From Romney to Santa's workshop, all aboard the Potomac Eagle's North Pole Express Christmas Train

By Vanta Coda III, RealWV

As the sun sets on a rainy evening in Romney, the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad’s 1952 Baltimore & Ohio F7A diesel locomotive blasts its horn, echoing through the valleys of the Allegheny mountains. This sound is familiar in Romney, signaling the departure of visitors for the North Pole Express Christmas Train out of Wappocomo Station.

This Christmas-themed excursion takes passengers on a journey along the northbound heritage line beside the South Branch of the Potomac River. The Potomac Eagle’s North Pole Express has provided a festive experience for passengers, spreading Christmas joy along the tracks and growing in popularity each year over its six-season run. Longtime employee, Gretta Ramsey, Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad’s Food and Beverage Manager, recalls the excitement that surrounded the inaugural year of the North Pole Express.

Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad’s 1952 Baltimore & Ohio F7A diesel locomotive, sits idly as Potomac Eagle crew members clean and prep train cars for the next ride. Photo by Vanta Coda III, RealWV.

“Looking back on things, I can’t help but chuckle,” said Ramsey. “At that time, we truly believed we were doing something then. We thought we were the bee’s knees because we had about 10,000 people visit us on our first year, but now we have had almost 23,000 people ride with us just last year during the holiday season.”

The Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad provides more than just the North Pole Express during the holiday season. Another option available is the Holiday Trough ride, which offers a winter exploration and birding excursion through “The Trough”, a historic canyon along the southbound heritage line that follows the South Branch of the Potomac River. During the ride, passengers can enjoy holiday-inspired dining, which is offered in three different dining experiences: Club, Superior, and Premium dining.

A young passenger chuckles as a Potomac Eagle crew member dressed up as a candy cane hops by. Photo by Vanta Coda III, RealWV.

Named by George Washington, “The Trough” is a 6-mile-long wooded gorge carved by the South Branch of the Potomac River. The canyon holds historical significance as the site of the Battle of the Trough, a skirmish during the French and Indian War. In addition to its historical importance, which is narrated on board throughout the year by the Potomac Eagle staff, the canyon’s remote geographical location makes it rich in natural beauty and serves as a prime nesting area for many bald eagles in the region.

Kimberly Byard, Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad’s Public Relations Representative, said that over the years, people have come from all over to experience the Potomac Eagle’s North Pole Express and Holiday Trough excursion

Frosty the Snowman gives a young passenger a high five as, Christmas characters walk throughout the cabin. Photo by Vanta Coda III, RealWV.

“Every year, thousands of people come from all over, and it is normal for visitors to travel for two to five hours,” said Byard. “We have increasingly seen some folks come clear across the United States and even some international travelers come and ride the train as well.”

On the 75-minute North Pole Express trip, families travel in elegantly restored train cars from the 1920’s to the 1950’s. Passengers enjoy cookies and milk while crew members of the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad perform scenes from “The Nutcracker” and other Christmas stories throughout the train.

Halfway through the journey, the train arrives at the North Pole estate, which is adorned with twinkling Christmas lights on both the estate and the surrounding trees of the property. Here, Santa boards the train to greet families and distribute small gifts to the children as the train makes its way back to Wappocomo Station.

Passengers look out the window at trees wrapped in Christmas lights as the North Pole Express nears its stop, the North Pole Estate. Photo by Vanta Coda III, RealWV.

Although everything runs smoothly on the ride, Paige Hines, Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad Passenger Service Attendant Supervisor, knows that a lot of effort goes into maintaining a magical experience for all riders.

“The North Pole Express season is very quick and it involves a lot of people and moving parts, whereas, in the regular season, it’s more leisurely,” said Hines. “We typically do up to four runs a day, and our turnaround time is less than 30 minutes prepping cars for the next ride.”

Santa gives a young passenger a present, as he makes his way through the Potomac Eagle train cars. Photo by Vanta Coda III, RealWV.

With team coordination happening inside the cars, Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad Engineers, such as Raymond Shields, have to keep both engines at a certain speed to keep everything on schedule.

“We travel between 15 to 20 miles per hour to stick to the schedule for the performances taking place in the cars,” said Shields. “Our usual speed is 20 miles per hour along the ride, but some curves require us to go as slow as 15 miles per hour, we also have to keep track of the grade which is about 1%”.

With the help of their well-calculated staff, the Potomac Eagle’s North Pole Express creates a dazzling Christmas spectacle for families and children of all ages as it travels through the Allegheny mountains, providing lasting memories that will go beyond the holiday season.