WINNSBORO — Love rides the rails once again this year on the South Carolina Railroad Museum’s Sweetheart Dinner Train. According to event organizer Mary Katherine Marshall, people need to act quickly if they want to be a part of this event. As of Tuesday, Jan. 22 there were only about six seats remaining. The Sweetheart Dinner Train runs on Friday, Feb. 8 and Saturday Feb. 9 from 5:30 p.m. until about 8 p.m.

The event will include beholding the sunset over the Rion Rock Quarry and a romantic dinner will be served in the dining car.

Tickets are $100 per couple. The tickets include the train ride, a three course gourmet meal, beer, wine and coffee and a rose for the ladies. Last year’s menu included a choice of prime rim, shrimp and grits, and chicken cordon blue. This year’s trip offers a similar variety of entrees.

If one is looking for love, well, the event is not limited to couples.

There are individual tickets available for $55 per person.

Last year the event was dressy casual with women in dresses and men in sports coats with either jeans or slacks. Marshall anticipates similar attire this year from the patrons.

Payment must be received by February 1 to guarantee one’s reservation.

For more information or to make a reservation, call Mary Katherine Marshall 803-896-6124 or email mmarshall@scdah.state.sc.us.

“It is a very unique experience. No one else is doing anything like this in South Carolina,” Marshall said. “We can do charters and dinner trains like this for private events as well. It’s a really fun way to get people there and have a fun party in a different type venue.”

Winnsboro resident Frances O’Neal loved the event and looks forward to love being in the air at the train yard again this year.

“It turned out to be a great adventure with great food,” said O’Neal. “There were a lot of people there interested in trains and we saw wildlife like deer and turkeys. At that time of day you may even see the occasional coyote. It turned out to be a great adventure. You get to see the countryside in a whole different light.”