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South Atlantic
Florida
The Florida Railroad Museum offers a 1.5 hour 13 mile round trip excursion to Willow FL. They also have many themed rides including a Civil War Re-enactment, a Pumpkin Patch Express, a Train Robbery Experience, North Pole Express and a Von Kessinger's Express. The also offer rides in the locomotive and a party caboose. The museum has many locomotives, passenger cars and freight cars for exhibits as well a a model railroad.
**Seminole Gulf Railway Murder Mystery Dinner Train**
2805 Colonial Blvd #1012, Ft Myers FL
The Seminole Gulf Railway is an operating freight railway company that offers a 3 and a half hour dinner train that starts in Fort Myers and crosses the Caloosahatchee river and into Lee and Charlotte counties. Along the ride there is a murder mystery show for the passengers to watch and solve.
Georgia
The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway has a 4 hour 26 mile round trip ride with the first part along the Toccoa River through the countryside bordering Tennessee. Their website states there is a 2 hour lay over before the 1 hour return trip through the forest.
S A M Shortline Railroad offers quite a few themed excursions between Cordelle GA and Plains GA, the hometown of former President Jimmy Carter. There are other themed excursions including a Murder Mystery Dinner Train, Wine and Cheese Train and some holiday themed events departing from other locations
Maryland
The website for the Walkersville Southern Railroads indicates it is a 1 hour 20 minute ride on what was once a secondary line of the Pennsylvania Railroad. There are many different types of events or themed rides which include a Wild West, Civil War Reenactment, Mystery and Moonshine trains.
The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad offers a number of different rides from the 4.5 hour roundtrip on the Frostburg Flyer, Allegheny Mountain Dinner Train, and Sunset on the Mountain. They also shorter duration rides like the Ice Cream Train, Pumpkin Patch Limited and Polar Express. They do have the Steam Locomotive number 1309 running on some trips.
North Carolina
The Great Smokey Mountain Railroad offers 2 excursions with different themes and packages including a jeep tour package and a river rafting package. The website boasts of 53 miles of track, 2 tunnels and 25 bridges. Currently there is both Steam and Diesel options
New Hope Valley Railway / North Carolina Railway Museum
3900 Bonsal Road, New Hill, NC
The New Hope Valley Railway has a 4 mile trip that lasts an hour. In addition to their regular train they also offer a Halloween Track or Treat Express, a Brew 'N' Boo and a Santa Express. The museum is only open on ride days and the ride day schedule does vary so it is best to confirm operation hours.
South Carolina
Hub City Railroad Museum has displays and exhibits reflecting the history of railroads in Spartanburg SC and the 2 major industries, Textiles and Peaches. There is a display for the Haynes Car Shop, an operating telegraph, a locomotive bell and the Southern Railway Caboose is open to the public. This is also such a great place to watch the trains go by that Virtual Railfan has a couple of cameras operating to view them going by.
Virginia
Virginia Scenic Railway
12 Middlebrook Avenue
Staunton, VA 24401
Virginia Scenic Railway has 4 regular excursions and 2 seasonal. The excursions include the Alleghany Special going through the Shenandoah Valley towards the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, the Blue Ridge Flyer heads east and goes through the Blue Ridge Tunnel. There is also a Murder Mystery Dinner Train and a Sip and Savor Express showcasing local vineyards monthly. The seasonal excursions are the Shenandoah Valley Limited in the fall which is currently expected to be pulled for half the route by the Virginia Transportation Museum's number 611 steam locomotive and the Santa Express.
West Virginia
Cass Scenic Railroad State Park
12363 Cass Rd, Cass, WV
https://wvstateparks.com/parks/cass-scenic-railroad-state-park/
Cass Scenic Railroad State Park offers many activities not related to the railroad. The Railroad activities include the museum and 2 train rides which are operated by the Durbin Greenbrier Valley Railroad which offers other rides as well. The museum has displays and a theater to give the history of Cass, the railroad and the Shay locomotives that run up the mountain. The 2 rides offered from Cass are the 4.5 hour round trip to Bald Knob the third highest point in WV, and the 2 hour trip to Whittaker station.
The Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad has a few different rides to choose from. There is a 35 mile trip through Trough Canyon, a 25 mile trip to Green Spring WV, and an all day trip to Petersburg WV. There is also a Sunset trip through Trough Canyon as well as other themed events such as the Holiday Trough, North Pole Express and a Fall Foliage ride.