Photo Provided A train in the Cass Scenic Railroad Bald Knob Trip rides on the original line to take timber cut from the Monongahela National Forest to the sawmills in Cass.

It’s also because West Virginia is known for its beauty and scenic mountains, which can be seen with a railroad excursion from Mountain Rail Adventures on the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad.

Cass Scenic Railroad Bald Knob Trip

* Departs Cass Depot at 11:45 a.m. Additional departure at 10:15 a.m. July 7 and July 22 and Tuesdays-Sundays Sept. 19-Oct. 22.

* June 6-Sept. 3, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday

Photo Provided The Durbin Rocket Excursion Train is powered by a rare steam locomotive, one of only three remaining operating Climax geared logging locomotives.

* Sept. 8-17, Friday, Saturday, Sunday

* Sept. 19-Oct. 22, Tuesday-Sunday

* Oct. 26-28, Thursday, Friday, Saturday

* Great Train Race, 10:30 a.m. July 15, additional ticket cost.

* The Cass Scenic Railroad is on a railroad line built in 1901 to haul timber to the mill in Cass and the locomotives are the Shay locomotives used in Cass during that time and in the rainforests of British Columbia for more than 50 years. Many of the passenger cars are refurbished logging cars.

Photo Provided Kids celebrate the Yuletide aboard the Polar Express, an adventure at the Cass Scenic Railroad.

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Wild Heart of West Virginia Adventure Package

* Contact company for departure time. Your choice of return date, but return trip is not the same day. Price does not include cost of overnight accommodations.

* June 2-Sept. 17, Friday, Saturday, Sunday

* Sept. 21-Oct. 28, Thursday to Sunday

Photo Provided The New Tygart Flyer crosses a trestle on its excursion on the Shavers Fork of the Cheat River to the High Falls of Cheat.

* The new Wild Heart package offers a combined ride on two trains with one ticket — the Cass Scenic Railroad and the Cheat Mountain Salamander, with overnight package options in Elkins or Cass.

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New Tygart Flyer

* Departs Elkins at 11 a.m.

* June 1-Sept. 17, Thursday through Sunday

* July 2, Bluegrass Bash, additional ticket cost

* Sept.19-Oct. 22, Tuesday-Sunday

* Oct. 26-28, Tuesday-Sunday

* The excursion features mountain grades, an S curve tunnel, a high bridge and unspoiled mountain views aboard vintage diesel-powered locomotives along the Shavers Fork of the Cheat River to the High Falls of Cheat. Trip includes a 30-45 minute stop-over at the Falls and an on-board cold sandwich buffet.

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Cheat Mountain

Salamander

* Departs Elkins at 9:15 a.m. or Cheat Bridge at noon.

* June-Sept. 17, Friday-Sunday

* Sept. 21-Oct. 28, Thursday-Sunday

* July 15, Great Train Race, additional ticket cost

* Named after an endangered salamander whose habitat is the Salamander River, the excursion goes through mountain wilderness in the high-country forests of Cheat Mountain on this most distinctive rail excursion, featuring great mountain vistas. Trip includes a cold sandwich buffet served en route.

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Polar Express

* Departs Elkins Depot at 5 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. Reservations required. Railyard Restaurant dinners served 4:30 p.m. and 6:45 p.m.

* Nov. 5, 8-12, 15-19, 24-26 and 28-30

* Dec. 1-3, 5-10 and 12-17

* In a partnership with Rail Events Inc. through Warner Brothers Consumer Products, the Polar Express is based on the movie from Warner Bros. and the children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg about a doubting young boy who takes a train ride to the North Pole on Christmas Eve.

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Mountain Explorer

Dinner Train

* Departs Elkins at 5:30 p.m.

* July 8 and 22

* Aug. 5 and 19

* Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30

* With dinner on-board, the Mountain Explorer Dinner Train four-hour, round trip through scenic West Virginia backcountry to the High Falls of Cheat. A four-course meal prepared is served throughout the

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Cass Scenic

Whittaker Trip

* Departs Cass Depot at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

* June 1-Sept. 3, Wednesday-Sunday and Labor Day on Sept 4

* Sept. 7-17, Thursday-Sunday

* Sept. 19-Oct. 22, Tuesday-Sunday and Oct. 26-28

* Oct. 28, Halloween Special, additional ticket cost

* The Cass Scenic Railroad operates on the same line built in 1901 and the same engines to haul lumber to the mill in Cass. The locomotives also were used in the rainforests of British Columbia for more than 50 years and the passenger cars are refurbished logging cars.

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The Durbin Rocket

* Departs Durbin Depot at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

* June 1-Sept. 17, Thursday-Sunday and Labor Day Monday on Sept. 4

* Aug. 5-6, Wild West Weekend Family Fun, additional ticket cost

* Sept. 19-Oct. 22, Tuesday-Sunday

* Oct. 26-28, Thursday-Saturday

* The Durbin Rocket Excursion Train is powered by a rare steam loco, Old No. 3, which is one of only three operating Climax geared logging locomotives on earth.

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The Elf Limited

* Departs Cass depot at 5 p.m. and 6:45 p.m.

* Nov. 10-Dec. 10, Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays

Jinx the Elf is aboard the Elf Limited, Santa’s Holiday Train voyage in Cass.

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Castaway Caboose Overnights

* Castaway Caboose pick-ups are made during the Rocket’s 10 a.m. run, usually around 10:45-11 a.m. Use the train schedule for the Durbin Rocket.

* Two original Wabash Rail Road cabooses have been renovated into comfortable efficiency suites on rails. The two depart from two locations, one from Cass Depot and the other from Durbin Depot.