Anyone who’s visited the Athens area knows it’s crisscrossed with train tracks – both derelict ones, one still in use, and old trestles converted to walking and bike trails. In fact, this corner of Appalachia, since it was a powerhouse of coal production back in the day, is dotted with small coal towns just off railways in the narrow valleys of the foothills of Appalachia.
Many of us have visited Moonville Tunnel, one of those said derelict railways with a massive tunnel that was blasted through the mountain. If you haven’t, you should go; it’s also a beautiful scene in the Winter, and the leafless trees let you see the old trestle for hundreds of feet.
However much we live alongside the remnants of this railway history, not many of us have gotten to experience what it would have been like to be on one of these trains, winding through the back country of Southeast Ohio. Enter: Nelsonville.
Since the ‘70’s, the city of Nelsonville, which is just 15 minutes North of Athens, has offered train rides on the historic Hocking Valley Railroad, now called the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway, to locals and tourists alike who want a true Appalachian coal town experience, even though that legacy is now nearly gone.
And it’s best to do in the Winter because, besides the snowy scenery of the hills, hollers and valleys of the area, it’s a great way to get out of the house and have an adventure that doesn’t require dressing in 6 layers.
A Brief History of the Hocking Valley Railroad
This branch of railroad was founded in 1864 and was originally named the Mineral Railroad. It was part of a project to connect Columbus and Athens via rail. Just 3 years later, the name of the railway was changed to Columbus & Hocking Valley Railroad. Its original purposed was to export salt and coal from the Southeast Ohio region, and it quickly spurred the famous local brick industry, which you can still see the remains of on countless roads in Nelsonville and Athens, as well as Nelsonville’s historic central plaza.
Operation of the railway began in 1868, but full service didn’t reach Athens until 1870. In the next 30 years, the railroad grew, and changed names as it went, first to Columbus, Hocking Valley & Toledo Railway, and then to Hocking Valley Railway in 1899. In 1930, this railway, which used to run from Lake Erie, through Toledo, down to Columbus, and then to Athens, merged with the much larger Chesapeake & Ohio Railway.
By 1950, all train service North of Columbus ended, so many of the towns and infrastructure of this railroad were shortly relegated to somewhat-recognizable rolling hills in agricultural fields and on bike paths. The line that ran through Nelsonville was one of the last to shut down in the 1980’s. Today, only 5 of the Hocking Valley Railway’s train depots survive – and they’re all in Southeast Ohio!
What to Expect on Your Scenic Hocking Valley Train Ride
What began as a tight-budget labor of love by proud locals of Nelsonville, Athens and the surrounding communities, since its inception in the 1980’s, the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway is the premiere historic train destination in Ohio. A truly preserved piece of Appalachian history often overlooked by outsiders.
Some of the equipment used on these scenic rail tours are over 100 years old, restored to their original glory for passengers to get an authentic experience, and they are currently working on restoring parts of the tracks that haven’t been overhauled in several decades.
The train is comprised of 2 traditional enclosed coaches and 3 open-air passenger cars converted from freight cars, one of which is wheelchair accessible. There are several other coaches and day coaches that represent each stage of the railway’s development from the 1910’s through the 1930’s, and one still has a working coal furnace.
Major sites along this 2-hour scenic ride include an old lock from the old Hocking Canal, remains of the historic Nelsonville Brick Company, and one of the only surviving original depots at Haydenville. You also experience how local industry has transitioned, passing a gravel mine and a timber operation along the way.
How to Get Started on Your Historic Southeast Ohio Railway Adventure
Now, we do love a winter train ride; there’s something weirdly nostalgic about it, even though not many of us have ever actually ridden this sort of train. But Nelsonville offers train rides year-round, including elegant dinner packages and other holiday events.
So it’s not like you’re limited to the cold season if you want to experience the past of Athens and Southeast Ohio; there are a bunch of train ride adventures to choose from, and it’s easy to get started on the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway’s official website.