06-05-2025
How you can spot bald eagles on the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad
ROMNEY, (WBOY) — Last week, Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad allowed 12 News to experience all of the magic behind its three-hour trough trip, which takes riders through the mountains of West Virginia to see eagles up close.
According to Operations Safety and Regulatory Compliance Manager Patton Swartzfager, the route of this trip goes from the Romney train station all the way to Sycamore Bridge for several miles.
Swartzfager told 12 News that the route travels along an old, historic line that was originally built by the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad. He added that the train is operated with freight service and that the track is owned by the state of West Virginia, but the railroad leases the right-of-way from the state for a freight company to handle freight and operate the train.
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The train ride travels along the south branch of the Potomac River, with Swartzfager adding that you can only travel through this area by canoe, kayak or train.
'There's really no way to drive in there, hiking is not really feasible along the train side because the tracks do run fairly close to the river,' he said. 'So if you wanna see this, if you wanna get out and see the nature—see the eagles, there's really fairly limited options to do that.'
Historian Jean Shoemaker told 12 News that due to the area being fairly isolated, it's an ideal spot for eagles to nest. 'It's just a beautiful part of the country, you know,' she added.
According to Shoemaker, the trough valley is 'steeped in history,' adding that the American French and Indian War and then later the Civil War played prominent roles in this area.
'The town itself changed hands 56 times during the war,' said Shoemaker. 'Changed hands so frequently, one day it changed hands three times.'
Shoemaker added that former president George Washington surveyed the valley before, with it being documented that he made at least two trips, once with the survey party and then a second time as a commissioned officer with the Virginia militia during the French and Indian War, commissioning forts all down through the South Branch Valley.
Throughout the entirety of the train ride, Shoemaker handles historic narration and points out sights of interest. She told 12 News that she specifically focuses on houses listed as historic landmarks, and she also points out different natural sights along the way.
'I have something different to tell people each season,' said Shoemaker. 'Right now, the dogwoods are beautiful and we'll be looking at houses that were built in the colonial era. The valley was first settled in the early 1700s, and then when we get to the trough, our big draw is the eagles.'
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According to Shoemaker, there are four nests along the trough that are very visible, but they have no idea how many nests are actually in that area. During the regular season, these rides are available to book on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
On these days, you can also book an all-day trip, which takes you from Romney to the other side of the railroad and dead ends in Petersburg. Swartzfager said that the tracks don't connect to any other railroad, so it can be a unique experience for travelers.
Swartzfager said that during the fall months, particularly October, Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad opens rides up to every day of the week. During that time, it offers two train rides on both Saturday and Sunday, to give people from all around the chance to come and experience the fall foliage.
'When you're going through trough canyon along the mountain of both sides…when those leaves are changing, it is an absolute explosion of color,' said Swartzfager. 'So we add to our schedule during that time, we run more trains so that people can come and see the beauty that is West Virginia in the fall.'
The trains offer different classes of service, ranging from coach all the way up to club service. Swartzfager stated that the varying meal options for these services include four-course dining, three-course dining, as well as an option for five courses of hors d'oeuvres.
'It's just a great way to get out, it's a great way to come with your family to enjoy just a nice, relaxing day,' Swartzfager added. To get out of the house, to come ride and experience nature and see the symbol of our great nation—the American Bald Eagle in its natural habitat.'
Shoemaker has been responsible for historic narration during Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad's rides since 1991, making this her 35th season. She told 12 News that she was born in the valley, and still isn't tired of it because she enjoys being able to share the area's history and beauty with others.
'People come not knowing actually what they're going to see,' said Shoemaker. 'They have seen some videos on TV. They know they're going to see eagles, but a lot of these people when they walk off say they had no idea we have this much history here…so it's an eye opener for a lot of people.'
To view all of the different train trip options available at Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad, it's best to take a look at its website, which includes details of special events such as the Fall Foliage Train Ride and North Pole Express.
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