| On the last two Saturdays in October, New Hope Valley Railway (NHVR) will offer train rides and family fun in the rail yard during Track or Treat Halloween Express. | ||
 This year, marks the 20th year of the family-friendly event, which takes place on Oct. 24 and Oct. 31, with Ghost Train excursions departing at 4, 5:15, 6:30 and 7:45 p.m. An additional 2:30 p.m.train departure time is being added on Oct. 31.
Tickets are $13 for adults and children (2 and under free) and should be purchased in advance at www.TriangleTrain.com. Visitors are encouraged to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to their train departure time. The first Halloween Train departed Bonsal on Oct. 26, 1996 with 184 riders and was organized by NHVR member Walt Williams and his wife Brenda. Along with others on the all-volunteer railroad staff, they planned and carried out the annual Halloween activities for 11 years. “Someone suggested a Halloween ride and we jumped on the opportunity to organize it and invite the community out to our rail yard to ride the trains,” said Walt Williams. “Each year, we were looking for ways to make it more fun by adding little details and more to see.” Today, Track or Treat Halloween Express has grown into a two-Saturday event during the end of October. Along the 8-mileround trip train route, riders will see interactive Halloween scenes. The decorated haunted rail yard will include a 20-foot black cat and pumpkins atop the North Carolina Railroad Museum store train car singing Monster Mash, Ghostbusters and Michael Jackson’sThriller. Visitors to a stationary train caboose in the rail yard will meet palm reader Iseemore the Magnificent and Dr. CO2, the creator of magical boo bubbles. Children and adults are encouraged to wear their costumes and each child will receive a small gift before the train ride, while supplies last. The earlier train ride times are recommended for younger riders who may be frightened by the Halloween characters. Bruster’s Real Ice Cream of Apex will serve cups of homemade ice cream in a variety of flavors including pumpkin patch, pumpkin cheesecake, orange sherbet, chocolate cookie dough and Oreo. Attendees can add sprinkles, M&Ms, gummi worms and whipping cream as toppings. Ice cream is not included in the ticket price. “We strive to make our Track or Treat Halloween Expressevent suitable for all ages to enjoy. It’s a fun event for both children and those who are still children at heart,” said Dave Chasco, NHVR marketing director. More info: http://www.triangletrain.com/ |
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Category: Train Rides in NC
Riding the Train at High Point City Lake Park
Who knew that there was such a cool, little train ride down in High Point, NC? Neither did I until we were invited to the American Express company picnic. We were thrilled to find the 24 guage ride that meanders past the lake, around 2 loops and through a tunnel. The park also has a Merry-Go-Round, a huge playground, bathroom facilities and much more. However, the train was the star of the show for us. The colors and steam engine style is very similar to the Burlington City Park Train. Still, it was great fun on a beautiful day.
Update: Received an email from a reader who sent 2 awesome photos of what this train looked like in the 1960’s…
Brew ‘n’ Choo Brings Craft Beer, Food Trucks & Live Music to Rail Yard
(Bonsal, NC, September 16, 2014) – New Hope Valley Railway (NHVR) is opening its rail yard for an evening fundraiser with activities that adults can enjoy. Brew ‘n’ Choo http://www.triangletrain.com/brewnchoo/ scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 4, from 4 – 9 p.m., will feature one-hour train excursions departing throughout the evening along with local craft beer, food trucks and live music at the rail yard located in Bonsal, N.C., 30 minutes southwest of downtown Raleigh.
The fundraiser will benefit restoration of the historic Cliffside 110, a steam locomotive acquired by the non-profit railway museum last year. The steam engine is being repaired by NHVR volunteers so it can operate on the four-mile main line used by the railway for public ride days. The estimated restoration cost is between $350,000 and $600,000.
“As an all-volunteer railroad staffed by train enthusiasts, we’re always looking for ways to share our rail yard with the public,” says NHVR President Mike MacLean. “Brew ‘n’ Choo gives folks an evening to ride our trains, eat some good food, listen to music and sample craft beers all while supporting the restoration of the Cliffside 110 historic steam engine,” he adds.
Fortnight Brewing Company www.fortnightbrewing.com will be pouring its most popular beers for tastings and $5 pints. Manna Concessions www.mannaconcessions.com will sell a variety of special menu items including fried pimento cheese sliders, shrimp po’ boy sandwiches, smoked chicken and apple sausage, and barbeque pork sandwiches. Each meal is served with a side and non-alcoholic drink. Specialty cobblers, brownies, cakes and other sweet treats will be sold by LadyBug’s Treats www.ladybugstreats.org.
Bluegrass and folk music will be played throughout the evening by local musicians India Cain and Keith Allen. http://www.indiacainmusic.com/p/about-us.html
One-hour, round-trip steam train excursions will depart at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and the diesel train departs at 6:15 p.m. and 8:45 p.m.
Admission to the Brew ‘n’ Choo fundraiser costs $14/adult for the steam train excursion and entertainment. Diesel train excursion tickets are $12/adult. Tickets should be purchased online prior to the event at www.TriangleTrain.com. Tickets will also be sold at the rail yard ticket booth the day of the event.
Beer and food will be sold separately at the event and are not included in the train excursion fee; however, guests will have the option to select and purchase their meal in advance when buying tickets online. No outside drinks or food will be allowed inside the rail yard during the event.
Designated drivers can request a special wristband upon entry at the ticket booth for free soda and water all night. Children may attend the family-friendly event but must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Visit the website (link to http://www.triangletrain.com/brewnchoo/) and the Triangle Train Facebook page (link to www.facebook.com/TriangleTrain) to stay up-to-date with the latest event information.
About New Hope Valley Railway (NHVR)
New Hope Valley Railway, the Triangle’s Train, straddles the historic towns of Bonsal and New Hill, North Carolina, 30-minutes southwest of Raleigh, off of U.S. Highway 1, Exit 89. The organization was chartered in 1983 by the East Carolina Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society and soon began its all-volunteer operated public train ride days. In 2014, trains operate the second Saturday and fourth Friday of each month, April-November
There are also special event ride days and the popular Track or Treat Halloween Express and Holiday Santa Trains. Also available are opportunities to operate a train, host a birthday party in an historic caboose, and visit the North Carolina Railroad Museum, G Scale model garden railroad and gift shop.
Learn more at www.TriangleTrain.com or connect on social media:
www.facebook.com/TriangleTrain
www.twitter.com/Triangle_Train
To view the full operating schedule for 2014, please visit www.TriangleTrain.com/schedule
New Hope Valley Railway Hosts Ride the Rails with Santa Claus this Holiday Season
Ride the Rails with Santa Claus this Holiday SeasonNew Hope Valley Railway Hosts Annual Santa Train Dec. 7, 8, 14 and 15
(Bonsal, NC, Oct. 31, 2013) — The New Hope Valley Railway (NHVR), will offer its annual Holiday Santa Trains the first two weekends of December on Saturdays Dec. 7 and 14 and Sundays Dec. 8 and 15, 2013. Trains will depart from the rail yard located in Bonsal, N.C., just 10 minutes south of Apex off of U.S. Highway 1, Exit 89.
| A number of holiday characters will interact with kids of all ages during their visit. Frosty the Snowman will greet children in the rail yard, while an elf from the North Pole hands out candy canes or coal depending on who’s been naughty or nice.
Santa Clause will be on board the train joining visitors for a ride in the open-air passenger cars pulled by either a diesel or steam locomotive. Santa will go car-to-car, talk to each child and pose for photos during the hour-long ride. “The holidays are such a special time of year at the New Hope Valley Railway, and the annual rides with Santa are a favorite among both visitors and volunteers who put the event together,” says long-time NHVR volunteer Dave Chasco. “We see many families return year after year who’ve made the Triangle Train part of their holiday tradition.” Chasco says there can be a chill in the air in December and advises visitors to check the weather and dress accordingly. “Trains will operate in snow, sleet or rain, so come prepared,” he adds. Hot chocolate, hot dogs and other concessions are available from a food vendor set-up in the rail yard. Tickets may be purchased online at www.TriangleTrain.comor at the train yard the day of the ride. Holiday Santa Trains will operate two weekends in December 2013: Diesel train rides depart at: Steam train rides depart at: Diesel train ride tickets are: Steam train ride tickets are: NHVR recommends buying tickets online and arriving at the train yard 30 minutes before the listed departure time. Learn more by visiting www.TriangleTrain.com orwww.facebook.com/TriangleTrain. |
New Hope Valley Railway Halloween Train Rides, Oct. 19 & 26, 2013
New Hope Valley Railway will host Track or Treat – a Spooky Ride on the Halloween Express on Saturdays, October 19 and 26, at the rail yard in Bonsal, located off of U.S. Highway 1, just 30 minutes southwest of downtown Raleigh.
Children and adults of all ages will enjoy riding a real locomotive decorated with cob webs and jack-o-lanterns as they encounter witches, goblins and a mysterious ghost train during the hour-long train ride. Riders receive a sweet treat as they exit the train after the 4 p.m., 5:15 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. rides through the haunted woods.
Visitors can also see the G-Scale garden railroad, visit the North Carolina Railroad Museum and get up close to real railroad cars and equipment in the yard. Riders may visit the gift shop to take home their own Triangle Train whistles, engineer hats and other train memorabilia.
For tickets and details, visit www.triangletrain.com or facebook.com/TriangleTrain.
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Ellerbe Creek Railway at the Museum of Life & Science in Durham
All aboard! Climb aboard the Ellerbe Creek Railway for an old-time train ride through the Museum grounds. The 10-minute train ride makes two laps through our Nature Park on the beloved scaled replica C. P. Huntington locomotive, made possible by a generous donation from the Teer family.
Train Schedule
The train runs daily (weather permitting) beginning at 10:30 a.m. every 30 minutes in the morning, and every hour in the afternoon until 4 p.m.
Train Tickets
Tickets are available on a first-come, first-serve basis daily. Rides cost $3.00 per person. Children under 3 years of age ride free on an adult’s lap. Refunds are provided for cancelled runs only.
Visit http://lifeandscience.org/visit/ellerbee-creek-railway!
The Museum of Life and Science is one of North Carolina’s top attractions. Situated on 84-acres, our interactive science park includes a science center, a butterfly conservatory which is one of the largest in the world and beautifully-landscaped outdoor exhibits which are safe havens for rescued black bears, lemurs, and endangered red wolves.
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For more information about the train, please call:
(919) 220-5429 x339
Valentine Express at Great Smoky Mountain Railroad!
Santa Claus is coming to ride The New Hope Valley Railway!
The New Hope Valley Railway (NHVR) presents its annual Holiday Santa Trains the first two weekends in December departing from its rail yard located in Bonsal, N.C., just 10-minutes south of Apex off of U.S. Highway 1, Exit 89.
| Santa and his helper will visit each open-air passenger car pulled by either a diesel or steam locomotive. Children will get a treat and the opportunity to talk with Santa. The train, along with other areas of the railroad, will be decorated for the holidays during the hour-long excursion.“Riding a real train with Santa Claus is a fun and memorable way to celebrate the holidays,” says NHVR President Mike MacLean. “It’s a special time for families as well as our volunteers who help bring smiles to children’s faces.” |  |
Purchase tickets online at www.TriangleTrain.com or at the train yard the day of the ride. Holiday Santa Trains will be operating on Saturday, Dec. 1; Sunday, Dec. 2; Saturday, Dec. 8; and Sunday, Dec. 9.
Diesel train rides will be departing at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. and steam train rides at 12:15 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for children, ages 2-12. NHVR recommends arriving at the train yard 30 minutes before the listed departure time.
Learn more by visiting www.TriangleTrain.com or www.facebook.com/TriangleTrain.
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Daniel Boone Railroad Sign Found
I did some digging through Google recently looking for some sign of the Daniel Boone Railroad. I was amazed to find a sign from the railroad on an auction site. I hope to get to Hillsborough for this auction and buy the sign.
Growing up obsessed with trains both of my grandfathers embraced my obsession and encouraged it effectively. Both took me on many, many train rides. As fate would have it, my Dad’s father lived in Hillsborough, NC. Located right off I-85 at the Hillsborough exit, the Daniel Boone Railroad used to exist within a giant park, not too different than Tweetsie in it’s heyday. Shops, restaurants, rides and from what I can remember, an amazing train ride that ran back into the woods and looped around back to the front of the park. Like Tweetsie, the ride included cowboys and indians jumping on to act out a train robbery and gun fight.
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All Aboard The Polar Express At GSMR!
Over 42,000 passengers rode The Polar Express™ with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in 2011 and we hope to see you this year! The 1 ¼ hour round-trip excursion comes to life as the train departs the Bryson City depot for a journey through the quiet wilderness for a special visit at the North Pole.
Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, guests on board will enjoy warm cocoa and a treat while listening and reading along with the magical story. Children’s faces show the magic of the season when the train arrives at the “North Pole” to find Santa Claus waiting.
Santa will board THE POLAR EXPRESS, greeting each child and presenting them with a special gift as in the story, their own silver sleigh bell. Christmas carols will be sung as they return back to the Bryson City Depot. THE POLAR EXPRESS begins November 9th and operates through December 30th. View the 2012 departure schedule here!
For more information, visit: http://www.gsmr.com/create-content/event/polar-express/polar-express-0
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Great American Train Rides 