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Hocking Valley Scenic Railway conductor Bill Evans signals to riders to get back on the train after taking a pit stop in Logan, Ohio. (Emily Harger | Staff Photographer)

Railway offers historical, scenic tours

Mother nature didn’t seem to cooperate Thursday for one of the last Hocking Valley Scenic Railway tours, but Friday, when the last tour is scheduled, is expected to have sunny skies and no rain.

After days of summer-like weather in Athens, it snowed and rained Thursday. But the confusing weather trends seemingly didn’t stop scores of families from going on a train ride with their loved ones along the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway, a non-profit founded more than 40 years ago.

“Our mission is to provide general public history of the community they are part of, along with entertainment,” said Chris Burchett, marketing director of the railway.

Each ride lasts about two hours and takes riders throughout Southeast Ohio, giving passengers a view of the Hocking River Valley between Nelsonville and Logan.

Also making an appearance were some of the once-prosperous Hocking Canal, the remaining brick kilns of the Nelsonville Brick Company and the Hocking River itself as it meanders through the valley.

Despite the lousy weather Thursday, the train was packed with riders. In fact, the ride was delayed 42 minutes because it needed to connect an extra car for more passengers.

“I’m surprised that so many people showed up today despite of cold weather,” said William Evans, a conductor on the railway who’s worked there for 18 years.

Evans said he wants the train to be a throwback for residents of Southeast Ohio.

“I want people to know the way train rides used to be,” he said. “Leather seats and everything. They weren’t heated before and they didn’t have air-conditioners. It was all before electricity.”

William Ryan, an 88-year-old Athens man who came to enjoy the ride with his wife, Gladene, said he would recommend it to others.

“Especially if they’ve never been on an old train,” Ryan said.

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