7 Tips for Railfans

Railfans of all ages flock to Downtown Ashland to watch the passage of nearly 50 freight and passenger trains each day. The quaint setting of Ashland’s historic district with the East Coast freight line running through the center is a unique attraction.

Photo captured during Ashland Train Day 2018.

Downtown Ashland Association offers railfans near and far these tips to get the most out of your visit:

1.      VISIT THE STATION

Ashland-Hanover Visitor Center is located inside the historic Ashland Train Station. The friendly staff are available 9am-5pm daily.

2.       LISTEN TO ENGINEERS

CSX live radio stream is available to the public anytime of the day or night. You can hear the drivers riding the rails as they radio between Richmond and Fredericksburg. Click here listen live on your web-enabled device.

3.      ASK THE EXPERTS

Tiny Tim’s Trains & Toys at 104 S. Railroad Avenue is staffed by railfans extraordinaire! Ask Suzanne, Russell, or Sonja about the passing trains and get a full explanation, plus see the model trains on display in all shapes and gauges!

4.       CHECK THE MAP

Amtrak tracks its trains nationwide in real-time on this map. Check when the next train is coming to Ashland Train Station and wave hello to the conductors!

5. SEE THE MURAL

Downtown Ashland hosts the longest railroad mural in the country! See local artist Ed Trask’s masterpiece at 108 S. Railroad Avenue.

6.       WATCH ONLINE

Three Virtual Railfan cameras in Downtown Ashland broadcast live on YouTube. The town’s railfan following extends all around the globe. See for yourself at youtu.be/VIwzSSGbxZw.

7. BOARD THE CABOOSE

Ashland Museum offers free tours of a fully restored 1926 C&O Caboose each weekend at 105 Hanover Avenue.

What's New?

Downtown Ashland is ready to welcome back customers, visitors, and neighbors! We spent 2020 preparing new products and services for you to enjoy.

What’s new in Downtown Ashland?

Self Expressions
Now featuring locally made crafts and gifts. Plus, customized vinyl decals for vehicles, promotional items, crafts, and clothing!

Huddle Up Sports Bar
New business opened in 2020. Stop-in for dinner and watch the game, or shoot pool with friends!

The Depot
Now serving coffee, wine, and beer from 7am to 7pm daily! Visit this historic location to share drinks with friends.

Ashland Haunted History Tours
Now booking for the all-new “Stranger than Fiction” walking tour! Walk through Downtown Ashland’s ethereal history and lore.

Jake’s Place
The swanky patio space welcomes weeknight diners or large groups. Catering available!

Origin Beer Lab
Same great beer, with lots more space! Enjoy the extended trackside patio and a full Beer Garden, with firepits, landscaping, and festive lights, in the rear alley.

The Henry Clay Inn
Dining Room is now serving a full menu Thursday through Monday on the front porch and by takeout. Plus, an extraordinary weekend brunch!

Refunkit
Now showcasing more than 60 local makers, plus small-batch, handmade goods from around the country. Shop for unique decor and gifts!

Caboose Market & Café
Try the new Spring menu for local farm-to-table options, including a new twist on pimento cheese.

RED VEIN Escape
The newest game, “Escape from 20,000 Leagues”, opened in 2020. Bring your team to navigate the ocean depths!

Celebrating Life's Joys

Celebrating life’s joys helps us to focus on the positive and to stay connected. In this time of social distancing, celebrations take on a different form—and a greater importance.

Downtown Ashland retail businesses are supporting the community with socially distanced celebration options. You can purchase, wrap, and ship a gift without leaving the comfort of your couch! Here are a few suggestions:

Gift for Graduate

Send a gift card from RED VEIN Escape to a high school or college grad. Let them know you are proud of their achievement and cheer for the fun we can have together in the future!

Gift for Grandma

Send a gift from Thrill of the Hunt for a senior to enjoy at home. This unique home décor store is stocked with hand painted, solid wood furniture. Plus, homegoods and craft supplies.

Gift for BFF

Send a gift from Refunkit to your forever best friend—a reminder of great memories and good times ahead. Candles, jewelry, scarves, and home décor available.

Gift for Business

Consider a post-pandemic team building workshop at Off and Dancing! Shake a leg and help everyone get back to normal. Call Brian to make arrangements.

Hidden in Plain Sight: 5 Things to Uncover in Downtown Ashland

1. MYSTERY

Since its founding in 1858, Ashland has been Richmond’s playground. Lurking just below the surface are secret tales of mystery and intrigue.

Ashland Haunted History Tours offers a guided evening walk of Downtown Ashland each Friday and Saturday night, while your guide weaves tales of the macabre past and present to delight audiences of all ages.

Red Vein Escape invites you to play the team-building game “Hunt for the Richmond Vampire”. Can your team defeat a legendary subterranean demon of the night?

2. TECHNOLOGY

Downtown Ashland hosts the secret worlds of both Pokemon GO and Wizards Unite. There are lots of Gyms and Poke Stops or Inns, Greenhouses and Fortresses scattered throughout downtown.

Below is a three-mile walk (just enough to open a Portkey Portmanteau) suggested by local aficionado, Margie Gausby. Pokemon and Foundables are everywhere, plus unique local shops and restaurants to visit along the route.

 3. HISTORY

Downtown Ashland puts its history on display, with historic architecture, public art, and museums. But there is always more than meets the eye!

Ashland Museum offers free walking tours of Downtown Ashland and the historic district. Call ahead to arrange for a local historian to walk the route with you, or download the Ashland, Virginia app from iTunes or Google Play for a self-guided version. The tour will help you to see hidden nuances of the town and its history.

Photo courtesy of Ashland Museum.

 4. RAIL

More than 60 freight and passenger trains pass through the heart of Downtown Ashland each day using hidden communications. You can listen in by phone at (712) 432-4216, stream number 405 or on the web at railroadradio.net. Hear the engineers live, and predict the next train coming down our track.

Afterward, stop into Tiny Tim’s Trains & Toys to see modern and historic model trains. The railfans on staff can help you learn more secrets of the rails.

5. BICYCLE

Downtown Ashland is a hidden gem for cyclists of any ability.

The United States’ two cross-country bicycle trails, Route 1 and Route 76, intersect here. Whether you wish to cycle for an afternoon or a week, Downtown Ashland is the best place to start!

Don’t miss fresh food and strong coffee at two cycling hotspots, Ashland Coffee & Tea and The Caboose Café & Market. You’re likely to find fellow cycling enthusiasts from the Richmond Area Bicycling Association in both restaurants. The group hosts weekly rides in and around Downtown Ashland, learn more here.

Ashland by Bike: Family-Friendly Itinerary for Summer Fun

Enjoy summer fun with the whole family and explore Downtown Ashland by bike. With trails, shaded streets, and an array of exciting family-friendly stops, we have your pedal-by-pedal guide to taking in all that Ashland has to offer!

1. PEDAL POWER

Check out the Trains & Brains two-mile bike route. Beginning at Ashland Train Station, follow the tracks north to a designated bike trail and past Railside Park. On the return trip, you’ll pedal the shady streets of Randolph-Macon College. Make sure you stop to enjoy the fountain plaza!

2. SWEET STOP

When you’ve finished the route, it’s a quick jaunt along England Street to sweetFrog for frozen yogurt. The business is tucked into one of Downtown Ashland’s historic properties at 210 England Street, originally built for the Ashland Ice Company in 1921. How fitting!

Image courtesy of Kiwanis Club of Ashland

3. CLIMB HIGH

Refreshed and refueled, you can pedal west to Kiwanis Pufferbelly Park and enjoy the expansive new playground. Kids can test their skills at the skate park, or find creative ways to climb the spider web and merry-go-round. Little ones will enjoy swings, slides, and a sandbox in the shade.

4. ORDER UP

Once you have conquered the park, cross the street to Sports Page Grill for your choice of American fare. The restaurant honors local youth and college sports teams, alongside televised professional sports.

5. CATCH A SHOW

For the finale, pedal to Ashland Theatre to catch the 7pm movie. July 19 through August 8, see Disney’s the Lion King in its new live-action version with a celebrity cast (buy tickets here). Spending the evening at the fully-renovated historic theatre is a perfect capstone to an Ashland adventure.