Excursions on the Rockton & Rion are a ten mile round trip between the two communities. During the 1 1/2 hour journey the train travels through pine forests and farm fields passing the remains of once active sharecropper cabins and the last steam era water tank standing track side in South Carolina. Other highlights of the excursion include traveling through 1/4 mile long granite cut and riding between historic freight cars and the railroad’s maintenance-of-way equipment.
Lake Rion Diner
Ride with style in our 1924 dining car. The car has large picture windows, table seating for four, with a drink and snack provided. Limited tickets based on a first come/ first serve basis. Small parties of 2 or 3 can expect other people to be assigned to their table. Parties larger than 4 will be seated at multiple tables as close together as possible. The Lake Rion is used in cooler weather and is not available on all trains.
Coach
Ride in our historic 1954 passenger cars which includes bench seating along open windows and a narrated tour. These coaches were used in interurban service in Montreal, Canada. They were originally self-propelled electric cars with power coming from overhead electric lines providing power to traction motors located in the axles.
Caboose
Enjoy a relaxing trip in a 1940 Nickel Plate Road caboose or a 1975 B&O/Chessie caboose. Each bay window caboose seats up to 7 passengers. Cabooses may not be available during some special events.
Open-Air Car
Have the best view of the line and the countryside. Please note: this car will run rain or shine and is open to the sun and other elements, please dress accordingly.
Double Decker Cars
Coach cars that were used as commuter cars until the Army purchased them to use to transport troops. These will be climate controlled in the future. Currently we use them in the cooler weather.
Transfer Caboose
We have 2 transfer cabooses that are utilized from time to time. The XC5 is used as an auxiliary open air car and the XC6 is used primarily as a part of our Fire train when running steam. The Fire Train runs behind the Steam train spraying the track, preventing and putting out any embers that fall from the locomotive.
Circus dormitory car
This car has 11 private compartments with shared bathrooms and showers. Lower ranked performers, such as clowns, lived on this car while traveling between performances. This will be put into service in the future.
Circus Dormitory
This car was for mid-level performers. It contains 5 compartments of various sizes that can sleep 4 to 6 people. Each compartment has it’s own shower and bathroom as well as a kitchenette. It has shared laundry facilities in the center of the car. This car may be put into service in the future.
2020 Regular Summer Schedule:
June through August: Trains run every Saturday
Departing at 10:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Cars used are Caboose, Open air, and coach if needed.
Valentine Dinner Train:
Offered in February, usually the Friday and Saturday before Valentine’s Day. Guests are served a catered meal aboard our 1924 dining car as they ride the length of our track. This event sells out quickly and usually has a long waiting list. Tickets go on sale in January. Contact info@scrm.org for more information.
BBQ Dinner Trains:
Offered Saturday Evenings beginning in March through November. Enjoy an evening ride on the train to the historic Rion Quarry office building where you get off and enjoy a buffet BBQ dinner featuring three kinds of BBQ. The meal includes green beans, mac and cheese, slaw, roll, banana pudding, tea, lemonade, and water. (Vegetarian salad available upon request when reserving seats; must allow at least one week in advance.) Ages 2 and up must purchase tickets.
Easter Bunny Express:
Usually offered the last 2 Saturdays before Easter. Children of all ages ride the train to the visit the Easter Bunny in Greenbriar where Children 12 and under can take pictures with the Easter Bunny, do a craft, get their faces painted, play games, and other activities. Food trucks, Kettle Corn and Funnel cakes are usually available in Greenbriar.
Steam Experience:
Offered in 2020 starting Saturday April 25, May 2nd, and May 9th. Jeddo Coal locomotive 85 (a saddle-tank steam engine) will be pulling our trains. An opportunity for a photo run-by will be offered during the ride. As an added bonus, we will also offer BBQ dinner trains each Saturday.
Nature Tracks:
South Carolina Railroad Museum’s Rockton Rion and Western Railroad will be operating the NatureTracks excursion train. Noted SCETV series NatureScene host and naturalist Rudy Mancke will again narrate this unique experience. NatureTracks is an opportunity to ride on an open-air car through scenic Fairfield County while Rudy points out and discusses the natural resources and wildlife native to the area. During the five-mile trip to Rion, Rudy will occasionally stop the train and highlight points of interest that are unique and distinctive to the countryside. A light brown-bagged lunch will be served in Rion.
The train will depart our Rockton depot in Winnsboro, SC at 10:30am with a scheduled return at 2:30pm. Space is VERY LIMITED and advance reservations are required for this event. For more information and to reserve tickets ($30/each) send an email to scrmtickets@gmail.com or call 803.635.9893 from 10am-4pm Wednesday thru Saturday. For directions to the railroad museum visit our website at www.scrm.org.
Pumpkin Patch:
Usually offered the last 2 Saturdays before Halloween. Children of all ages ride the train to the pumpkin patch in Greenbriar where Children 12 and under can select a pumpkin, decorate the pumpkin, get their faces painted, play games, and other activities. Food trucks, Kettle Corn and Funnel cakes are usually available in Greenbriar.
Santa Trains:
Ride the train with our favorite visitor from the North Pole. Enjoy the scenery as Santa walks the length of the train talking to families and posing for pictures. The train does not return until Santa has talked to everyone on the train. Trains are scheduled for the first 3 Saturdays in December. Click the Get Tickets button for times and prices.
Twilight Santa Train:
Limited to 80 passengers, this night time excursion is a Santa, hot chocolate and cookie special. Passengers spend half the ride in the dining car eating chocolate chip cookies and drinking hot chocolate. During this half 2 books and an interactive story are shared. The rest of the trip is spent with Santa in the coach where Christmas carols are sung after everyone has talked with Santa. 40 people will start in the dining car and later move to the coach. 40 people will start in the coach and move to the dining car for the return trip.
Private Charters:
We currently offer two types of charter service: The Group Coach Charter or the Dining/Lounge Car Charter.
Private train charters are available anytime during non operating times. All charters are operated on the Museum’s railroad only.
For making charter arrangements, please contact the Charter Coordinator at 803-635-9893 or charters@scrm.org or write:
Attn: Charter Coordinator, The South Carolina Railroad Museum, Inc., P.O. Box 7246, Columbia, S.C. 29202-7246.
Get Your Tickets
Museum Office Hours: 10:00 am-4:00 pm Wednesday thru Saturday.
Closed on holidays.
