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Virginia Dinner Train Rides: A Complete Guide

Last revised: January 8, 2025

By: Adam Burns

In spite of Virginia's rich railroading heritage and importance, the state is home to only a few museums and even fewer excursions available to the public.  Currently, only the Buckingham Branch Railroad offers the latter via its Virginia Scenic Railway - the only excursion available in the state.

Virginia's very first railroad was the Petersburg Railroad, which opened 70 miles from Petersburg to Garysburg, North Carolina in 1833.  It would go on to become part of the classic Atlantic Coast Line system. 

Because of Virginia's important port city of Norfolk, and close proximity to Washington, D.C. the state was vital for many southern railroads.  It also played a very important role to the Confederate States during the Civil War.

For travelers, the Chesapeake & Ohio and Norfolk & Western offered first-class services across Virginia from Norfolk/Washington, D.C. to points west such as Columbus, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Chicago.  

These trains included the George Washington, Fast Flying Virginian, Sportsman, Powhatan Arrow, Pocahontas, and others.  Fine dining on all of these named services was, of course, standard along with several other accommodations such as reclining seat coaches, lounges, sleepers (in some cases), and taverns.  It was truly a hotel on wheels.

The Buckingham Branch Railroad's "Toys For Tots" train rolls through Swoope, Virgina during the 2013 Christmas season. Loyd Lowry photo.

In addition to the east-west trains, Atlantic Coast Line, Seaboard Air Line, and Southern Railway all provided their own fine trains between Washington, Richmond, and points throughout the deep south such as Miami, Atlanta, Birmingham, St. Petersburg, and New Orleans.

All of these named trains are far too numerous to mention here but some of the more famous included the Crescent, Champion, Southerner, Silver Comet, Silver Star, and Silver Meteor.  Because these trains served such warm climates most continued to see strong ridership well into the 1960s as travelers continued to go by train on vacation.

The Southern Railway, for example, was so proud of its trains that it continued operating the Southern Crescent, a carry over of the old Crescent until 1979 when the company finally handed the train over to Amtrak.

Overview

Virginia Scenic Railway

The Virginia Scenic Railway is a relatively new heritage railroad hosted by the Buckingham Branch Railroad, a successful short line carrier operating within the state's beautiful Shenandoah Valley.

Today, the company maintains 280 miles of track throughout central Virginia.  Its corridors currently include the:

• Buckingham Division: This segment runs 17 miles between Bremo, VA and Dillwyn, Virginia.

• Richmond & Alleghany Division: This is the railroad's long section that operates 199 miles of the old Chesapeake & Ohio between Richmond and Clifton Forge. 

• Virginia Southern Division: This section is former Southern Railway trackage, running 59 miles between Burkeville and Clarksville. 

• Norfolk Division: This short segment is only 5 miles in length between Norfolk and Virginia Beach that largely handles switching chores and connects to both of the Class 1's which serve this region.

All of the railroad's excursions are hosted over the former C&O's 199 miles, the "Richmond & Alleghany Division" between Richmond and Clifton Forge via Charlottesville and Staunton.   This is the most scenic stretch of the railroad, which operates within the Shenandoah Valley.

The Virginia Scenic Railway currently hosts two different excursions, the Blue Ridge Flyer and Allegheny Special.  Because these excursions are operated by a large short line freight carrier, the trips are offered year round.  These include:

• Blue Ridge Flyer:  According to the railroad, this excursion passes through Staunton, Fishersville, and Waynesboro as well as the nearly one-mile long Blue Ridge Tunnel.  The trip, "includes a meal and dessert selection, plus a beverage (coffee, soda, tea, and water) that is served in a complimentary souvenir glass. This three-hour round trip departs at 3:30 pm every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday."

• Allegheny Special: This trip runs west from Staunton and passes through the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests.  It does not offer food service but does include a beverage, which is enjoyed in a souvenir glass. The round-trip excursion lasts 3 hours.