Wilmington & Western to resume rail excursions at the end of October

The schedule includes the popular fall and holiday trains that run from the Prices Corner area west of Wilmington.

The announcement comes after a controversial shutdown earlier this year that included the firing of most of its full-time staff. It led to calls by volunteers for the board of directors to be elected by members.

An election was held last summer. However, volunteers objected to the way the election/meeting  was conducted.

The railroad began work on equipment and tracks during the spring and summer, citing problems in those areas as the reason for the shutdown.The railroad operates steam and diesel-powered locomotives. 

The railroad's board has not commented  further on the closing that led to volunteers picketing outside the train station for a time. 

A group known as Concerned Volunteers of the WWRR reported that only some volunteers have been called back to serve as conductors, brakeman, engineers or other positions.

The railroad that winds through the hilly  Red Clay Valley is one of northern Delaware's leading tourist attractions.

The railroad operates as a nonprofit entity  under the name Historic Red Clay Valley.

In a filing with the Internal Revenue Service, the railroad reported a loss of nearly $40,000 in 2020 but had been profitable in the previous two-year period.  It apparently received COViD-19 funding to cover losses from  2020.