Recently, we got to do something special: the Sandhills Sentinel team took a step back in time with Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway. We boarded the “A Journey in Time” trip for a two-and-a-half-hour train ride through Moore County, a three-course meal, and an experience that can’t be beat.
This was no ordinary night out. The experience is touted as “enchanting,” and a more accurate word could not have been used. We had off-the-rails fun from the moment we boarded in the Downtown Aberdeen Greenspace, where the train was waiting for us. The train itself is big, beautiful, and elegant, and does indeed look like something right out of a movie.
Our journey started in a beautifully restored double-decker dome car with 360 panoramic views. The onboard staff was exceptionally attentive and welcomed us with drinks and amuse-bouche prepared by the onboard chef, Chef Alan Miller.
As we sipped and snacked, we were also treated to views of the county, including Downtown Aberdeen, the Pinehurst Harness Track, the iconic Pinehurst Resort, Pinewild, and the countryside of West End.
(Also, did you know trains rock and sway slightly the way a ship might? I certainly didn’t, and had such fun finding my “train legs,” as the staff called it.)
Shortly thereafter, we were escorted to the dining cars for dinner: a three-course affair complete with dessert.
Stepping into the dining car felt like stepping into a scene from Murder on the Orient Express—minus the murder, luckily for us. The dining compartments were lavish, with classic furnishings, period details, and an old-time luxury not easily found in modern settings.
“It’s like an Agatha Christie novel come to life,” I laughed at one point, to which another passenger, delighted, turned around and told me, “I said the same thing not five minutes ago!”
There was so much attention to detail, and such care was taken in restoring the train. We loved watching the golden setting sun filter in and catch on the beautiful décor.
Once seated, dinner began with rolls, fresh butter, and a prosciutto salad with a chef’s specialty dressing. Entrée choices included Parmesan and dill crusted grouper, grilled skirt steak, and a Tuscan Parmesan orzo with roasted vegetables.
Every last bite was fabulous. Every. Last. Bite.
By the time we’d finished our entrées (I’d chosen the grouper, which was incredible), I declared that I couldn’t possibly have taken another bite.
And then came dessert, which I’d wholly forgotten.
For dessert, Chef Miller had prepared a whipped cream coconut layer cake that was to die for. I couldn’t not take another bite. It would have been rude not to finish it, right? At least, that’s how I justified it to myself as we all cleared another plate.
We enjoyed our final bites as the last light of day slipped behind the trees and the train gently rocked its way back toward Aberdeen.
Though we didn’t fully explore every car during the “A Journey in Time” cruise, the luxury is unmatched in every compartment. Many of them are available for private rental, making this a perfect venue for weddings, celebrations, corporate parties, or any occasion that deserves something memorable.
Our feet weren’t even on solid ground again before I had friends and family who, seeing the pictures I’d sent them, were double- and triple-texting to ask for a link to buy tickets.
The whole experience—dining, scenery, ambience—was genuinely unforgettable. If you ever get the chance to ride the Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway, take it.
Visit www.acwr.com for more information and to book tickets.
~Article, video and photos by Sandhills Sentinel Assistant Editor Abegail Murphy. Abegail has been writing for Sandhills Sentinel since 2021.
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