Tourism gains steam with scenic train tour

Virginia Scenic Railway’s new Shenandoah Valley Limited proved just the ticket for seasonal leaf-peepers and train enthusiasts, drawing thousands of visitors to Goshen this fall.

The iconic Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611, known as the “Queen of Steam,” is one of the last extant mainline passenger steam locomotives built in the United States. It pulled the Limited’s 14-car train to Staunton and back Fridays through Sundays, from Oct. 6 through Nov. 5.

Roughly all 20,000 tickets were snapped up, drawing passengers from as far as Florida, says Steve Powell, president of Buckingham Branch Railway, which owns and operates VSR.

“For me, seeing a steam locomotive is truly a one-of-a-kind experience,” says Mark Turkovich, who traveled from Pittsburgh to photograph the train.

Local officials knew the Limited would shine a light on small-town Goshen, population 350, says Vice Mayor Steve Bickley. New welcome signs were installed, and the town published a brochure high-lighting area attractions. Riders filled two Airbnbs and the six-room Hummingbird Inn Bed & Breakfast. The Hummingbird is normally booked during fall, but rooms sold faster after Limited tickets became available in late August, says co-owner Sandra Shaffer. “More than anything, it’s given us exposure,” she says.

The Limited is VSR’s fourth excursion ride. Staunton-based VSR started with the Alleghany Special, Blue Ridge Flyer and Santa’s Scenic Railway last year. All three are round trips departing from Staunton — the Special heads to Goshen during its morning trip — and share a diesel locomotive to pull a 34-seat passenger car. The Special and Flyer run year-round; the Santa train runs through December. More than 17,000 passengers have taken trips on the three lines since August 2022.

The decision on whether to bring the 611 back from the Roanoke-based Virginia Museum of Transportation for another run will be made later, says museum Executive Director Mendy Flynn.

Lexington and Rockbridge Area Tourism says it’s too early to tell what impact the Limited had on the local economy. But VSR’s other trains are having an express effect in Staunton.

The Blackburn Inn and Conference Center in Staunton is developing a package that will include a discount on VSR tickets and other local attractions from January through March, says Katie Campbell, vice president of marketing and head of partnerships for Blackburn’s manager, Retro Hospitality.

“To have a new tourism product that we can market and sell to existing guests and get them as repeat guests that also attract new guests is really exciting,” she says.