Buckingham Branch Railroad in Dillwyn, Virginia

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Dillwyn, Virginia · Updated October 19, 2026 · 10 min read

Rail preservation groupTrain ridesFreight railroad; periodic excursions with the Old Dominion Chapter NRHS

The Buckingham Branch Railroad is a family-owned short line founded in 1988 by retired C&O railroader Bob Bryant and his wife Annie, headquartered in Dillwyn's former Chesapeake and Ohio station and now running about 275 miles of Virginia track.

  • Family owned since 1988
  • First train ran March 6, 1989
  • Headquarters in former C&O station
  • About 275 miles of track

Buckingham Branch Railroad at a glance

Hours
No public hours; excursions on posted dates only
Admission
Excursion fares are set per trip; none are posted here
Train rides
Periodic vintage diesel excursions from Dillwyn Station with the Old Dominion Chapter NRHS
Best for
Families and rail fans on excursion days
Best ages
All ages on excursion days

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Buckingham Branch Railroad? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Dillwyn.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

From 17 miles and one locomotive to a statewide short line

Bob Bryant went to work for the Chesapeake & Ohio the day after he finished high school in the early 1950s. After more than 30 years he retired and brought his wife, Annie, and their family home from Baltimore to Buckingham County. In 1988 the couple created the Buckingham Branch Railroad and bought the 17-mile former C&O branch between Bremo and Dillwyn from CSX. The first train ran on March 6, 1989, with one locomotive and two employees, and their son Mark and daughter Lois soon joined the business.

Growth came in steps: the 199-mile Richmond and Alleghany Division between Richmond and Clifton Forge in 2004, which also carries Amtrak's Cardinal for 125 miles; the 59-mile Virginia Southern Division in 2009; and a short Norfolk Division in 2018. Today the railroad runs about 275 miles with 14 locomotives and keeps its headquarters in Dillwyn's former C&O station, a local landmark.

Where the public can see the railroad

There is no Buckingham Branch museum or posted collection to tour. The railroad's historic side shows up in periodic excursions run with the Old Dominion Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, which owns historic passenger coaches and engines. Those trips leave from Dillwyn Station, and a vintage diesel pulls them through the rolling Buckingham County countryside. Check the excursion schedule before you go.

Don’t miss

  1. Dillwyn's former C&O stationThe railroad's headquarters and the departure point for excursions.
  2. Old Dominion Chapter NRHS coachesHistoric passenger cars owned by the chapter and used on excursion trips.

Excursion days are the time to come

For families, the excursion days are the reason to visit: a vintage diesel, historic coaches and a ride out of Dillwyn Station. On other days the railroad is a working freight business with no public displays, so plan around a posted excursion and keep kids away from the active tracks.

Plan your visit: tips for Buckingham Branch Railroad

  • Watch the excursion listings rather than driving to Dillwyn on an ordinary day.
  • The headquarters at 1063 Main Street is a business office, not a museum.
  • Use the contact form on the railroad's website for general questions.

The Bryant family and the Old Dominion Chapter

The Bryant family still owns the railroad, and its crews keep freight moving across Virginia. The Old Dominion Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society preserves the historic coaches and engines used on excursions, and rail fans who want to help can look into that chapter's membership and volunteer work.

Ride and explore nearby

For trip dates, see the Buckingham Branch Railroad excursions page. The Richmond Railroad Museum is about 56 miles east, and the Virginia Scenic Railway in Staunton about 54 miles west. Find more on our page of Virginia train museums.

Every train museum in Virginia

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of a conductor in a blue suit shaking Rally's paw on the train
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Bob Bryant started on the C&O right out of high school and spent his life on the railroad, and I think of men like him whenever I paint Mr. Conductor. In our book, he wears a blue uniform and holds out his hand to Rally as the little corgi climbs aboard with Mom and Dad. Kindness from the people who run the trains is part of the magic for kids. Print that page from our coloring pages.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Buckingham Branch Railroad?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Buckingham Branch Railroad: 20 questions answered

What is the Buckingham Branch Railroad?

The Buckingham Branch Railroad is a family-owned short line freight railroad in Virginia, founded in 1988 and headquartered in Dillwyn. It moves freight cars to and from CSX, Norfolk Southern and the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad, and it also periodically hosts vintage excursion trains with the Old Dominion Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society.

Is there a Buckingham Branch Railroad museum?

No museum or public preservation collection is posted for the Buckingham Branch. It is a working freight railroad. The historic equipment families can see belongs to the Old Dominion Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, which owns passenger coaches and engines used on excursions from Dillwyn Station.

Where is the Buckingham Branch Railroad located?

The headquarters is at 1063 Main Street, Dillwyn, Virginia 23936, in the town's former Chesapeake and Ohio station. The mailing address uses P.O. Box 336 in Dillwyn. The railroad's lines reach across Virginia, from Richmond to Clifton Forge and south toward the North Carolina line.

Does the Buckingham Branch Railroad offer train rides?

Yes, on a periodic basis. The railroad partners with the Old Dominion Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society on excursion rides that leave from Dillwyn Station behind a vintage diesel, using the chapter's historic coaches. Dates vary, so check the current excursion listings before planning a trip.

How much do Buckingham Branch excursion tickets cost?

Excursion fares are not posted on the railroad's own website. Tickets for the trips run with the Old Dominion Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society are set for each excursion, so check the current listing for prices and booking, or use the contact form on buckinghambranch.com to ask.

Who founded the Buckingham Branch Railroad?

Bob and Annie Bryant founded it in 1988. Bob had joined the Chesapeake & Ohio straight out of high school in the early 1950s and worked more than 30 years in railroading before retiring and moving the family home from Baltimore to Buckingham County. Their son Mark and daughter Lois joined the business early on.

When did the first Buckingham Branch train run?

The first Buckingham Branch train ran on March 6, 1989, on the 17-mile branch line between Bremo and Dillwyn that the Bryants bought from CSX. The railroad started with one locomotive and two employees, and over the next 15 years it upgraded the line and grew to 13 employees.

How many miles does the Buckingham Branch Railroad run?

The railroad's About page says its divisions total 275 miles of track, while its History page describes about 280 miles. It is made up of the Buckingham, Richmond and Alleghany, and Virginia Southern divisions, plus a short Norfolk Division added in 2018, spanning Virginia from east to west.

Does Amtrak run on the Buckingham Branch Railroad?

Yes. Since leasing the 199-mile Richmond and Alleghany Division between Richmond and Clifton Forge in 2004, the Buckingham Branch has hosted Amtrak's Cardinal for 125 miles of its trip between New York City and Chicago. Since 2007 the railroad has also dispatched its own, CSX and Amtrak trains on that line.

What is the Old Dominion Chapter NRHS?

The Old Dominion Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society is the preservation group that partners with the Buckingham Branch on excursions. It owns a number of historic passenger coaches and engines, kept both for preservation and for use on excursion rides departing from Dillwyn Station.

Is the Dillwyn station historic?

Yes. The Buckingham Branch's headquarters is in Dillwyn's former Chesapeake and Ohio Railway station, which is described as a historic landmark in the community. It is also the departure point for excursion trains. Day to day it is a business office, so visit on an excursion date rather than dropping in.

Are Buckingham Branch excursions good for kids?

Excursion days are a fine outing for families: a vintage diesel, historic coaches and a ride through Buckingham County's rolling hills. Since dates and trip lengths vary, check the listing for the ride's duration and any age-based fares, and bring snacks and water for younger riders.

Can I visit the Buckingham Branch Railroad without an excursion?

There are no public hours, tours or displays posted outside of excursions. The headquarters is a working railroad office and the tracks carry active freight and passenger trains, so stay off railroad property. Plan your visit around a scheduled excursion from Dillwyn Station.

Does the Buckingham Branch run Christmas trains?

No Christmas trains are posted on the railroad's own website. Excursions with the Old Dominion Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society are described as specialty seasonal trips, so check the current excursion listings around the holidays to see whether a seasonal ride is scheduled.

How do I contact the Buckingham Branch Railroad?

Call corporate headquarters at (434) 983-3300 or use the contact form on buckinghambranch.com for general questions. For railroad emergencies, the railroad lists (866) 244-4529. Write to 1063 Main Street, P.O. Box 336, Dillwyn, Virginia 23936.

What railroads does the Buckingham Branch connect with?

The Buckingham Branch delivers and receives freight cars from CSX, Norfolk Southern and the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad. It is a handling line, so most of its rates are filed through CSX or Norfolk Southern as part of a combined rate. Its Norfolk Division connects with both Norfolk Southern and CSX.

How big is the Buckingham Branch Railroad today?

Today the railroad runs about 275 miles of track with seven train crews and 14 locomotives. Employment grew from two people in 1989 to 79 after the Norfolk Division was added in 2018. Its departments include rail traffic control, locomotive maintenance, signals, and track and structures.

What is the Virginia Southern Division?

The Virginia Southern Division is a 59-mile line the Buckingham Branch began leasing from Norfolk Southern in 2009. It runs from the Norfolk Southern interchange at Burkeville to Clarksville, near the North Carolina state line, and brought the railroad's workforce to about 77 people at the time.

How can I support rail preservation with the Buckingham Branch?

The best way is to ride an excursion and support the Old Dominion Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, which owns and preserves the historic coaches and engines. Rail preservation chapters rely on members, volunteers and ticket sales to keep vintage equipment running.

What train museums are near the Buckingham Branch Railroad?

The Virginia Scenic Railway and the Staunton Historic Train Station are about 54 miles away, and the Richmond Railroad Museum is about 56 miles. The C&O Railway Heritage Center in Clifton Forge, at the western end of the Richmond and Alleghany Division, is about 77 miles away.

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