Train Museums in West Virginia: Every Railroad Museum by Town
- 9 museums
- 7 towns
- 4 with train rides
- 2 free
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West Virginia keeps the only cast-iron framed roundhouse still standing, the sixteen-sided West Roundhouse in Martinsburg, and up in Pocahontas County geared Shay steam engines still climb the 1901 grades of a logging railroad. This page is part of our nationwide train museum directory, and it covers 9 West Virginia museums, rail sites and excursion railroads in 7 towns, from Huntington on the Ohio River to the Eastern Panhandle. Type your town into the finder to see what is closest.
This is a state for riding. Four of the listings run passenger trains into country that roads barely reach: up Back Allegheny Mountain from Cass, through the mountains around Elkins, and into the Trough canyon from Romney, where bald eagles nest on the cliffs. The smaller museums in Hinton, Princeton and Huntington tell the coal railroad stories of the C&O and the Virginian.
Many of these places run on seasonal schedules or volunteer hours, so check each museum page and call ahead before a long mountain drive.
Look inside the book
Big engines, little legs. Bring Rally along.
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Quick picks: where to start in West Virginia
Best first visit with a toddler
Princeton
A compact museum with a play corner where kids build track, a caboose to explore outside, and free admission according to its newer listing.
Best steam train ride
Cass Scenic Railroad State Park
Cass
Geared Shay locomotives push open cars up Back Allegheny Mountain, and the two-hour Whittaker Station trip suits younger riders.
Best for spotting wildlife
Romney
The three-hour Trough Canyon trip runs through a remote canyon where bald eagles nest on the cliffs.
Free outdoor stop
Huntington
An outdoor C&O equipment display with an operating hand pump car, listed as free and right beside Safety Town.
Rail history fans
Martinsburg
Seasonal tours of the sixteen-sided West Roundhouse, a National Historic Landmark and the most intact site of the 1877 strike.
Rail weekend base
Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad
Elkins
One booking office covers steam and vintage diesel trips from Elkins, Durbin and Cass, April through December.
Map of every train museum in West Virginia
Every train museum in West Virginia, town by town
9 museums in 7 towns, A to Z by town. Tap any museum for its own page: the full story, what to see, what kids can do, hours, tickets, contact details and 20 answers to the questions families ask.
Cass
Heritage railroad with a museum
Cass Scenic Railroad State Park
A real 1901 logging railroad and lumber company town in Pocahontas County. Geared Shay steam locomotives climb to Whittaker Station and Bald Knob, and you can sleep in a former company house. Trains do not run every day, so check the calendar first.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsElkins: 3 train museums
Elkins is the hub of West Virginia's mountain rail trips. The Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad runs excursions from the downtown depot over West Virginia Central track, and the West Virginia Railroad Museum sits next door on the second floor of the historic Darden Mill.
Heritage railroad with a museum
Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad
The Elkins-based railroad behind the Mountain Rail Adventures trains and the Cass Scenic Railroad. Steam and diesel excursions leave Elkins, Durbin and Cass from spring into December, and advance reservations are recommended.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsHeritage railroad with a museum
West Virginia Central Railroad
A state-owned freight railroad on former Western Maryland lines around Elkins, operated by the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad. It is not a museum; to ride, book a Mountain Rail Adventures excursion from the Elkins depot.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsRailroad museum
West Virginia Railroad Museum
A downtown Elkins museum on the second floor of the historic Darden Mill, covering West Virginia's railroads and coal industry. Hours are not posted online, so call (304) 637-4810 before you go.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsHinton
Railroad museum
Hinton Railroad Museum
A small downtown museum devoted to the early Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, with model trains, tools from the era of John Henry, uniforms and photos. Hours are not posted online, so check its Facebook page first.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsHuntington
Railroad museum
Huntington Railroad Museum
An outdoor C&O rail display at 14th Street West and Memorial Boulevard, next to Safety Town, with an operating hand pump car. Summer afternoon hours have been the norm; call ahead to confirm before driving over.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsMartinsburg
Historic rail site
Martinsburg Roundhouse
The B&O's 1866 shops in Martinsburg, home of the sixteen-sided West Roundhouse, the only surviving cast-iron framed roundhouse. Seasonal tours run April through October, Wednesday to Sunday, and an audio tour is available.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsPrinceton
Railroad museum
Princeton Railroad Museum
A friendly Mercer Street museum devoted to the Virginian Railway, with restored caboose No. 308, a big lantern collection and a play corner where kids build track. Walk-in visits are welcome, and group tours can be booked by phone.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsRomney
Heritage railroad with a museum
Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad
Narrated train trips from Romney into the Trough, a river canyon where bald eagles nest on the cliffs. Choose coach or a dining class, and book the North Pole Express early for the holidays. Trips from $49 as of 2026.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsCompare every West Virginia train museum side by side
Type, train rides, admission, hours and who each one suits, in one table. Tap a column to sort it, or a museum to open its page.
| Hours | Best for | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cass Scenic Railroad State ParkCass | Heritage railroad | Yes | Train fares vary by trip; check current prices with the park or the railroad when booking | Trains run on scheduled days in season; check the operating calendar before you go | Steam fans, families and anyone who wants an overnight stay |
| Durbin & Greenbrier Valley RailroadElkins | Heritage railroad | Yes | Bald Knob 2026: adults $85, seniors $83, military $81, ages 4 to 11 $65, 3 and under free with ticket; Whittaker from $65 | Excursions April through December on scheduled days; Bald Knob departs 12 pm and runs May to October | Families, steam fans and overnight getaways |
| West Virginia Central RailroadElkins | Heritage railroad | Yes | Not applicable; book passenger excursions through Mountain Rail | No public site to visit; passenger trips run on scheduled days from Elkins | Rail fans interested in Western Maryland lines and short line freight |
| West Virginia Railroad MuseumElkins | Railroad museum | No | Not posted online; call ahead | Not posted online; call (304) 637-4810 | Rail and coal history fans riding a train from Elkins |
| Hinton Railroad MuseumHinton | Railroad museum | No | Not posted online | Not posted online; check the museum's Facebook page | C&O fans and visitors exploring downtown Hinton |
| Huntington Railroad MuseumHuntington | Railroad museum | No | Listed as free | Last posted: Memorial Day to end of September, 2 pm to 5 pm, other times by appointment with 24 hours' notice; call to confirm | Families with young kids and C&O fans |
| Martinsburg RoundhouseMartinsburg | Historic site | No | Not posted online; check with the Roundhouse when booking | Tours April 1 to October 31: Wednesday to Saturday 10 am to 4 pm, Sunday 12 pm to 5 pm; last tour starts 1 hour before close | History lovers, rail fans and school groups |
| Princeton Railroad MuseumPrinceton | Railroad museum | No | Free, according to the museum's newer listing; call to confirm | Year-round, 11 am to 4 pm (Wednesday to Sunday on the museum's hours page; call to confirm the days) | Families with young kids, Virginian Railway fans and school groups |
| Potomac Eagle Scenic RailroadRomney | Heritage railroad | Yes | As of 2026: Green Spring from $49, North Pole Express from $62, Trough Canyon from $74, All Day Petersburg and Holiday Trough from $114 | Scheduled departures only; see the 2026 schedule on the railroad's site | Families, eagle watchers and dining-car fans |
No museum on this page matches every filter you picked.
West Virginia rail day trips
Trip 1
Elkins rail day
Ride a Mountain Rail Adventures train from the Elkins depot, then walk next door to the West Virginia Railroad Museum for its railroad and coal exhibits and oral histories. Call the museum first, since its hours are not posted online. Book train seats in advance.
Trip 2
Southern coalfield museums: Hinton and Princeton
- Hinton Railroad MuseumHinton
- Princeton Railroad MuseumPrinceton
These two small museums sit about 24 miles apart. See the C&O model trains and John Henry era tools in Hinton, then head to Princeton for the Virginian Railway story, caboose No. 308 and the kids' track corner. Check Hinton's Facebook page and call Princeton to confirm open days.
Trip 3
Cass and Elkins overnight
Cass and Elkins are about 37 miles apart, and the same railroad runs trains from both. Ride steam at Cass, stay in a former company house, and take a diesel trip from Elkins or Durbin the next day.
Coal, timber and the mountain railroads
Railroads made modern West Virginia. The Baltimore and Ohio's shops in Martinsburg were a key site in the early months of the Civil War, were rebuilt starting in 1866, and became the center of the Great Railroad Strike of 1877. To the south, the Chesapeake and Ohio created Huntington in 1871 as its western terminus, and Hinton grew with the C&O in the days of John Henry, the Steel Drivin' Man.
Coal and timber pulled the rails deep into the mountains. Financier Henry H. Rogers paid for the Virginian Railway, a 443-mile line built for the most direct path from the coalfields to Hampton Roads, where close to two thirds of the West Virginia excavation was solid rock. At Cass, a pulp and paper company built a company town and a logging railroad in 1901, and its mill was at one time the largest double-band sawmill in the world.
Each museum holds one piece. The Martinsburg Roundhouse covers the B&O and the 1877 strike, the Huntington Railroad Museum and Hinton Railroad Museum keep the C&O story, the Princeton Railroad Museum tells the Virginian's, and Cass Scenic Railroad State Park keeps the logging line running.
Good to know before you go
- On the Cass trips, the two-hour Whittaker Station run suits young children; Bald Knob takes about five hours and is better for older kids.
- Pack warm layers for Bald Knob, which sits near 4,842 feet and is much cooler than the valley.
- Children 3 and under ride Bald Knob free but still need a ticket and get only applesauce, chips and a cookie, so bring them a lunch. The train has one restroom, in Car 8.
- Potomac Eagle trains are not ADA accessible because of the historic equipment; give the railroad at least 20 days' notice if you need help, and pick coach or Premium Dining with kids, since Club Service and Superior Dining are 17 and over.
- At the Martinsburg Roundhouse, wear closed-toe shoes because rails and track grooves in the floor are trip hazards, and children must stay with an adult.
- Hours are not posted online for the Hinton, Huntington and Elkins museums, so call or check Facebook before you drive.
- Fall rates on Durbin and Greenbrier Valley trips add $10 per ticket from mid-September through October.
Drive times from Charleston, Morgantown and Martinsburg
Times are approximate, without traffic, and estimated from straight-line distance, so allow extra for mountain roads.
| Museum | From Charleston | From Morgantown | From Martinsburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington Railroad MuseumHuntington | 1 hr | ||
| Hinton Railroad MuseumHinton | 1 hr 30 min | ||
| Princeton Railroad MuseumPrinceton | 1 hr 45 min | ||
| Cass Scenic Railroad State ParkCass | 2 hr | 2 hr | |
| Durbin & Greenbrier Valley RailroadElkins | 1 hr | ||
| West Virginia Railroad MuseumElkins | 1 hr | ||
| Potomac Eagle Scenic RailroadRomney | 1 hr 30 min | 1 hr | |
| Martinsburg RoundhouseMartinsburg | 15 min |
Holiday trains and seasonal days at West Virginia museums
West Virginia's railroads are busiest in fall and at the holidays. The Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad runs holiday trains, a Murder Mystery Train and a June Parade of Steam weekend, and Cass offers autumn specials and holiday trains. In the Eastern Panhandle, the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad runs the 1.25-hour North Pole Express and a Holiday Trough trip, and its Sunset Trough adds an evening ride. For dates and booking tips, read our West Virginia Christmas train rides guide, and for fall outings see West Virginia Halloween train rides.
Rally's note on West Virginia
Reading about trains that climb whole mountains makes me think of the moment in Rally's book when the big train steps look impossibly tall and Dad gives Rally a boost up. Rally is our real corgi, and my mom dreamed up her story before she died in 2021. My kids are learning to read now, and train stories are the ones they ask for again. If yours are the same, our train coloring pages are free to print, and you can read how the book came to be.
Train museums in neighboring states
From Martinsburg, the Maryland train museums include the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, which runs from Cumberland's 1913 station through the Brush Tunnel, about 1 hr away. From Huntington, the Ohio train museums include the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway in Nelsonville, about 1 hr 45 min away. From Charleston, the Virginia train museums include the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, with a railyard of big locomotives, about 2 hr 45 min away.
A train book for the drive
If a museum day leaves your family wanting a longer train trip, our Cardinal with kids guide covers riding this Amtrak route with little ones.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. They fit in a folder with a few crayons for the drive to the museum or the wait for the next train ride.
Get the free coloring pages
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
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- Train books for toddlers for the drive home
West Virginia train museum questions
What is the best train ride in West Virginia?
Cass Scenic Railroad State Park is the standout ride. Geared Shay steam locomotives push trains up the original 1901 grades of a logging railroad on Back Allegheny Mountain, to Whittaker Station or the Bald Knob summit. Trains run on scheduled days in season, so check the operating calendar before you go.
Are there free train museums in West Virginia?
Yes, two are listed as free. The Princeton Railroad Museum is free according to its newer listing, and the outdoor Huntington Railroad Museum is listed as free too. Call ahead to confirm both, since Princeton's listings differ on open days and Huntington's hours have been limited to summer afternoons.
Which West Virginia train museum is best for toddlers?
The Princeton Railroad Museum is the best fit for toddlers. It has a play corner where kids build track, with puzzles and books nearby, and caboose No. 308 outside to explore. The museum is compact, which suits little ones who do best with a short stop. Call to confirm open days before you go.
Where can you ride a steam train in West Virginia?
Steam trains run at Cass Scenic Railroad State Park in Pocahontas County. The park has eight Shay geared locomotives plus a Heisler and a Climax, and trips climb to Whittaker Station or Bald Knob. The Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad operates the trains and sells tickets under the Mountain Rail Adventures name.
How long is the Cass Scenic Railroad Bald Knob trip?
The Bald Knob trip takes about five hours and departs at 12 pm, running May to October. It climbs 2,390 feet from Cass to an overlook near 4,842 feet and includes a boxed lunch. As of October 2026, adult fares are $85 and ages 4 to 11 are $65. Younger kids do better on the two-hour Whittaker Station trip.
Can you see bald eagles on the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad?
Very often, yes. The Potomac Eagle runs from Romney into the Trough, a six-mile canyon on the South Branch of the Potomac where bald eagles nest and reuse their nests. No sighting is guaranteed, but the railroad calls it a pretty good bet. The three-hour Trough Canyon trip gives the best chance.
Is there a train museum in Elkins, WV?
Yes, the West Virginia Railroad Museum is on the second floor of the historic Darden Mill at 2 Railroad Avenue in downtown Elkins. It covers the state's railroads and coal industry with artifacts, photographs and oral histories. It sits next door to the Elkins depot, where Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad trains depart. Call ahead for hours.
Is there a train museum in Huntington, West Virginia?
Yes, the Huntington Railroad Museum is an outdoor display at 14th Street West and Memorial Boulevard, beside Safety Town. The Collis P. Huntington Railroad Historical Society runs it, and it has an operating hand pump car. Hours have been summer afternoons, 2 pm to 5 pm, so call before you visit.
Train museums near Charleston, WV?
The Huntington Railroad Museum is about an hour from Charleston, the Hinton Railroad Museum about 1 hr 30 min, and the Princeton Railroad Museum about 1 hr 45 min. For a train ride, Cass Scenic Railroad State Park is about two hours away. Allow extra time for mountain roads on any of these drives.
Is there a railroad museum in Hinton, WV?
Yes, the Hinton Railroad Museum is at 206 Temple Street in downtown Hinton. It focuses on the early Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, with model trains, tools from the era of John Henry, uniforms and photographs. The National Park Service lists it among places to visit around the New River Gorge. Check its Facebook page for hours.
Can you tour the Martinsburg Roundhouse?
Yes, seasonal tours run April 1 to October 31. As of October 2026, hours are Wednesday to Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm and Sunday from noon to 5 pm, with the last tour starting an hour before close. Groups of 20 or more should reserve at least 30 days ahead. An audio tour is also available.
Why is the Martinsburg Roundhouse famous?
The West Roundhouse in Martinsburg is the only cast-iron framed roundhouse still standing. The sixteen-sided building, begun by the B&O in 1866, uses an early cast-iron framing system credited to Albert Fink. The shops are also the most intact surviving site of the Great Railroad Strike of 1877, and they are a National Historic Landmark.
What is a Shay locomotive at Cass?
A Shay is a geared steam locomotive that uses gears and drive shafts instead of ordinary side rods. That design lets it haul trains up grades that would stop a regular engine, which is why logging railroads like Cass used them. Cass has eight Shays, and volunteers are restoring its Climax, a rival geared design.
What was the Virginian Railway in Princeton, WV?
The Virginian Railway was a coal hauler formed in 1907 and paid for by financier Henry H. Rogers. It ran 443 miles from Deepwater, West Virginia, to Sewells Point in Norfolk, and operated until the Norfolk and Western bought it in 1959. The Princeton Railroad Museum tells its story with artifacts and Virginian caboose No. 308.
What does the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad offer?
The Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad runs steam and vintage diesel excursions of 2 to 5.5 hours from Elkins, Durbin and Cass. Its trains include the Bald Knob and Whittaker Station steam trips, the Greenbrier Express and the New Tygart Flyer. The season runs April through December, and advance reservations are recommended.
Is there a North Pole Express in West Virginia?
Yes, the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad in Romney runs a North Pole Express, a 1.25-hour holiday trip. As of October 2026, fares start at $62, and the railroad recommends booking early for the holidays. It also runs a longer Holiday Trough trip. The Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad and Cass run holiday trains too.
Are there fall foliage train rides in West Virginia?
Yes, fall is a popular season for mountain trains in West Virginia. Cass Scenic Railroad State Park runs autumn specials, and the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad keeps trips running from Elkins, Durbin and Cass. Fall rates on its trips add $10 per ticket from mid-September through October, so book early.
Can you stay overnight at Cass Scenic Railroad?
Yes, Cass Scenic Railroad State Park rents former company houses as cottages, plus a caboose and campsites. The campground has 100 sites. Many visitors pair a stay with the Greenbrier Express between Durbin and Cass. Reserve early if you want to stay overnight during a busy season.
What can you see at the Huntington Railroad Museum?
The Huntington Railroad Museum shows full-size rail equipment outdoors, an operating hand pump car and exhibits about Collis P. Huntington. It has long been linked with C&O No. 1308, a Baldwin 2-6-6-2 Mallet on the National Register, so confirm it is on view before you go. Everything is outdoors, so pick a dry afternoon.
How did railroads shape West Virginia history?
Railroads built many West Virginia towns and carried its coal and timber to market. The C&O founded Huntington in 1871, the Virginian hauled coal from the mountains to Hampton Roads, and Cass grew around a 1901 logging railroad. The B&O shops in Martinsburg saw the Civil War and the Great Railroad Strike of 1877.
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