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New Hope Valley Railway reopens, plans Halloween and Christmas trains

New Hope Valley Railway announced Friday that it will reopen to the public Oct. 10 with its popular Track or Treat: Halloween Express trains and plans for a Christmas event.

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New Hope Valley Railway's Halloween train
By
Sarah Lindenfeld Hall
, Go Ask Mom editor
NEW HILL, N.C.New Hope Valley Railway will reopen to the public Oct. 10 with its popular Track or Treat: Halloween Express trains and plans for a Christmas event.

The railway, which is operated by the North Carolina Railway Museum in southwestern Wake County, will offer its family-friendly Halloween trains over four weekends in October — Saturdays Oct. 10, 17, 24 and 31. Trains will depart at 2:45 p.m., 4 p.m., 5:15 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. Tickets will only be sold online prior to ride days. You will not be able to purchase them at the railroad on the day of the event. Tickets cost $14 for all ages.

The railway closed for the previous season in December and hasn't been able to offer its public train rides during the pandemic until now as the state moves into Phase 3 of its reopening plans.

To keep guests, staff and volunteers safe, it has added the following safety measures, according to a press release:

  • Train capacity will be limited to 30 percent for socially distanced seating in accordance with government mandates. Each passenger car normally holds up to 60 riders. In addition to individual tickets, a private Family Caboose will be available with seating for up to 10 family members.
  • Face coverings will be required for all guests, passengers and volunteers while in the rail yard and when riding the train. Costumes are encouraged, but Halloween costume masks may not replace proper face coverings.
  • Hand sanitizing stations will be located throughout the railway and at each boarding platform.
  • One person from each reservation party should check-in at the ticket office upon arrival at least 30 minutes before their departure time to pick up train tickets.
  • Only one family will be allowed in the gift shop at a time and only cashless transactions will be accepted.

“The health and safety of the families and train enthusiasts who visit our museum and ride our train, as well as our all-volunteer staff, are our top priorities,” says NHVR Marketing Representative Tom Hutchinson in the press release. “Our train rides are an all-outdoor activity and our passenger cars are open-air making our Halloween train rides a fun way for families to enjoy the cooler fall temperatures and celebrate the spooky season.”

During the ride, kids can see scenes of flying witches, smoking cauldrons and other creatures. They also can play Mummy Mayhem and search for hidden mummies along the train route. The event might seem a bit spookier during the evening rides, but it's intended to be an all-ages event that's focused on kid-friendly fun.

Some activities, however, won't happen this year. The Birthday Party caboose and museum exhibit cars will be closed until further notice. But there will still be Halloween-themed photo ops and the Garden Railway, according to the release.

More train rides are planned through December, including Santa's Reindeer Roundup Express. Ticket refunds will be issued to customers if a ride must be canceled due to government mandates, according to the release. Here is the complete list of train rides planned for the remainder of the 2020 season. Just know that dates, events, times and prices are subject to change.

  • New Hope Valley Railway’s family-friendly Track or Treat: Halloween Express event features spooky, kid-friendly train rides. Saturdays, October 10, 17, 24 & 31 2020, Departs: 2:45, 4:00, 5:15, 6:30 & 7:45 p.m., 3900 Bonsal Rd., New Hill, N.C. 27562, 919-396-5833, Tickets: $14.
  • New Hope Valley Railway Weekday train ride. Wednesday, November 11, 2020, Departs: 10:30 a.m., 3900 Bonsal Rd., New Hill, N.C. 27562, 919-396-5833, Tickets: $7-$10.
  • New Hope Valley Railway Slow Down Sunday train ride. Sunday, November 15, 2020, Departs: 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. & 2 p.m., 3900 Bonsal Rd., New Hill, N.C. 27562, 919-396-5833, Tickets: $7-$10.
  • New Hope Valley Railway Weekday train ride. Friday, November 20, 2020, Departs: 10:30 a.m., 3900 Bonsal Rd., New Hill, N.C. 27562, 919-396-5833, Tickets: $7-$10.
  • New Hope Valley Railway’s Santa’s Reindeer Roundup Express featuring holiday-themed train rides with Santa Claus and kid’s activities. Saturdays, December 5, 12 & 19 and Sundays, December 6, 13 & 20, 2020, Departs: 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. & 3:30 p.m., 3900 Bonsal Rd., New Hill, N.C. 27562, 919-396-5833, Tickets: $11-$13.
More information, including tickets, are on the railway's website.

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