Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad — Attraction in Romney

Polar Express train ride @ Potomic Eagle Scenic Railroad

Highlights: We purchased 6 tickets for $400. Great for younger kids, older little kids may be bored. Get there early to avoid the small crowded bathrooms. The train bathroom is not in use. Our family of 6 was assigned 2 tables across from eachother. The staff passed out 1 sugar cookie per person, choice of white/chocolate milk/water. There were many performing staff in Nutcracker Ballet theme costumes and Rudolph, Frosty, elves costumes. There were Christmas lights on many trees and a few houses. Santa handed out XL candy cane sticks and a bell to each child. It was very warm on the train. There was a petting zoo at the barn, 4 fires to roast marshmallows, live music, concessions, tables with letters to Santa and several photo props.

...November 24@5pm. We bought 6 tickets months in advance($400). Boarding started at 4:45. We arrived at 5:30 and most people were already waiting. We checked in at the counter where there was no line to get our tickets. The winterized train bathroom was not in use. There were 2 portapotties that were full and another bathroom left of the ticket booth that had 4 stalls but it was very small so that there wasn't room to wash hands or else you were blocking the stall doors for people waiting to use them. Somebody tried to come into the bathroom and a little baby got hit in the head with the outside door. All the occupants were waiting in stall openings to wash while others washed and nobody waiting could get into the stalls. The "conductor" announced, "All aboard!" My kids excitedly confirmed that he sounded just like the character in the movie. On both sides of the aisle are two different sizes of tables. On one side there are tables seating 4 and on the opposite side all the tables seat 2, so our family of 6 was assigned 2 tables across from eachother. We enjoyed 10 minutes or so of the scenic outdoors before it quickly got dark. The staff passed out one sugar cookie per person and choice of white or chocolate milk or water. My husband and I were offered a drink but not a cookie so we thought maybe they were for the children only but then we saw other adults with cookies...? There were many performing staff in Nutcracker Ballet themed costumes and Rudolph and Frosty and elves costumes. There were Christmas lights on many trees and a few houses. Santa was outside in front of a house with a spotlight on him, waving at us with his elves as we drove by then we saw him approaching alongside us on a decorated truck riding the tracks passing the train. The train stopped and Santa got on the train and my 7 year old exclaimed, "Santa IS real!" He handed out extra large candy cane sticks to each child that had notes on them that read, "I met Santa and he said I was nice". Some naughty grown ups recieved coal with a note that read the opposite. Santa was very friendly and could pass for the "real" Santa. He took the time to pose with my son who asked him to take a picture with him, so did one of the other staff in costume. My 7 and 9 year old loved the train ride. My 11 year old said he was bored but he had a little fun. We rode first class and the windows did not appear to be able to open but in coach you have the option to open the window. It was very cold outside. The heat was on and it was very warm on the train. There was a petting zoo that you could reach through a fence to touch the animals including camels. There were 4 fires and unbearable amounts of smok where people were roasting marshmallows. Inside there was live music and concessions. $5 for a gallon size paper bag of popcorn that is not buttered or salted but you can put it on yourself but it's hard to get it on the popcorn evenly. $3 for can coke. $2 for 10 oz hot chocolate. Also have hotdogs$6 and nachos and more. There are tables with coloring pages and fill-in-the-blank letters to Santa. There's several photo props. I'm glad we tried it once but that's enough. We learned now that Groupon has discount...

It was a 6 hour drive for us to get to Romney. We missed an exit, which caused a 40 minute delayed arrival, and we pulled in to the station just in time to see the train begin to move away. I found an employee and they kindly said they would see if they could get us on another trip. Ultimately, they did have a spot for us on a later departure, same day, and I happily accepted the substitution, even tho' we had paid for Superior Dining, and they could offer us Coach seats.

While we waited, we drove through Romney, and ultimately ended up at Crystal Valley Restaurant and Saloon for some food and drinks. It was a nice place to just relax and hang out, with WiFi for a couple hours. Be aware that you may lose cell service in that valley.

Romney is nestled in the mountains of WVa. We were not expecting a high comfort ride with excellent amenities, based on this alone. It is a bit more primitive an experience than that, and if your expectations are in line with a country ride, I think you'll really enjoy your time. The train is old - but it seems to be in good repair, and it is clean inside. I think it maintains it's charm as an old train, without the modern updates. It is still well-maintained, just not updated.

The excursion itself is the reason to go. We did, unfortunately have seats on the mountain side, so we just got up and went to the viewing car and spent more time there, and then took advantage of the gondola. The views are great, and the numerous eagle sightings were impressive. It is a relaxing, nice way to spend a few hours.

I would prefer the overhead narration was just stopped, although it seemed like many people were appreciating it. It was barely audible and when I could hear it, couldn't understand it, so for me, it really just turns into noise pollution when surrounded by so much beauty. Perhaps an info sheet for interested guests would be more appropriate. An app may work for those who can get service out there.

Overall, it is a great time. There is a snack car on the train, which I don't think I saw on the site when booking. It has your expected snacks, water and soft drinks.

To reiterate, after reading some of these negative reviews, it seems like expectations easily get out of line with what's provided here, and presented at the time of booking. This is not an upscale, modern kind of event. It has some historical points and it is a scenic excursion. If that's what you're looking for, I think you'll...

Please read before booking!!

This is a plea to not book with the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railway. From start to finish, the experience was horrible, and for more than $300, we received almost nothing of value. The “scenic journey” can be summed up to no views and a false advertised meal package.

We selected the breakfast course meal package, expecting a premium dining experience as advertised. And it was definitely not that. First course: Described as a “charcuterie board,” but we were served sandwich ham slices, bagged boiled eggs, and a handful of granola placed on the same plate… Second course: Grits, but clearly microwaved, and somehow made worse than any instant grits I’ve ever had. Third course: Instead of the promised quiche, we were served three half-sized microwave breakfast hotdog nuggets and a stale half-cinnamon roll. Also worth note, this serving size is the same regardless of size of groups. We saw a group of 4 receive the exact same amount of food, 3 half breakfast hotdogs. Main course: I’d bet money it was a Jimmy Dean breakfast bowl. And it somehow tasted worse than the bowl I could microwave myself. Dessert: The only edible item of the entire meal but, it was far too late to salvage the experience. I barely ate most of this food. Only enough to sustain my hunger since it was around 10:30am and I hadn’t eaten anything yet.

Service: The service was okay at best. At one point, my wife was served the wrong item by a staff member who wasn’t even our server. This led to an awkward argument between our server and the staff member right in front of us. Near the end of our ride, our server came back and just gave us a piece of pie without asking which option we wanted. We did not see them again after that.

The “scenic” aspect of the trip was also disappointing. The train advertises the opportunity to view eagle nests along the river, but unless you’re in the open car at the back, visibility is nonexistent. My wife and I made an effort to look for eagles and their nests, but we saw neither. The landscape was fine, and I’ve seen better scenery on my daily commute.

The Potomac Eagle Scenic Railway failed on every promise. The horrible food, mediocre service, and lack of scenery, it’s hard to imagine how this experience could have been worse. Save your money please and just go to a McDonald for breakfast. It will be more scenic and edible than anything the Potomac Eagle...