns shifted, many secondary lines and branches faced abandonment, downgrade, or sale. HVSR emerged in this environment as a community-driven preservation effort, created not simply to display artifacts behind fences, but to keep historic equipment working.

HVSR describes itself as a volunteer-led nonprofit “dedicated [to] the restoration, operation and maintenance of historic railroad equipment” and has offered train rides from Nelsonville for “fifty-plus years,” dating its founding to 1972.

That mission shows up in everything the organization does:

restoring locomotives and cars
maintaining track and facilities
training volunteers in operating practices and mechanical crafts
interpreting the history of the Hocking Valley corridor for the public

In other words, the railroad isn’t just a ride—it’s a rolling museum, and the “exhibits” happen to be coupled together and headed out on the main.

The Route

One reason HVSR is so widely recommended is the setting. The railroad operates on a historic right-of-way that it promotes as 150+ years old, with scenery that frequently includes views along the Hocking River valley.

A signature trip is the East Logan round trip, a family-friendly ride that showcases the landscape and the corridor’s historic character. Many trips also feature a stop at Hocking College’s Robbins Crossing Historical Village (subject to availability), adding a heritage component that pairs nicely with the railroad experience.

Notable Power

Part of HVSR’s charm is that “historic” here doesn’t mean “static.” The railroad maintains a roster of vintage diesel locomotives - such as C&O GP7 #5833 pictured - and also operates steam on special events.

On its equipment overview, HVSR notes it owns six vintage diesel locomotives (three operational) and one fully operational steam locomotive, with passenger equipment ranging roughly from 1916 to the 1960s, including both enclosed coaches and open-air cars used during warmer months.

For many visitors, the headline is steam. HVSR runs Hocking Valley Steam Specials on select dates, featuring 0-6-0 No. 3, a coal-fired locomotive restored and returned to service (HVSR notes it was restored in 2015). The Steam Specials are marketed as a rare opportunity to ride behind an authentic working steamer through the valley toward East Logan and back.

Even when the motive power is diesel, the atmosphere remains wonderfully “old railroad”: classic coach seating, open-window summer air, and that unmistakable rhythm of jointed rail (or the smoother glide of welded rail, depending on the segment)—all with the countryside rolling by at scenic speed.

Notable Excursions

HVSR’s calendar is one of the reasons it appeals to such a broad audience: there are classic scenic rides, seasonal staples, and themed events that turn a train trip into a full experience. While schedules and exact offerings can vary year to year, several core excursions define the HVSR identity.

1) East Logan Round Trip: The Signature Scenic Ride

If you’re looking for the “pure” HVSR experience, this is the one. The East Logan round trip emphasizes scenery, relaxation, and history—an easy, approachable ride for first-timers and a great baseline for railfans who want to absorb the route.

2) Fall Foliage Trains: Autumn at Its Best

Like many tourist railroads, HVSR shines in October. Its Fall Foliage Train Ride is promoted as an especially popular way to see the changing colors along the route, typically using a mix of enclosed coaches (heated as needed) and open-air cars when weather allows.

3) Interactive Theme Trains: “Ohio’s Friendliest Train Robbery”

HVSR also leans into fun, interactive programming with “Ohio’s Friendliest Train Robbery,” a family-friendly experience where “bandits” add a theatrical storyline to the ride. These kinds of events are perfect for families, but they’re also a blast for railfans who enjoy seeing heritage railroads interpret the romance of the Old West in their own distinctive way.

4) Holiday and Seasonal Favorites: Easter and Santa

Seasonal trains are a major pillar of HVSR’s annual rhythm. The railroad lists staple offerings such as the Easter Bunny Train & Egg Hunt and the Santa Train, both designed as memorable family experiences where the destination is only part of the point—the real magic is the journey.

5) Special-Event Trips: Memorial Day and Labor Day

HVSR also runs event-themed rides tied to the calendar—such as Memorial Day and Labor Day trains—often built around a straightforward scenic run with a commemorative or community focus.

6) Steam Specials: For the “I’ve gotta hear that whistle” crowd

Steam days are the ones railfans circle in red. HVSR’s Steam Train Specials provide the sensory experience that only steam can deliver: the bark of the exhaust, the glow of the firebox (if you catch glimpses), the smell of coal smoke on a cool morning, and the deep, living mechanical feel of a locomotive working its train.

Authenticity, Variety, and Community

Some scenic railroads thrive purely on scenery. Others thrive on big-name locomotives or a famous route. HVSR succeeds because it blends multiple strengths:

Authentic history rooted in an industrial railroad corridor built to serve coal country
Hands-on preservation by a long-running volunteer nonprofit
A varied excursion lineup that keeps the operation relevant across seasons
Real railroad equipment—vintage power, classic coaches, and open-air cars that make the trip feel tactile and immediate

In an age when so much history is filtered through screens, the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway offers something wonderfully direct: step aboard, listen for the conductor’s call, feel the slack run in, and watch the Hocking Valley roll past the window the way it has for generations.

If you’re building a railfan road trip through Ohio—or you simply want a heritage attraction that delivers both scenery and substance—HVSR is the kind of place that can turn a casual afternoon into the start of a new tradition. To learn more about the railroad please click here to visit their website.