C&O Railway Heritage Center in Clifton Forge, Virginia

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Clifton Forge, Virginia · Updated October 19, 2026 · 11 min read

Railroad museumTrain ridesOpen Friday to Sunday until December 20, 2026; closed December 21 to March 11, 2027

The C&O Railway Heritage Center is the Chesapeake and Ohio Historical Society's museum and visitor center in Clifton Forge, the mountain town where the C&O once serviced locomotives for the climb west over the Alleghanies, and it tells the railway's story through its people, places and restored equipment.

  • C&O 4-8-4 No. 614
  • 1932 Gadsby's Tavern dining car
  • Restored cars open inside and out
  • Run by the C&O Historical Society
  • Docent-led group tours
  • Scavenger hunts for PreK to grade 7

C&O Railway Heritage Center at a glance

Hours
Fall 2026: Friday to Sunday 11 am to 4 pm through December 20; closed December 21, 2026 to March 11, 2027
Admission
Adults $8, children under 12 $5, under 3 and COHS members free (confirm before visiting)
Train rides
The Little C&O kids' train; ask on arrival if it is running
Plan for
About 1 to 2 hours
Best for
Rail fans and families with young kids
Best ages
PreK to grade 7

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

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to C&O Railway Heritage Center? 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 Clifton Forge.

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.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

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

Why the C&O's story is told in Clifton Forge

The Chesapeake & Ohio traces its roots to the Louisa Railroad, begun in Louisa County in 1836. Renamed the Virginia Central, it pushed west across the Shenandoah Valley and in 1856 reached a spot called Jackson's River Station at the foot of Alleghany Mountain. That place became Clifton Forge. By the C&O's peak in the 1950s and 1960s, the railway had absorbed about 150 smaller lines.

Small as it was, Clifton Forge was crucial. Locomotives were serviced here and readied for the run west over the Alleghanies or east over the Blue Ridge and down the James River. Packed onto a crescent of land beside the Jackson River were a big locomotive shop, a coal and freight classification yard, a yard for less-than-carload freight, an icing plant, the railroad's main laundry, a passenger coach yard and the division headquarters. The Historical Society calls it an archetypal American railroad town.

The Chesapeake and Ohio Historical Society, headquartered in town, created the Heritage Center as a museum, education and visitor center to tell that story and to honor the railroaders who built and still run America's railroads. It also aims to bring visitors and business to the Alleghany Highlands, and to serve as a hub for Virginia's Rail Heritage Region. Society members have restored much of the collection inside and out, and the work continues piece by piece as resources allow.

A yard of restored C&O equipment

The rolling stock collection is the main event. Fully restored pieces you can view inside and out include Greenbrier-type steam locomotive 614, a GP7 road switcher and an SD40 freight diesel, the Gadsby's Tavern dining car, combination car 458, the Pullman sleeper City of Petoskey, and steel cabooses from 1929 and 1969. Visitors can also look at equipment in storage awaiting restoration, staff often explain the cars in person, and photography is welcome.

Inside, exhibits trace the C&O from 1836 to today's CSX. The Center sits at milepost 277 on the C&O Railway Heritage Trail, and families can watch trains from the signal tower, sit by the pot-belly stove in the replica passenger station for a game of checkers, blow the whistle and ride the Little C&O, a small train for kids. Ask on arrival which of these are running that day.

Don’t miss

  1. C&O 4-8-4 No. 614Built by Lima Locomotive Works in June 1948, this Greenbrier-type steam engine pulled C&O passenger trains until 1952 and later ran excursions.
  2. Gadsby's Tavern dining carIt served on the C&O's George Washington from 1932, the world's first long-distance air-conditioned train, and is restored to its 1932 interior.
  3. Pullman sleeper City of PetoskeyA 1950 car with 10 roomettes and 6 double bedrooms, one of 55 of its type the C&O ran.
  4. Combination car No. 458Built in 1926, it spent its last 20 years on the mixed train between Clifton Forge and Hot Springs.
  5. Wooden caboose No. 90382Built in 1881, it is the oldest caboose in the collection and awaits full restoration.
  6. C&O SD40Built in 1971 and in service until 2017 for the C&O, Chessie System and CSX, now back in its original 1971 look.

The Little C&O, a whistle and a scavenger hunt

Kids can ride the Little C&O, blow a whistle and watch real trains from the signal tower, and the replica station's checkers board by the pot-belly stove is a good rest stop. The cabooses and passenger cars are open inside, so young visitors get to see where crews and travelers rode.

Teachers and parents can download scavenger hunts written for each level from PreK and kindergarten through grade 7, which turn the grounds into a game. An outdoor picnic shelter makes it easy to bring lunch.

Plan your visit: tips for C&O Railway Heritage Center

  • The Center is closed in winter; plan for March to December.
  • Summer hours are longest: Wednesday to Sunday, 11 am to 5 pm.
  • Groups get discounts but must reserve ahead.
  • Download the age-matched scavenger hunt before you go.
  • The Society has no railroad employee or genealogy records, so do not plan a family research trip around them.

The Chesapeake and Ohio Historical Society

The Chesapeake and Ohio Historical Society runs the Heritage Center and restores its equipment as resources allow, with the goal of eventually restoring everything it owns. Visitors can help by joining the Society (members get in free), booking a group visit or event in the dining car, and shopping the gift shop or the Society's online ChessieShop.

Rail day trips from Clifton Forge

The Historic C&O Depot is in Clifton Forge too. Roanoke's Virginia Museum of Transportation is about 38 miles away, and Cass Scenic Railroad State Park in West Virginia is about 40 miles. Find more in our guide to Virginia train museums.

Every train museum in Virginia

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of a dad lifting Rally the corgi up the big stairs of a red train car
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

The Pullman sleeper and the cabooses here are open inside, which means climbing those tall, narrow steps. That is exactly where Rally gets stuck in our book: his corgi legs are too short for the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. Little kids know that feeling well. My kids are learning to read now, and Rally's trip is one of the books we read together. More books for little riders are on our train books for toddlers page.

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 C&O Railway Heritage Center?

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.

C&O Railway Heritage Center: 20 visitor questions

Where is the C&O Railway Heritage Center?

The C&O Railway Heritage Center is at 705 Main Street, Clifton Forge, Virginia 24422, at milepost 277 on the C&O Railway Heritage Trail. The Chesapeake and Ohio Historical Society's headquarters is separately at 312 E. Ridgeway Street, so use the Main Street address for museum visits.

What are the C&O Railway Heritage Center hours?

As of October 2026, the Center is open October 9 to December 20 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 11 am to 4 pm. It closes December 21, 2026 through March 11, 2027. Spring hours are Friday to Sunday, 11 am to 4 pm, and summer hours run Wednesday to Sunday, 11 am to 5 pm.

How much does the C&O Railway Heritage Center cost?

Admission has been listed as $8 for adults and $5 for children under 12, with Historical Society members and children 2 and under free. Prices can change, so call 540-862-8653 or email cohs@cohs.org to confirm before your visit. Groups can ask about discounts.

Is the C&O Railway Heritage Center open in winter?

No. The Center closes for the winter, and for the 2026 to 2027 season it is closed from December 21, 2026 through March 11, 2027. The Society says it is always open for events and groups by arrangement, so call 540-862-8653 if you have a group that needs a winter date.

Is steam locomotive 614 at the C&O Railway Heritage Center?

Yes. C&O 4-8-4 Greenbrier-type No. 614 is part of the restored collection that visitors can view inside and out. Lima Locomotive Works built it in June 1948, and it pulled C&O passenger trains until 1952 before later working in excursion service.

What locomotives and cars are at the C&O Railway Heritage Center?

Restored pieces include steam locomotive 614, GP7 diesel 6858 from 1952, a 1971 SD40, the Gadsby's Tavern dining car, combination car 458, the Pullman sleeper City of Petoskey, and steel cabooses 90219 and 3168. Visitors can also see equipment waiting for restoration, including an 1881 wooden caboose.

Can you go inside the train cars at the C&O Railway Heritage Center?

Yes. The fully restored locomotives and cars can be viewed inside and out, including the dining car, the Pullman sleeper and the cabooses. Staff often explain the equipment to visitors in person, and photography is welcome throughout the collection.

Can kids ride a train at the C&O Railway Heritage Center?

The Center offers rides on the Little C&O, a small train for kids, and children can also blow a whistle and watch trains from the signal tower. Ask at the front desk on arrival whether the Little C&O is running that day, since operations can depend on weather and staffing.

Is the C&O Railway Heritage Center good for young kids?

Yes. Kids can climb into cabooses and passenger cars, ride the Little C&O, blow the whistle and play checkers by the pot-belly stove in the replica station. The Center also offers downloadable scavenger hunts written for PreK through grade 7.

What is the Gadsby's Tavern dining car?

Gadsby's Tavern is a C&O dining car that ran on the George Washington, the C&O passenger train that in 1932 became the world's first long-distance air-conditioned train. It is restored to its 1950 exterior and 1932 interior, and it can be rented for meetings, lunches and parties of up to 40.

Can I have a birthday party at the C&O Railway Heritage Center?

Yes. The Gadsby's Tavern dining car hosts birthday parties, anniversaries, reunions and business events for up to 40 people, and an outdoor picnic shelter holds another 40. Catering is available. Call 540-862-8653 or email cohs@cohs.org to reserve a date.

Does the C&O Railway Heritage Center offer group tours?

Yes. Docent-led tours of the exhibits usually last about an hour and can be tailored to a group's interests. Group discounts are available, and all groups must reserve in advance by calling 540-862-8653 or emailing cohs@cohs.org.

Why is the C&O Railway Heritage Center in Clifton Forge?

Clifton Forge was the C&O's servicing hub for the climb over the Alleghany Mountains. It had a big locomotive shop, freight yards, an icing facility, the railroad's main laundry, a coach yard and the division headquarters, all on a crescent of land beside the Jackson River.

Who runs the C&O Railway Heritage Center?

The Chesapeake and Ohio Historical Society operates the Center as a museum, interpretive, educational and visitor center. The Society's headquarters is in Clifton Forge and is open by appointment on weekdays, 9 am to 5 pm. Its goal is to restore all the equipment it owns as resources allow.

Can I research C&O employee or family records at the Heritage Center?

No. The Chesapeake and Ohio Historical Society says it has no railroad employee records or genealogical data. Its C&O Tracks magazine has carried some articles about C&O employees. For other research questions, call 540-862-2210 or email cohs@cohs.org.

Does the C&O Railway Heritage Center have a gift shop?

Yes. The Center has a gift shop, and the Historical Society also sells books and railroad items online through ChessieShop.com. Purchases help fund the Society's restoration work on the collection. If you are hunting for a particular C&O book or model, call 540-862-2210 first.

How long should I spend at the C&O Railway Heritage Center?

Plan on one to two hours. A docent tour of the main exhibits takes about an hour, and families usually want extra time to climb through the cars, ride the Little C&O and watch trains from the signal tower.

When did the railroad reach Clifton Forge?

The Virginia Central, a C&O predecessor that began as the Louisa Railroad in 1836, reached a place called Jackson's River Station at the foot of Alleghany Mountain in 1856. That spot later became Clifton Forge and grew into one of the C&O's most important towns.

How can I support the C&O Railway Heritage Center?

Join the Chesapeake and Ohio Historical Society, which gives members free admission, or book a group visit or event. Shopping in the gift shop or on ChessieShop.com also helps fund restoration of the cars and locomotives still waiting their turn.

What train museums are near the C&O Railway Heritage Center?

The Historic C&O Depot is in Clifton Forge. The Virginia Museum of Transportation and O. Winston Link Museum in Roanoke are about 38 miles away, Cass Scenic Railroad State Park about 40 miles, and the Virginia Scenic Railway in Staunton about 47 miles.

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