After a winter hiatus, New Hope Valley Railway (NHVR), the Triangle’s only tourist railway, opens again to the public in April 2019, and offers a full season of special events in its rail yard.

From April through December, NHVR typically offers two 10:30 a.m. weekday rides, one Slow Down Sunday ride and one Saturday Brew ‘n’ Choo ride event each month. Visitors can enjoy the October Track or Treat: Halloween Express trains and Santa’s Reindeer Roundup Express trains in December.

Excursions typically last about an hour with trains departing from NHVR’s rail yard in Bonsal and traveling eight miles round trip. NHVR’s rail yard is located 30 minutes from Raleigh off of Old U.S. 1 South on the Wake-Chatham county line.

In addition to riding real working trains, train enthusiasts and visitors also can tour the North Carolina Railway Museum for free and view the garden railroad (G scale) that runs on more than 1,000 feet of track.

Special occasions can be celebrated at NHVR by renting its vintage 1913 birthday party caboose and visitors can experience the thrill of driving a real locomotive through the organization’s Operate-a-Loco program. Group and charter rides are also available.

“For more than 30 years, children, parents, grandparents and others have visited us to enjoy a ride on a real train,” said Peter Jasion, NHVR director of sales and marketing. “Our all-volunteer staff is here to help passengers make memories and keep the spirit of railroading alive in the Triangle.”

Adult tickets on NHVR’s diesel trains range from $10-$14, with children’s tickets (ages 2-12) ranging from $7-$14. Special pricing is available for seniors ages 60+ and children under two years of age are free when sitting in the lap of an adult ticketholder. Since train departure times and ticket fares can vary, it’s best to check the ride calendar on www.TriangleTrain.com/buy-tickets for exact details. (see dates, times and prices below).

All ticket sales and donations help fund the restoration and construction projects at the railway. For more information, visit www.TriangleTrain.com

Here is the 2019 ride schedule (dates, events, times and prices are subject to change) :

• New Hope Valley Railway Brew ‘n’ Choo train ride, food truck and local craft brewery. Sunday, April 28, 2019, Departs: 2, 3, 4 & 5 p.m., 3900 Bonsal Road, New Hill, N.C. 27562, 919-396-5833, Tickets: $7-$10. www.TriangleTrain.com

• New Hope Valley Railway Brew ‘n’ Choo train ride, food truck and local craft brewery. Saturday, May 18, 2019, Departs: 4, 5, 6 & 7 p.m., 3900 Bonsal Road, New Hill, N.C. 27562, 919-396-5833, Tickets: $7-$10. www.TriangleTrain.com

• New Hope Valley Railway Slow Down Sunday train ride. Sunday, June 9, 2019, Departs: 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. & 2 p.m., 3900 Bonsal Road, New Hill, N.C. 27562, 919-396-5833, Tickets: $7-$10. www.TriangleTrain.com

• New Hope Valley Railway Brew ‘n’ Choo train ride, food truck and local craft brewery. Saturday, June 29, 2019, Departs: 4, 5, 6 & 7 p.m., 3900 Bonsal Road, New Hill, N.C. 27562, 919-396-5833, Tickets: $7-$10. www.TriangleTrain.com

• New Hope Valley Railway Slow Down Sunday train ride. Sunday, July 14, 2019, Departs: 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. & 2 p.m., 3900 Bonsal Road, New Hill, N.C. 27562, 919-396-5833, Tickets: $7-$10. www.TriangleTain.com.

• New Hope Valley Railway Brew ‘n’ Choo train ride, food truck and local craft brewery. Saturday, July 27, 2019, Departs: 4, 5, 6 & 7 p.m., 3900 Bonsal Road, New Hill, N.C. 27562, 919-396-5833, Tickets: $7-$10. www.TriangleTrain.com

• New Hope Valley Railway Slow Down Sunday train ride. Sunday, August 11, 2019, Departs: 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. & 2 p.m., 3900 Bonsal Road, New Hill, N.C. 27562, 919-396-5833, Tickets: $7-$10. www.TriangleTrain.com

• New Hope Valley Railway Brew ‘n’ Choo train ride, food truck and local craft brewery. Saturday, August 31, 2019, Departs: 4, 5, 6, & 7 p.m., 3900 Bonsal Road, New Hill, N.C. 27562, 919-396-5833, Tickets: $7-$10. www.TriangleTrain.com

• New Hope Valley Railway Slow Down Sunday train ride. Sunday, September 8, 2019, Departs: 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. & 2 p.m., 3900 Bonsal Road, New Hill, N.C. 27562, 919-396-5833, Tickets: $7-$10. www.TriangleTrain.com

• New Hope Valley Railway Brew ‘n’ Choo train ride, food truck and local craft brewery. Saturday, September 28, 2019, Departs: 4, 5, 6, & 7 p.m., 3900 Bonsal Road, New Hill, N.C. 27562, 919-396-5833, Tickets: $7-$10. www.TriangleTrain.com

• New Hope Valley Railway’s family-friendly Track or Treat: Halloween Express event features spooky, kid-friendly train rides, children’s activities and food. Saturdays, October 12, 19 & 26, Departs: 2:45, 4, 5:15, 6:30 & 7:45 p.m., 3900 Bonsal Road, New Hill, N.C. 27562, 919-396-5833, Tickets: $14. www.TriangleTrain.com

• New Hope Valley Railway Slow Down Sunday train ride. Sunday, November 10, 2019, Departs: 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. & 2 p.m., 3900 Bonsal Road, New Hill, N.C. 27562, 919-396-5833, Tickets: $7-$10. www.TriangleTrain.com

• New Hope Valley Railway’s Santa’s Reindeer Roundup Express features holiday-themed train rides with Santa Claus and kid’s activities. Saturdays, December 7 and 14, and Sundays, December 8 and 15, 2019, Departs: 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m. & 4 p.m., 3900 Bonsal Road, New Hill, N.C. 27562, 919-396-5833, Tickets: $10-$12. www.TriangleTrain.com

2019 Weekday Ride Days: Wednesdays and Fridays at 10:30 a.m.

• New Hope Valley Railway Weekday train ride. Wednesday, April 10, 2019, Departs: 10:30 a.m., 3900 Bonsal Road, New Hill, N.C. 27562, 919-396-5833, Tickets: $7-$10. www.TriangleTrain.com

• New Hope Valley Railway Weekday train ride. Friday, April 26, 2019, Departs: 10:30 a.m., 3900 Bonsal Road, New Hill, N.C. 27562, 919-396-5833, Tickets: $7-$10. www.TriangleTrain.com

• New Hope Valley Railway Weekday train ride. Wednesday, May 8, 2019, Departs: 10:30 a.m., 3900 Bonsal Road, New Hill, N.C. 27562, 919-396-5833, Tickets: $7-$10. www.TriangleTrain.com.

• New Hope Valley Railway Weekday train ride. Friday, May 24, 2019, Departs: 10:30 a.m., 3900 Bonsal Road, New Hill, N.C. 27562, 919-396-5833, Tickets: $7-$10. www.TriangleTrain.com

• New Hope Valley Railway Weekday train ride. Wednesday, June 12, 2019, Departs: 10:30 a.m., 3900 Bonsal Road, New Hill, N.C. 27562, 919-396-5833, Tickets: $7-$10. www.TriangleTrain.com.

• New Hope Valley Railway Weekday train ride. Friday, June 28, 2019, Departs: 10:30 a.m., 3900 Bonsal Road, New Hill, N.C. 27562, 919-396-5833, Tickets: $7-$10. www.TriangleTrain.com

• New Hope Valley Railway Weekday train ride. Wednesday, July 10, 2019, Departs: 10:30 a.m., 3900 Bonsal Road, New Hill, N.C. 27562, 919-396-5833, Tickets: $7-$10. www.TriangleTrain.com.

• New Hope Valley Railway Weekday train ride. Friday, July 26, 2019, Departs: 10:30 a.m., 3900 Bonsal Road, New Hill, N.C. 27562, 919-396-5833, Tickets: $7-$10. www.TriangleTrain.com

• New Hope Valley Railway Weekday train ride. Wednesday, August 14, 2019, Departs: 10:30 a.m., 3900 Bonsal Road, New Hill, N.C. 27562, 919-396-5833, Tickets: $7-$10. www.TriangleTrain.com.

• New Hope Valley Railway Weekday train ride. Friday, August 23, 2019, Departs: 10:30 a.m., 3900 Bonsal Road, New Hill, N.C. 27562, 919-396-5833, Tickets: $7-$10. www.TriangleTrain.com

• New Hope Valley Railway Weekday train ride. Friday, September 27, 2019, Departs: 10:30 a.m., 3900 Bonsal Road, New Hill, N.C. 27562, 919-396-5833, Tickets: $7-$10. www.TriangleTrain.com

• New Hope Valley Railway Weekday train ride. Wednesday, November 13, 2019, Departs: 10:30 a.m., 3900 Bonsal Road, New Hill, N.C. 27562, 919-396-5833, Tickets: $7-$10. www.TriangleTrain.com.