St. Marys is a small city in Pleasants County, West Virginia. With a population of 1,860, it’s a charming little place, but there’s something else that sets St. Marys apart from most towns. It’s one of the few towns in America where trains share the street with cars.

St. Marys was established in 1849 by Alexander Creel.
WikiMedia Commons/Tim Kiser
He was traveling down the Ohio River near the future site of the town, when he had a vision.
Wikimedia Commons/ Erjkprunczyk - Sporadic
The Virgin Mary appeared to Creel, and he was inspired to name the town after her.
Wikimedia Commons/{{PD-US}}

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Today the town is remarkable as one of the few places in the US with train tracks running down the street.
WikiMedia Commons/Tim Kiser
The railroad tracks are embedded in 2nd Street.
Freight trains pass through the town, and share the same road as the cars.
YouTube/Conraildan
If you visit St. Marys, check out The Boxcar, a railroad-themed restaurant.
The Boxcar/Facebook
Address: 415 2nd St, Saint Marys, West Virginia 26170
They serve lunch and dinner, as well as Sunday brunch.
The Boxcar/Facebook
It's right on 2nd street, so you can watch the trains roll by as you eat.

You can see the trains and cars sharing the road in this video by YouTube user Conraildan.

The cars pull to the side of the road when the trains come through.

This looks like it would be fun to see, unless you’re in a hurry to get somewhere!

For another charming small town in West Virginia with plenty to do, check out Harpers Ferry.

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