Historic Wilmington & Western Railroad - Wilmington, Delaware

 Print This Post

Tour Delaware’s Red Clay Valley on Board the Historic Wilmington & Western Railroad. Delaware is renowned for its beautiful countryside, and one of the best ways to see it is on a Wilmington & Western Railroad excursion. The Wilmington & Western Railroad offers a variety of regular and special event train excursions from along the Red Clay Creek.

The Wilmington & Western Railroad is a historic tourist railroad that has been in operation 1867. It began as a freight and passenger train offering service between mills along the Red Clay Creek and the Port of Wilmington. Since then, the Railroad has been purchased and operated as a freight and passenger route by a variety of companies. The line’s route and service has experienced growth as well as decline and discontinuation throughout its history, and eventually came under the ownership and rescue of HRCV, the Historic Red Clay Valley, Inc.

HRCV has maintained and operated the Wilmington & Western Railroad since 1982. Due to the unwavering efforts of volunteers, the Railroad has overcome natural disasters and significant damage by both Hurricane Floyd in 1999 and Tropical Storm Henri in 2003. Today volunteers operate and maintain the HRCV as an historic, non-profit railroad, providing visitors with an exceptional opportunity to tour Delaware’s scenic Red Clay Valley.

The Wilmington & Western Railroad operates tourist trains on 10 miles of track between Greenbank and Hockessin. Excursions carry passengers through quiet towns and past green farm pastures all along the Red Clay Creek. You’ll experience travel with historic railroad equipment including antique passenger coaches, coal-burning steam locomotives, historic diesel locomotives and even self-propelled Pennsylvania Railroad “Doodlebug” railcars. A ride on board the Wilmington & Western Railroad is an incredible experience for passengers of all ages.

You can take your pick of two regular Wilmington & Western Railroad trips or dozens of special excursions such as dinner trains, seasonal and holiday train events. The Mt. Cuba Express is a 1 ½ hour round-trip ride through the Red Clay Valley that includes a ½ hour Mt. Cuba Picnic Grove layover. The Hockessin Express is a 2 ½ hour round-trip excursion along the entire length of the Wilmington & Western Railroad line.

Some of the special Holiday Trains available include the Autumn Leaf Special, the Fireworks Express and the Santa Claus Express. Family Fun Trains such as Ghost Tours and Wild West Robbery Trains are also available.

2201 Newport Gap Pike
Wilmington, DE 19808
(302) 998-1930