Hocking Valley Scenic Railway — Local services in Nelsonville

We drove 4 hours (each way) to ride a STEAM train on an OPEN AIR car, like many others. After searching 10 minutes for the parking area, since the parking spots are only apx 20, we managed to park in another stores parking, far away. Approaching the train ticket office, we walked past the passengers of the previous train run who had just arrived. Even though it was a red flag to see all of them with disappointed faces, not talking to each other at all, we went in the ticket office with our reservation confirmation to get our tickets, as instructed online. The older gentleman who gave us the tickets informed us that instead of the steam engine, we will have a diesel engine, since “the steam engine overheated and broke down”. The “overheated – broke down and we’ll use the diesel engine” is a known “technique” many of the steam train organizers are using, having in mind from the start to offer only one route with the steam train. Since they’re covered by the “chance of the train to break down” disclosure on the website, it’s safe for them to feed people with that lie. If the engine overheats, “Mr. Organizer”, then you need to replace your engineer/driver with someone who knows how to use the steam valves. Still, we decided to take the ride, even knowing the “technique” mentioned above, since they are covered by the website disclosure mentioned above. We thought that at least we can enjoy the ride on the open air car, as advertised. But no! Even though the open air car was on the train tracks, next to the engine and the weather was sunny at 59F at 3pm, they said that they wouldn’t offer the open air car and that we should enter one of the closed cars. We emphasized that a route with a diesel engine on a closed car we could find anywhere around our state and that they are covered with the “Steam engine changing to Diesel” technique but NOT for not using the open air car, since nowhere on the website they mention restrictions about not using it. They specifically advertise an open air car and it was one of the reasons many people drove there to take the ride. One of the workers who was listening to the whole conversation told the older gentleman at the ticket booth that he can add the open air car since it’s what they advertise but the answer was “no” and addressing to us “the most I can do is a full refund even though it’s on the website that we don’t offer refunds”, like doing us a favor. I pointed out that we accept the full refund (ofc without the website processing fee or the $60 gas to go there and back) and that not using the open car AS ADVERTISED on their website is false advertising. I suggest you not to waste your time/money/mental state and avoid the Hocking Valley railroad and if you like steam trains, visit the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad route (5 star) and the steam train museum “Age of Steam Roundhouse” in Sugar Creek OH (we are not affiliated with either of them in any way, we just had a very positive experience from...

I would absolutely NOT recommend this attraction. They tell you to arrive 30 minutes early, which we did, then they allow you to board right away to sit on wooden benches. I expected there to be some reason to need to arrive that early, but there absolutely is no reason to arrive more than 5 minutes early. Then, the train didn’t leave until 15 minutes after the scheduled departure, which meant sitting for 45 minutes before actually moving. Once we finally got going, they had to stop the train twice in the first 20 minutes to “Fix” the train. Why didn’t they make sure it was running properly before leaving?? So the train ride was supposed to be approximately 2 hours; 1 hour out to east Logan and 1 hour back. Instead, it took us about half way to east Logan and stopped to switch the engine car to the front (which took another 15 minutes of just sitting there). Did I forget to mention that this stop was literally just in someone’s back yard??? Then, they were supposed to just bring us back to the station but instead they took us to some “historic village” (there was never any indication we would be going here until it was announced on the train after we left the station) which was past the station, but they never gave us the chance to just get off and be done. We were supposed to be DONE at 3 pm, but instead we arrived at the historic village thing at 3 and they made us get off for 30 minutes. I literally thought about walking the 1+ mile back to the station in 90 degree heat to get back sooner. It was awful. The “scenic” portion of this railway is trashed yards (which I totally understand is out of their control, but still). Also, they didn’t tell us until we were moving that they don’t usually use this engine car, and because it’s coal powered instead of diesel powered, it rained soot, ash, and smoke on us, and all 3 open air cars the entire ride. Kids all around us were crying the whole time from soot going on their eyes. There was no indication when booking that the train would have a different engine car, and they specifically told me at booking that there would not be any stops anywhere that we would get off the train. We spent just over 3 hours on this train, and it moved for less than 45 minutes total. This was an incredibly uncomfortable and wasted experience. The staff were so rude too! Ladies inside the station were ok, but the guys working the train were rude, and never told us what we needed to be doing or where to go, even wen it came time to load. They just sort of opened one single stairway into the train and then walked away. Ticket taker on the train literally wouldn’t speak to us. I really wish I had taken photos of just how much soot everyone was covered in by the time this ride was done, and of the crying kids...

Disappointing. Misleading. Would NOT recommend.

We took the Octobor weekday fall foliage train ride and were extremely disappointed. The 'views' were primarily of industrial or low income residential areas. While I understand and expect those occur near train tracks, I expected that a train ride advertised as 'scenic' would showcase more of the natural beauty that the Hocking Hills are known for. There were little to no turns or hills on the ride and the second half of the trip was the same as the first half, but in reverse. Our views on the drive there were far better.

The quality of the passenger seating varies greatly and is on a first come first serve basis. The staff does not explain this, and they seem to just fill each car as people arrive. We were there nearly an hour early and most of the newer cars were already full. The older cars have cracked, stained seats with terrible leg room that resemble an old school bus and the interior is covered in peeling paint and exposed rust. We couldn't hear the tour guide over the cracking speakers. The car was overheated and so the door was left open to manage it (which made hearing the guide more impossible). The only advantage to the older cars was the larger windows. For comparison, the newer passenger cars appeared to have newer and cleaner upholstery as well as overhead storage racks for bags and coats. However the windows were a bit smaller. I'm unsure if the sound was any better for those passengers.

Aside from the disappointing views, we were told at the ticket counter and on the website that the ride would be approximately 2 hours. It was NOT explained that we would be stopping at a group of historic log cabins at Hocking Hills college for 30 minutes. For passengers with small children and/or medical needs, that additional time should be disclosed. While the cabins were the highlight of the entire ride, there was still disappointing non period items and piles of junk about the village (including a laundry hamper of random items sitting in the middle of the lawn). While staff there was friendly, they didn't provide much guidance or information outside of how to buy soda and kettle corn. The blacksmith building, while open for viewing was completely dark and presented dangerous tripping hazards.

I understand the organization is a non profit, and I strongly believe in supporting historical organizations. However the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway needs to invest in a better customer experience and reconsider advertising the ride...