Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad

The Potomac Eagle didn’t disappoint. We were able to see bald eagles and enjoy a ride in the gondola as the weather was beautiful. Mary was our attendant in our car for superior dining. It was a great meal and great service. Mary was very attentive and made our trip fun. Thank you to the entire team.

Absolutely wonderful! The staff are some of the nicest, most accommodating people I've ever met. The train is wonderful. The ride itself is so smooth, it felt like I was riding on air. They must really put a lot of time into maintaining the tracks, as I've never had such a smooth ride. The food and service is awesome. Such a fantastic way to spend the afternoon. The scenery is gorgeous. Highly recommend!!

We had the best time on our ride today! We booked the breakfast run in the Superior dining car and had wonderful service from Jennifer & Collen! The Chef outdid herself- the tenderloin filets were cooked to perfection! The historical commentary through out the ride was very informative. Highly recommend!

If you’re looking for a scenic train ride through the mountains, then this is the train for you. You can expect 3 hours of beautiful scenery along the Potomac river on tracks that cut through the mountainside. There are plenty of eagle nests in the trees and the possibility of seeing deer and other wildlife as well as a couple cows from some local farmers. There’s a lot of history that ties into this railroad that you get to hear about while enjoying the ride. There’s options for snacks or various lunch options depending by which cart you choose. There is an open air cart that you can ride to take pictures in as well.

What a wonderful experience! We took the train into The Trough and chose the Superior dining option. The service was top-notch and the food was fabulous. The decor felt like traveling back in time. Then there was the magic of the scenery, especially the bald eagles. There were 15 sightings on our trip. My husband and I are already planning to do it again this Winter. Highly recommend.

The scenic rail road ride was breathtakingly beautiful! We spotted many bald eagles, admired the fall foliage, while riding along the glistening South Branch of the Potomac River. The staff were so polite and offered us different seats for better views. Riding the open rail car provided great views and fresh air through the ride.

I had the pleasure of going on the Trough Canyon tour in June, and it was truly an unforgettable experience from start to finish. We opted for the **Superior Dining** option, which included a **4-course meal**, and I must say, the food rivaled anything you’d expect from a high-end restaurant. Every dish was expertly prepared and beautifully presented. Our server, **Kaleb**, made the experience even more enjoyable. He was incredibly **attentive, courteous, and knowledgeable**, ensuring we were comfortable and well-informed throughout the ride. It was also a pleasant surprise when the **chef personally stopped by** our table to check on how we were enjoying the meal—a nice touch that made the dining feel extra special. The tour itself was just as impressive. The train goes through the stunning **Trough Canyon** twice. During the first pass, we enjoyed the first three courses of our meal while listening to a knowledgeable guide over the **PA system**, who shared **historical facts** and pointed out **eagle nests** along the way. On the second pass, we took advantage of the **open-air gondola**, which gave us a completely different and more immersive view of the canyon. The highlight for me was capturing a photo of a **bald eagle perched in a tree right next to the rail**—an absolutely breathtaking moment. Overall, I can’t recommend this tour enough. The combination of **scenic beauty, top-tier dining, and exceptional service** made it a standout experience that I would happily do again.

We had a wonderful time on our all day train ride to Petersburg. We decided to go with the Club Service and did not regret it. The seats were so comfortable and we appreciated the climate controlled car on the hot day. The dining experience was tremendous with excellent dishes and the very attentive attendant in our car. Tara made sure our glasses were always full and served our food in a very professional manner. We saw bald eagles on the trip on both passes through the "Trough." The staff did a stupendous job of sighting and pointing out the eagles. I highly recommend this trip

The actual train ride with viewing was fine. Depending on which car you were in, the commentary giving instructions for eagle finding was more or less successful. As for the 3 course meal, the service was excellent but the meal was subpar. The steak was very tough and mine was 1/3rd gristle! The cornbread amd bisquit seemed to be served strainght from the refrigerator as was the chocolate cake dessert. The coffee served to reheat what we had was tepid. The food was a disappointment.

The train ride was historic with a good narration. We booked a premium club car. First. We had to stand in the sun for about an hour. People got sick and some left What happens when it rains or snows. There is no protection from elements or sun. How did people handle it in the heat of summer or when it rains snows. We got the most expensive car for climate control and comfort. It was nice. The meal was very good but not a meal just snacks. 5 courses. I noticed the less expensive cars got a beautiful complete meal Scratch my head. Overall it was a wonderful experience but many things could've been improved. Have people walk around and direct people. I'd go again

Scenic train ride through the Trough in West Virginia. Passengers can choose from different levels - some with full hot meals all the way to standard coach with concessions. The train ride is 3 hours long following the Potomac River. The ride is narrated and there are several chances to see eagles, deer and other wildlife. It's a diesel train that pulls different cars some with air conditioning and heat and others with windows that open. The food is awesome - even the concession food , hot dogs popcorn and pizza roll are very good. (Best popcorn I have ever had- you have to try it ! ) It was quite fun for the family and they even offer an open top car for part of the trip if you like. However , the open car has no seats so you have to stand for a good portion. Lots of history and nature to be seen and it's great to see it on a fun train ride. Watch for special events and discounts - fun for the whole family. Tip : get riverside seats for better views ( seats C and D)

Beyond disappointed. Besides driving an additional two hours from where we are staying in in Elkins ( after driving from Cass) ...Spent $170 per person with a military discount for a premium lounge car ( usually $200 pp)--and service absolutely sucked--especially after we were given the speech in the beginning by one of the employees to ask ANY of the staff for anything we needed... Pros: *pretty restored cars *pretty placemat on our table *comfortable seating where we were *smooth ride * narration on first half of the trip as to history and buildings en route, highlighting eagle sightings *smoked salmon dip and spinach dip were the highlight of the food ( what I actually ate).. *nice conversations with the tables around us, all thought the same regarding the trip *stunning scenery, and apparently the only way to see the "trough" --GORGEOUS!!! *Celeste, who was NOT our server, showed up and took care of the slack of our friendly but incompetent server whom I won't name because my mission is not to badmouth anyone in particular Cons: *our server/ service: **repeatedly had to ask for our ice tea, for water, our wine, and our food ( rolls, dessert) **not sure why our ice tea was partially filled in the glass repeatedly ( actually only twice) by the main server, but someone else filled it normally **our server had no idea what we ordered: a Pinot noir and Sauvignon Blanc-- literally took the menu to write them down... there were only FIVE wine choices...after walking away from us to get a pad because obviously she couldn't remember it **we paid extra for wine ( 4 glasses), but why were they served in cheap plastic cups? Totally takes away the ambiance and expense of the lounge car **we were almost last in our car, and frequently were literally forgotten--for our rolls, for our water, for our ice tea, for one of our courses--and of course our dessert.....as were 2-3 other tables nearby **extremely overpriced for the food we preordered: one charcuterie board, smoked salmon dip and spinach/ artichoke dip; the goat cheese I took one bite of/ the mozzarella was tasty per my husband; my husband's 4 shrimp were ok/ I never had my ONE meatball ( took it to go); and dessert is in the to go box with another box for the meatball.... For $100 over the price of a regular car, food quality/ quantity and delivery/ service did NOT justify a $100 charge over a regular car **our dessert was finally served less than 30 minutes before the trip ended-- we asked for it to go because we didn't have time to leisurely enjoy it... **we were never asked if we needed anything, wanted more wine, wanted more water ( incidentally served via plastic water bottles, not glasses), wanted coffee/ tea **we arrived back to the parking lot but were never instructed when/ how to get off **never got to check out the concession car, so can't comment BOTTOM LINE: service and food was not on par for what we paid for. And my husband has literally ridden on thousands of trains internationally.... Go up to Cass ( where we just had 3 train rides in 3 days) and enjoy them.

My partner and I had a thoroughly enjoyable and tasty trip yesterday on the 3-hour tour. And this was despite the rain and inability to access the gondola car (due to the rain) and observation car (undergoing maintenance). We opted for the Superior ticket, which is a car limited to customers 17 and older and includes a 4 course meal. The car was not crowded (I think there were a total of 5 parties (all couples) , each sitting at tables for 4, facing the river side of the train. We were served by David, who did an excellent job with the service, by telling us some fun and interesting stories and just by coming across like a nice guy who is very easy to talk with. One couple was celebrating a birthday and another couple got engaged (!) during the 3-hour tour. During the train ride, a woman at the front of the train described what we would be seeing and also pointed out a number of eagles nests on the other side of the river. The information she provided was interesting and informative. As far as eagles are concerned, for our trip, we didn't see any eagles flying around. If you looked closely across the river, you might see (or think you saw (!)) the white head of an eagle or an eagles nest. I think my expectations of what the eagle sighting would be and the reality were two different things. There were a couple of train delays on route due to debris on the tracks, where workers had to disembark and shove stones and branches off of the tracks. We also had a delay due to a crossing cow. But, even with the delays (inherent in this mode of transport), the trip was relaxing and enjoyable. That being said, it was a very pleasant experience, in part due to David's attentiveness and demeanor and the other just the relaxation of moving between mountains and near a river on a slow moving train. Oh, and the food. Oh my goodness. What a meal! We started with a bread basket, which included a corn muffin and a Southern-style biscuit. Both were very good, served with butter, jam and honey. Then an appetizer. I got the beef Wellington and my partner got the shrimp cocktail. Both were delicious. The beef Wellington was a nicely cooked beef inside a puffy pastry. There were two in the serving and they were filling. The shrimp cocktail included 5 nice-size shrimp with a tasty sauce. Then, we each had a small wedge salad. I say small, but after the bread and the appetizer, it was plenty. It was really well constructed, with bits of onion, tomato and blue cheese. The blue cheese dressing (on the side) was excellent. (Other dressing choice was ranch.) Then the main. I got the sea bass ($8 extra) and my partner got the pork chop. Each was outstanding. The portion size of the main dishes was impressive, the texture and flavor of the sea bass was outstanding and the pork was well prepared (not at all tough or dried out). Each main course came with an extremely well prepared baked/boiled potato. The potato was very tender and delicious. They also came with a side of string beans. Honestly, we told the chef afterward that the meal was fantastic. One person at a nearby table said it was one of the best restaurant meals they had ever had. Oh, for dessert we opted for the chocolate torte with a raspberry drizzle. It was great. I recommend this. For those not springing for the superior meal, there are other meal options , including a box meal and a snack bar with snacks, hot dogs and pulled pork sandwiches. If our meal was any indication of care and quality, I would suggest trying these other options too. There is a Christmas North Pole excursion for those with kids and I'm interested in maybe coming back in the fall where I understand you can get a great look at the changing foliage if you come at the right time. One strong recommendation: if you are planning to go during a busy time, do try to reserve a seat on the river side of the train. That is where the outside action is.

It was an informative train ride through the trough with beautiful views of the river, fall colors of the trees, and historic farms. The narrator had an eye for spotting the bald eagles nesting, hunting, and soaring through the sky and across the river. We had the premium dinner which was delicious and well prepared. It was a great way to spend the afternoon.

We had the best time! The staff were excellent, the food was to die for (Superior Dining), and the views were simply breathtaking. The 52 eagle sittings were very majestic. I highly recommend this for others.

Complete waste of money and time. My wife and I drove 3 hours and spent over $300, we rode in the superior car. As we checked in and got our tickets the woman refused to let me get my military discount for some reason, absolutely refused to credit my card for the discount. Which included a 4 course meal, the food was cold and the ride was a joke! The train went straight down the tracks for about an hour/20 minutes ride as the narrator pointed things out that we never did see due to her being on a different car of about 15. She was very bad in speaking clearly in letting the people in various cars know when to look for the sites she was pointing out. After an hour/20 minutes the train stopped and headed back to the station. Save your money and go do something different, this was very disappointing!

Life is full of amazing surprises! This was one of those! As we arrived we noticed that some of the cars looked run down and in need of a good paint job! As we entered the train , it was going back in time! The food was certainly better than we expected! Gretta the head chef puts her all herself in every bite! The desert was commerce purchase but continued the high quality they set! She is a locally chef and home grown ! She certainly represents the Appalachian spirit! You can see generations of love in every entre! Not only can she cook , she is very personable! Thank you for a great anniversary! The only downfall is not being able to tip with a credit card! Service was exceptional!

My spouse and I rode the PE scenic railroad via standard dining car. While eagle sightings in natural surroundings were awesome, we can't say the same for the train experience. First, boarding went smoothly due to the remarkable staff. However, the standard dining car (over $100 per person) had paint peeling above the baggage compartments, tables that were chipped around the edges, and a meal that was sub standard. I ordered "vegetable lasagna," and it was about a 4x4 inch square with a stack of lasagna noodles and a thin red sauce between each. It came with green beans that were cold. They offered sweet tea and lemonade. I opted for lemonade that was a powered brand. Hugely disappointing considering the price tag. I don't know about the premium cars, but we certainly felt beneath any level of standard there. All I can say is, "Do better."

Delicious food, nice presentation. Friendly staff but they could be more attentive. Very nice scenery and a comfortable ride. They could use a better narrator describing the scenery. She couldn't have been more monotone and unenthusiastic if she tried.

We were told to arrive by 130pm for a 230pm train ride. Waited until 3pm to board the train, in the hot sun. Lined up in a dozen rows, could not have water with us, so it was terrible. We were told they were sitting up the train. Very incompetent. With the amount of people and price of the tickets, certainly no need for this. And to have to go to will call and pick up a hand printed envelope? Really? Update this process.

Took the train to Petersburg, WV for their Sunday all day train ride. I cannot tell you how pleasant the staff was! Very cordial and always ready to have a conversation with you! The staff is very knowledgeable with the history of the area, and our waitstaff mentioned a great ice cream place to visit ~3 miles up the road!!! My box lunch was delicious, and the other train guest had a hot meal that they said was really good! Please come out and take a ride to view the beauty of the Bald Eagles and history of West Virginia!!!

Awesome experience, great food and eagles everywhere. The mountains were full of color.

We have rode this train several times now and they don't disappoint. The service is top notch and the food is amazing. We enjoyed a four course meal while taking in the beautiful scenery. We had a blast with our family and with the staff and will definitely be back.

Everyone was really nice and accommodating. I recommend trying to choose where you sit. We had a party of 3 and did not have a window. That was our only issue.

The overall experience exceeded expectations. The dining car was very comfortable and the meal was very delicious. Staff was friendly. Our only problem I would say is hearing and understanding narration on the PA system.

The ride the trough was beautiful and it was fun spotting eagles. The staff was great, but the food wasn't so great.

Our trip was October 25. I wanted to get in a higher level car, but even though I called for reservations in July, we could only get standard dining. On the way to Petersburg, we were traveling south so the morning sun was shining in on our side of the car. The windows were so dirty we couldn't see any eagles and nests the guide pointed out. (Think of driving into the sun with a dirty windshield). The snacks on the way south were very good. But like others who reviewed this ride, we really didn't know where to look when the guide was pointing out various buildings and eagle sitings. She was two cars ahead of us ( we really didn't know where she was until we had to go to her car to use the restroom). The trip on the way back north was ok. We had to switch sides of the car with the people who were across the aisle from us so they also could see the eagles. The food was decent, not very hot, but they did have to carry it kind of far until they reached out table. No condiments at all. They were generous with the coffee, iced tea, lemonade and water. I'm sure they did their best. They were very kind.

The 3hr train ride was great. The whole atmosphere was amazing. BJ kept the whole ride up beat and exciting. We had 15 eagle sightings. Great time worth every penny for the whole family.

Well organized an informative train ride. The food onboard was delicious. We used the superior dining package. The staff was very knowledgeable and helpful. The train deported on time and return to the station on time. No delays, no issues, no problems, beautiful scenic ride along the river and mountainside. The employee that was very informative and knowledgeable on the open gondola, car had extensive knowledge of the area and history along The railway. His name was BJ.

Beautiful trip. Great service. Lots of Eagles to see. Every employee was very helpful and eager to help.

The views amazing. Comfortable seating and food delicious. Staff welcoming and accommodating. Overall this was a perfect afternoon. Oh and saw many eagles too. Majestic

Great adventure! Wonderful service, friendly staff! Could not recommend these excursions more!!

This was so much fun. It is well organized and informative train ride. The beauty of the ride, the mountains, river and lot of eagles to see was so magnificent. The employees were very helpful. The train departed and returned on time with no delays or issues. We loved this ride and plan to do again next year/

Fun, scenic, historic way to experience Romney, WV. Celebrated my husband's birthday with a tasty lunch, many eagle sightings, and the joy of old-school train travel. Very enjoyable excursion. Thank you!

I booked this trip for my wife's birthday. Drove 4 hours in our rv to make an extended weekend out of it. I booked the club superior which was supposed to be the best. We boarded first and went to the furthered car from the front. We passed through some of the other cars which were really nice. 1st thing was our car was freezing cold with no heat . I asked our server for oj and said it was at the other end of the train. I usually blow up but it's my wife's bday and I settled for an Arnold Palmer. My wife was pissed. We were brought our food which was cold I asked the server for salt and pepper. He brought us 2 packets of each. By then nearly everyone in the car started speaking up about in past trips the club superior was not what we were given. My wife and I walked through the other cars and they were right. The other cars had salt and pepper shakers , big windows , gold silverware , muffins , nice seating in car beverages. We definitely didn't get the top package or even the middle one for that matter. Nearly everyone in our car was pissed and demanded to speak to a manager . A guy came and took down our info and emails so we'll see what happens.

First thing - staff on the train was FANTASTIC. 5 Staff at the depot lining us up looked worn out and sad to be there. 1 star They were the same people! Speaker giving directions for embarking the train was not loud enough. Couldn't hear at all what they said. Scenery - we saw so much beautiful countryside and spotted 3 bald eagles, not to mention many blue heron, people fishing and kayaking, and just overall river and mountain scenery. Food - 3 We were in the club dining car - top tier. Breakfast was excellent, lunch was TERRIBLE, dinner was ok. Unmemorable. Train - 3 Our car lost a/c during the trip. Where going to move us to a "lower level" (price-wise car) which was cool. Very disappointing. They got it fixed, but then another car had the same thing happen and they DID have to move. Throughout the trip, a woman would come over the speaker and give historical information, or do such things as point out eagles outside. She was barely audible, sometimes unable to be understood at all. Very disappointing to miss that part of the experience. Gondola 4 Being outside for the ride through the trough to watch the eagles was fantastic. A staff member was outside with us making announcements about eagle nests or eagles spotted, but we was literally yelling over the train sound and it was hard to hear much of what he said. The hostess/manager/overall person who kept things running was wonderful. I didn't catch her name, but she was there to make sure things were going well for everyone. She was polite, kind and professional. The conductor was sweet, with a great sense of humor.

Staff service was outstanding and the food was so delicious. The chef mingled, the conductor narrated the tour, the other guests were friendly, and the scenery was very pretty.

We went for the second time last Fri and have decided we will never ride the Western MD Scenic Railroad ever again. Potomac Eagle is the best bang for your buck (we have only gotten premium tickets)! Our meal (chicken fettuccine Alfredo), was excellent. Our car's waiter (wish I remembered his name, but he was 24 and had a ponytail), was amazing . He was very friendly, professional and obviously loves his job. Because we had seats on the opposite side of the train, he made arrangements for those of us on that side to sit in the next car ahead, so that we could see out the window. That was fantastic! The gentleman on the gondola was so personable, warm and friendly! He made sure we saw the nests and the eagles. We actually had a close encounter with one as it flew right in front of us! I can't imagine riding in the cars without air conditioning. People had their bare feet on the seat in front of them and all the windows were open, on the hottest day of the year, so far! I wish we had a choice of dessert because I don't like soggy cake. Tres leches cake is too soggy. I also wish there was a way to stop in a small town or even in nature so that we can get off the train. We will be booking another trip soon!

I'm writing this review not so much for a critique as for a memory-journal type entry that I can look back on. First of all the staff were very polite, professional and attentive to my needs, although the narrator seemed a bit annoyed when I asked her a simple question. The depart station was easily accessible and had plenty of parking in a large grassy field. Check-in was very simple, just had to give your name and the ticket concierge had your envelope ready. I took the all day ride on Sunday. 9/7/25. The railroad cars are vintage 1950s or earlier so don't expect anything modern about them. The ride was very slow, about 20 mph or less for the most part, most of the views weren't particularly scenic with a mountain on one side and the river on the other but the view was largely obstructed by trees for most of the ride. The narration was not very exciting, how much history can there be along this route? A few "that house up there on the hill has two kitchens" was about as exciting as it got. When the narrator wasn't speaking, we were graced with music that was mostly 70's country music (hope you like banjos). I learned that a lot of country music has a "I'm cheating on my wife" theme. About an hour into the ride, the train stopped and we were given the option to ride outside on the gondola- which looked like a cattle car with a very timeworn, rough-hewn bench. They are making thousands on these trips surely they can afford a few gallons of paint. I stood the whole 45 minutes of that stretch along "The Trough". Another narrator took us through this ride, yelling into a microphone that didn't help much. Every 5 or six minutes he would announce things like "you see that pine tree about halfway up the mountain? About fifteen feet to the left is an Eagle's nest." Dude, the whole mountain is covered with trees, how are we ever supposed to find the one you are talking about? Besides that, how exciting is a nest? There were also a few bald eagle sightings, more on the way back, this apparently is the draw. After the gondola ride, another hour or so, we reached Petersburg for our THREE HOUR layover. We had a map of the town with several stops laid out for us that a free shuttlebus took us to, unfortunately, it was Sunday and most of the places were closed EXCEPT THE LIQUOR STORE that had a drive thru and free moonshine tasting. Can't get a cup of coffee in this town but might as well take a shot of 86 proof throat burner in your car! Three hours in a town that is mostly closed is ridiculous. The 3 1/2 hour ride back was just as exciting as the way to town. I had the superior dining option which consisted of a new york strip steak, redskin mashed potatoes, green beans and desert (tres leches?) which was a very sweet cake. The steak was a bit on the tough side, marinated in italian dressing, the rest of the meal wasn't bad. The other meals were-breakfast (two strips of bacon, a biscuit and an elaborate yogurt-fruit parfait. We were also given crackers/pepperoni and cheese. A little while later, a small ice cream treat. This is not the most diabetic friendly menu, but it is what it is. All in all, I would give this experience a 5.5/10 it was relaxing, not very exciting and most of all too long. I would not do it again, your milage may vary.

The afternoon trough ride was amazing! Service was wonderful, view was amazing and we saw 14 eagles. You even get a history lesson while you relax and ride.

We had the superior dining package and the food was delicious and servicer very good. We did take the opportunity to ride the gondola and it was great. Open air viewing of mountains, river and eagle nests. A very nice day trip.

We were VERY disappointed in our dining experience! We paid for the club service and the car that we were placed in was a last minute, supposedly new car that was nothing like the 2 that we walked through to get there. The food was so bad! We thought it was going to be a hot meal. Our mistake for not completely taking note when we placed the reservation. The cars before us received a hot meal and was offered coffee, us no coffee offered. The horsd'oeuvres were awful. We paid the most for our tickets to get the experience and received the worst car and food! No need to upgrade and pay for the Club service with horsd'oeuvres and book in advance. I seriously don't recommend it. We were informed that since we booked later that we got put where we were because there was no other seating. That's not the picture on the confirmation page, surprise. We were at least 10-12 cars back from going out on the gondola, and we were called on the second run to go out. The walk was fine and good to see the other cars and what they offered in that tier. My suggestion is that they have one on both ends of the train. The narrator tells of the area as they are passing and by the time it gets to the last train car you are wondering and questioning what she was talking about. Again, maybe have a narrator on both ends. We made the most of our day, it was over a 2 hour drive and it's checked off the bucket list.

We had a wonderful experience on the Potomac Eagle. Beautiful scenery and 34 spottings of eagles to top off the ride!

Such a beautiful ride. My spouse snd I thoroughly enjoyed our lovely trip through the trough.

Rode the Trough Tour this afternoon, had an incredible experience. The weather wasn't the best, but the trip was very informative and an enjoyable. Brenda was our hostess and she was amazing. Recommend this for everyone.

Really great tie, we paid for the Premium dining experience, Tier 2 I believe, which got us into an railcar with AC, it was very hot that day so I felt for the people who were not in AC, my advice is to pay a little more for the best experience, saw a LOT of bald eagles, overall, great day.

We rode the club car on a journey through "The Trough." The food was very good and the service was friendly and prompt. The WV scenery was spectacular and much of it could only possibly be seen from this train. We saw several eagles on the trip and experienced an amazing trip back in time. Who doesn't miss trains?!

This was our second time taking this train. We liked the first time so much this time we took the 9 hour round trip. The service and all the staff are fabulous. They are so friendly. This was our 40th wedding anniversary so I booked club service. We got 3 meals and received so much good food we were in no way hungry. I would highly recommend this for train lovers.

My husband and I had a wonderful time on our honeymoon. We took the 3 hour trough trip and rode in Club Service. We had a great 5 course meal while on board and loved the historic atmosphere created by the train cars. We were surprised and excited to learn that we were able to walk the length of the train, even while in motion in order to reach the covered observation car. Once we reached the trough, the train came to a complete stop and allowed passengers to move to their open air observation car to have the best chance for viewing eagles. We availed ourselves of this opportunity and certainly did not regret it! We will almost certainly be back and with friends!

We had a great time on the Potomac Eagle. We purchased standard dining tickets, but spent most of the trip in the observation car. We saw over 25 eagles along the trough portion of the trip! Staff was friendly and helpful. There was some sort of kitchen mixup, so our food took a very long time and was hastily put together, hence the 4 star rather than 5. We were supposed to get fruit and a cookie or brownie and received no fruit, but one cookie and 4 muffins. It was odd, but fine. Next time we'd skip the food and just do the ride! Highly recommended for a fall afternoon.

We took the 3-hour scenic train ride on labor day in the coach section. I docked off the stars for lack of cleanliness, pricey food, not-so-scenic view as advertised. It was nice experience riding a train such as that, but we will never repeat it again. First off, the bathrooms were absolutely disgusting and looked like it hasn't been cleaned in months. We used the bathroom before the train even left the station. The concession food was pricey - $6 for popcorn, $3 for a can of soda. Thankfully, you're allowed to bring your own food and drinks on the train which is what we did. We could barely hear the woman doing the live narration. We saw maybe two eagles, and the trough was just ok. We did see some ducks, and a deer and a fawn skipping through a field which was a nice treat for my toddler. Then again, you can see them almost anywhere in Virginia, especially near a wooded area. The whole train ride wasn't as scenic as we expected since about 80% or 85% of the "scenic view" was covered by trees. There was no "wow factor", at least for us. The 3 hours dragged and we were so ready to get off.

What a beautiful day for a train ride. There are a few problems with this experience. We booked premium for a total of 292.00. Unfortunately, we ordered the halibut. Inedible. i think this is institutional food? I sympathize with the difficulty of delivering hot food from a narrow kitchen on a train. They need to do some work on this. Pretty challenging. We were warned in advance to make our way to the "gondola" soon after lunch was served or we would not be able to travel in the trough on this car. The gondola is shabby open air with water sloshing underfoot in our case but the train ride would have been even less worth the money if that didn't happen as it was nice to be out (pick a nice day to go). The bathrooms near the gondola area were third world, dirty, disgusting-what the heck? If you do go on this train ride, be sure to use the bathrooms as far away from the gondola car as possible. Giving it two stars because we enjoyed the trough experience, otherwise cannot recommend it.

This was a very peaceful excursion. All of the attendants were really super. the food was superb. The three-hour layover in Petersburg was too long for the people that didn't take the cave tour. The person narrating our trip was very informative. Thank you, Ms. Jean, After 30 years of narrating this trip, you are spot on. Pointing out the several Eagles nests and the Eagles flying above was exciting. We are seriously considering bringing our grandchildren on the Christmas ride.

Everything went well. The service was exceptional with our meal. We were all pleasantly surprised at the quality of our meal in the club bar. Our three servers, Delaney, Madeline and David did a fantastic job. And the view, the trees were in their full glory. I would highly recommend the "Trough" trip.

I purchased the Special Father's Day trip for my husband and myself, (father's ride free with a paying adult), which was a great deal. we had the Trough ride and the Premium service. Everything was great from the ride there , parking, boarding and the meal was very good with great service. My husband had the T-bone steak cooked to perfection for him (for a small upcharge) and I had the Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken. Dessert was Tres Leches cake, which was the best. Eagle nests were pointed out, and one eagle, but eagles were not very active on this day. History of the area was given as we rode along. Also, we were given a chance to ride the gondola car and get even better pictures along the way. Many kayakers were enjoying the day on the river as well. We are looking forward to enjoying the fall leaves on a trip later. We would recommend this trip

We had a wonderful train ride experience with our grandkids. The staff was wonderful!! One thing I was disappointed about, was that they offered a 30% discount AFTER we booked and paid, and because we had booked early, they would not let us cancel and rebook using the discount. We were penalized for booking early. Hopefully, they change this policy in the future.

Took the Potomac Eagle on 10 Oct 2024. What a pleasant experience. The leaves were just starting to change, looks like they need another 2 weeks to peak. We saw multiple hawks and waterfowl, but the highlight was seeing 19 Bald Eagles! Most were sitting in trees within 50 feet of the train - unbelievable. Such majestic birds. All the personnel were professional, knowledgeable (especially the Eagle Spotter in the open (Gondola) car, and friendly. Spent the entire 3 hours in the observation car or open car. Wildlife and scenery was awesome. I've never fly fished but going along that river with its crystal clear water made me want to try it out. Only negative was the weak speakers in the observation car and open car. They definitely need better / louder speakers. The woman providing the narration was so nice and knowledgeable but someone with a deeper voice would have been better. Worth the money, has my recommendation.