Take an Inexpensive Vacation to New Hope Valley Railway in North Carolina

Chatham County: Home of the New Hope Valley Railroad

Vacation time is something most people look forward to every year, but with so many vacation spots to choose from, how do you decide where to go? Well, one place where you can't go wrong is scenic North Carolina. Not only is the plant life unique and plentiful, but you stand a chance of seeing bears, racoons, possums, mountain lions, deer, squirrels, and maybe an alligator - depending upon the region.

When vacationing in North Carolina, there's so much to see and do, but make sure you don't leave a trip to New Hope Valley Railway off the itinerary. There, visitors can take a 9 mile train ride through the scenic valley, to the days of old. The crew is made up of volunteers from the area - retirees of the railroad, railroad buffs, and other enthusiasts.

You'll enjoy a comfortable, yet often muggy trip, through dense trees and forestry. The windows of the train remain open so the air can be felt, but the train is covered to protect riders. It takes about an hour to ride the train from one end to the other, so you see, the train does move rather slowly. All the better for you to get pictures and take in the scenery.

The New Hope Valley Railway tracks were placed over a hundred years ago, taking the train from Bonsal in Chatham County to New Hill in Wake County, then back to Bonsal. Although the New Hope Valley Railway operates seven locomotives, they each have different days that they run.

You can ride the New Hope Valley Railway on the first Sunday of each month from May to November, and it also runs on Saturday and Sunday of the first weekend in December. The railway is open with a special Halloween train ride on the last Saturday in October. In December, the New Hope Valley Railway features a Santa train.

At the Bonsal station you'll want to check out the railroad museum which includes exhibits of train cars and memorabilia as well as a 600 foot-long garden train. Although the trains may or may not run in the winter - depending upon the weather - the exhibits and museum are open year-round.