Train service returns to Barbour County in January
PRESS RELEASE:
The Belington community is preparing to welcome train service back to town this winter, for the first time in almost 20 years. The Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad (DGVRR), whose maintenance and storage facilities are located in Belington, is running two special winter trips that will link to the Belington Community via the Golden Rule Building’s loading platform.
The Elkins Winter Special runs on Fridays and Saturdays between January 16th and February 28th. This 4-hour excursion train trip departs from the Elkins Depot at 11am, travels the Tygart River Gorge and, on the return trip, will let passengers off for a 45 minute stop in Belington, before completing the journey back to Elkins. Belington is preparing live music, a new interpretive display, and an artist marketplace for visitors to explore during their stop.
The Belington Winter Special is running as a Sunday matinee. The 1.5 hour trip will depart at 2pm from the Golden Rule Building.
The trains run snow or sunshine so these trips are designed to afford local families a fun and reliable option for an afternoon adventure in the middle of winter. The trip will take passengers out and back along one of the most scenic sections of the Tygart Valley River. The wintertime, leaves-off views on both these trips allow riders to take in the wild rapids and beautiful rock formations along this remote section of the river.
Ulysses Adkins, the Belington Shop Foreman/Manager for the DGVRR, has been instrumental in bringing this rail service back to the community and he hopes that the partnership creates economic development and fun, family-centric recreation opportunities for Barbour County and the surrounding cities. The Winter Specials are only the first of what Adkins anticipates will be a growing set of rail-based adventures and seasonal trips throughout the year that will incorporate Belington.
The DGVRR has built a raised loading platform to make loading and unloading more accessible in Belington. Alongside the active railyard, restroom facilities, museum displays, and locally produced art, baked goods, and other products from local craftsmen and women will be available at the Golden Rule and throughout town during train service times.
The community is developing a small interpretive space in the basement of the Golden Rule to introduce visitors to the history, lore, and stories of Belington and Barbour County. The artist marketplace, music, and interpretive displays will be open to the public, independent of whether they are riding the train or not. More information will be released as details are determined.
Information and Ticketing/booking is available through http://mountainrailwv.com under Special Events.
For further questions, references, or quotes, contact Katie Wolpert at kwolpert@woodlandswv.org or 304.614.6544 .
All photos courtesy of Woodlands Development & Lending/Golden Rule LP
