ABERDEEN — A new monthly experience aboard the Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway allows riders to view the Sandhills region while meeting new people in classic railroad dining car tradition.
The railway’s new entertainment division added a monthly experience dubbed “a journey in time” in March, said Rebekah Anne, event director for the Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway Co.
“It’s not a dinner train, because it is a social experience,” Anne said. “It’s set up like old-time dining cars where you get on and meet new people from different areas.”
The railway operates 99% for freight, but launched its entertainment division late last year, and has featured a Christmas train in Star, will have an Easter train in West End and repurposed a locomotive and caboose into a 25-tap, self-pour bar in Pinehurst, said railway President Jennifer White.
White said her father, who owns the railway, wanted to create a nostalgic experience for train enthusiasts, families and area residents.
“The concept is to bring back social travel,” she said.
Passengers
Aboard the train April 10 were Bonnie and Jeff Bichl of Pinehurst. The couple has been married about 50 years and lived in nine different states.
Bonnie Bichl said her husband has traveled by train more than she has, but when they got married in Chicago, they traveled from Chicago to California by train.
“That was my first experience, and I remember the moment we got to California and I opened the blinds and shades, and it was all snow,” she said. “It was all in the mountains.”
Jeff Bichl said they rode a dinner train years ago in Arkansas.
“We haven’t done it in years,” he said. “I was wondering when this rail would have train cars for the general public.”
Anne said the three cars can hold between 78 to 84 people.
What to expect
The first car is a double-decker, full-length dome railcar, which offers 360-degree panoramic views from its upstairs windows and is where passengers can order cocktails while sitting at four-top or six-top tables.
About 45 minutes into the ride, a staffer rings a chime to announce that dinner will be soon served, before guests at tables are escorted to the lower level and to the wood-paneled dinner car, where the three-course meal begins.
The menu for April 10 featured a pea and prosciutto salad with basil buttermilk ranch dressing followed by either parmesan and dill-crusted grouper with herbed rice pilaf and roasted rainbow carrot or griller skirt steak, poblano, corn salsa, Tuscan parmesan orzo and a vegetable medley for the entrees and whipped cream coconut layer cake for dessert.
Anne said the railway has its own personal chef who curates a different menu each month, which always has meat, seafood and vegetarian options.
The 2.5-hour excursion allows guests to enjoy their meal and view the Sandhills region at a leisurely pace.
The April 10 route started at 140 S. Sycamore St. in downtown Aberdeen and followed the tracks through woods of Carolina pines and dogwoods, and past Pinehurst golf courses before reversing into the opposite direction to head back to Aberdeen after passing downtown Pinehurst.
How to book the experience
Anne said April marked the second month of the experience, which will take a break in May to allow for one of the cars to be painted.
The experience will resume monthly in June, and interested patrons can visit acwr.com/entertainment to keep an eye for when the next dates are announced or call 704-266-0644.
Tickets are $125 per guest, which includes the ride and meal.
Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at [email protected] or 910-486-3528.