Virginia Scenic Rail to soon bring excursion trips to Louisa County

The way people move around influences the history of a place. Colonial expansion westward across the United States accelerated with the arrival of the locomotive in the 19th century but passenger rail in Virginia dwindled with the rise of the automobile.

In recent years, the Buckingham Branch Railroad that travels between east-west through Charlottesville has begun offering excursion trips using restored engines. These have so far operated out of Staunton but Louisa will soon became the second hub for the Virginia Scenic Railway.

“Located just an hour from Richmond and two hours from Norfolk, Louisa is ideally situated to become Virginia Scenic Railway’s Central Virginia hub,” reads an information release from October 8.

The service will launch later this month with the Santa Express, a 60-minute holiday-themed train that will operate from a former railway depot refurbished by the company. This same service in Staunton often sells out as a major tourist destination.

Buckingham Branch operates four divisions across Virginia and has 280 miles of track.

“One of the neatest parts of our railroad is being able to offer these kinds of excursions,” the release quotes Steve Powell, Virginia Scenic Railway’s president. “It’s such a thrill for us to generate enthusiasm for the railroad by opening up new markets and being able to offer train rides and other rail experiences for both new and old generations of rail fans to enjoy.”

Further types of travel are expected to begin in 2026 including murder mysteries, on-board history lessons, and wine tasting trains.

You can attempt to purchase tickets on the Virginia Scenic Railway website but the service appears to be fully booked. There’s also a waitlist.

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