Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad in Unity, Maine

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Unity, Maine · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesWeekend excursions from Unity station; season runs roughly Memorial Day weekend to late October, plus holiday trains

The Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad carries forward the name of one of Maine's best known shortlines, and today its all-volunteer crew runs family excursions from Unity station to fund the preservation of the railroad's stations, coaches and track.

  • Railroad history since 1871
  • All-volunteer nonprofit crew
  • One-hour round trips from Unity
  • Open-air car and opening windows
  • Well-behaved dogs can ride

Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad at a glance

Hours
Weekend excursions in season; doors open one hour before departure. See the online calendar for times
Admission
Unity Maine Train: adults $18, children $5; themed trains $23 to $29 for adults
Train rides
About one-hour round trips from Unity station; Pizza & Whoopie Pie Train about 1 to 1.5 hours
Seasonal events
Santa Express, Fall Foliage Train Ride, Hot Cocoa & Cookie Train, Pizza & Whoopie Pie Train, Common Ground Fair Train
Plan for
About 1.5 hours including boarding
Best for
Families with young kids and dog owners
Best ages
Ages 2 to 10
Accessibility
Vintage cars are not accessible for walkers, wheelchairs or scooters

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Unity.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

A Waldo County shortline that refused to fade

The Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad was chartered in 1867 and built between August 1868 and December 1870, a standard gauge line running from the port of Belfast inland to Burnham Junction. For well over a century it was a hometown railroad in the truest sense: the city of Belfast held majority ownership of the company until 1991. It operated as a shortline from 1871 to 2007, long enough to become one of the best known small railroads in Maine.

When regular operations ended, local people did not let the railroad slip away. Today the Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad is a division of the Brooks Preservation Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that describes itself as an all-volunteer organization. Its mission is preserving Waldo County's railroad heritage, and every ticket sold helps sustain the line and pay for restoration work.

That work reaches up and down the old railroad. Volunteers care for the station and grounds at Brooks and at City Point, rehabilitate passenger coaches, and handle the steady, unglamorous jobs that keep a railroad safe: track patrols, tie renewal, lining and surfacing, culvert cleaning and maintenance of rail cars and work equipment. Engineers, conductors, car attendants and ticket agents all come from the same volunteer ranks, trained by the railroad's own program.

The railroad now proudly marks more than 155 years of railroading, with excursions based at Unity station on Depot Street.

An hour on the rails out of Unity

Every excursion is a round trip that starts and ends at Unity station, so there is no need to arrange a ride back. Most trips last about an hour. The passenger cars are not climate controlled: windows open for fresh air, and there is an open-air car for riders who want nothing between them and the Maine countryside. A gift shop rides along on the train during the season, and restrooms are at the station.

The menu of trips changes with the calendar. The basic Unity Maine Train is the simplest and least expensive ride. The Fall Foliage Train runs through the autumn color, the Hot Cocoa & Cookie Train warms things up in cooler months, and the Pizza & Whoopie Pie Train stretches to about an hour and a half with dinner and a Maine dessert on board. During the Common Ground Fair, trains run all day. The railroad also offers railcycle outings with trained volunteer guides.

Don’t miss

  1. The open-air carThe best seat for photos and for feeling the breeze, and a favorite with kids who want to see everything.
  2. Pizza & Whoopie Pie TrainA longer ride of about 1 to 1.5 hours with pizza and Maine's classic whoopie pie on board.
  3. The onboard gift shopInstead of a shop at the station, souvenirs travel with you on the train during the season.
  4. Common Ground Fair TrainDuring the fair, trains run all day, a handy and fun way to combine a train ride with a classic Maine event.

Cocoa, cookies and an open-air car

One-hour rides suit young children, and the themed trains are built for families: hot cocoa and cookies, pizza and whoopie pies, and the Santa Express at the holidays. Kids' fares are low, starting at $5 on the Unity Maine Train. Well-behaved dogs can come along too, as long as they stay off the seats.

Doors open an hour before departure, and the train leaves exactly on the railroad's clock, so plan to be there early. The vintage cars have narrow aisles and are not accessible for walkers, wheelchairs or scooters, which matters for families traveling with a grandparent who uses one.

Plan your visit: tips for Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad

  • Buy online: walk-up tickets are limited, especially for themed, fall and holiday trains.
  • For GPS, enter 212 Depot Street, Unity, not the business name.
  • Trains run in any weather; if a train runs, there are no refunds.
  • Changes or cancellations 10 or more days out carry a 15 percent fee; inside 10 days, 30 percent.
  • Bring layers: the cars are not climate controlled.

Special event trains are a big part of the year here. The Santa Express brings the holiday season to Unity station, and the Hot Cocoa & Cookie Train is a cozy option for cold weekends. In autumn, the Fall Foliage Train Ride rolls through the color for $23 for adults and $10 for children as of October 2026. For more holiday rides around the state, see our guide to Christmas train rides in Maine.

An all-volunteer railroad, from engineer to grant writer

The Brooks Preservation Society runs the Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad entirely with volunteers, who handle everything from train operations and track work to answering phones and writing grants. Schedules are flexible, mostly on weekends. If you cannot ride, the railroad asks you to consider a membership, a donation or a gift card for someone who can.

More rail and transportation stops near Waldo County

The Cole Land Transportation Museum in Bangor is about 29 miles away. The WW&F Railway Museum in Alna is about 41 miles south, and the Downeast Scenic Railroad in Hancock is about 47 miles east. Our page of Maine train museums has the full list.

Every train museum in Maine

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi looking out an arched train window at the ocean and a white bird
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

The cars on this railroad have windows that actually open, and dogs are welcome to ride as long as they stay off the seats. I can already see Rally on the floor with his paws up, nose pointed at that open window. In our book he gazes out an arched window at the ocean and says hello to a white bird. My mom dreamed up that moment long before the book existed.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad: 20 questions riders ask

Where does the Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad depart in Unity?

All excursions start and end at Unity station on Depot Street in Unity, Maine. The railroad asks you to enter 212 Depot Street, Unity, ME 04988 into your GPS rather than the business name; its FAQ lists the station itself at 210 Depot Street. Mail goes to P.O. Box 326, Unity, ME 04988.

What is the Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad schedule?

The railroad runs weekend round-trip excursions plus special event trains, and a tourism listing describes the season as Memorial Day weekend through late October, with holiday trains later. Exact dates and departure times are posted on the online calendar at bmlrail.com. Doors open one hour before each departure.

How much are Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad tickets in Unity?

As of October 2026, the Unity Maine Train is $18 for adults and $5 for children. The Fall Foliage Train is $23 and $10, the Hot Cocoa & Cookie Train $23 and $12, and the Pizza & Whoopie Pie Train $29 and $19. Book online or call (888) 317-2142.

Can I buy Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad tickets at the station?

Only in limited numbers. Walk-up sales at Unity station are limited, especially for themed trains, food trains and fall, Christmas and winter rides, so the railroad recommends buying online. Reservations are recommended for every trip. Gift cards are also sold online.

How long is the Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad train ride?

Most excursions last about one hour, and every trip is a round trip that returns you to Unity station. The Pizza & Whoopie Pie Train runs a little longer, about 1 to 1.5 hours. Trains depart by the railroad's clock, so arriving 15 minutes before departure is a sensible plan.

What do reviews say about the Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad in Unity?

The railroad does not publish reviews on its own site. Riders share their impressions on Tripadvisor and on the railroad's Facebook page, which are the best places to read what families thought of the themed trains, the open-air car and the volunteer crew before you book.

Where can I see Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad photos?

The railroad posts photos of its trains and events on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest, and its website features photos by local photographers. Riders often take their own pictures from the open-air car. Tripadvisor also has visitor photos of the train and station.

Is there a Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad roster online?

The railroad does not post a roster of its locomotives and cars on its current website. For the long history of the line from 1871 to 2007 and after, it points visitors to published histories, including its Wikipedia articles. Email info@belfastandmooseheadlakerail.org with questions about specific equipment.

What is Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad 1149?

The railroad does not mention a number 1149 anywhere on its website, so it is not clear whether that refers to a locomotive, a car or something else in its history. Email info@belfastandmooseheadlakerail.org or ask a volunteer on an operating day, and they can tell you what it is and whether it is on display.

When did the original Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad operate?

The original railroad was chartered in 1867, built between 1868 and 1870, and operated from 1871 to 2007 as a standard gauge shortline between Belfast and Burnham Junction. The city of Belfast owned most of the company until 1991. Today's excursion railroad carries on that name.

Who runs the Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad today?

The railroad is a division of the Brooks Preservation Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs as an all-volunteer organization. Ticket sales from excursions help sustain the railroad and pay for preservation and restoration projects at stations, on coaches and along the track.

Does the Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad run a Santa train?

Yes. The Santa Express is one of the railroad's special event trains, and the Hot Cocoa & Cookie Train also runs in the cold season. Walk-up tickets are especially limited for Christmas and winter trains, so buy online early. Dates are posted on the events calendar.

Can dogs ride the Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad?

Yes. Well-behaved dogs are allowed on the train, but the railroad asks that they stay out of the seats. Be ready to clean up if your dog uses the station lawn. The open-air car and opening windows make it a comfortable ride for many dogs in mild weather.

Is the Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad wheelchair accessible?

No. Because of the age of the passenger cars, narrow hallways and other limitations, the cars are not accessible to riders using walkers, wheelchairs or motorized scooters. If someone in your group has mobility needs, call (888) 317-2142 to talk through options before booking.

What happens if it rains on my Belfast & Moosehead Lake train ride?

Trains run regardless of the weather, and the decision to operate depends on conditions at the railroad. If the train runs, no refunds are given. If the railroad cancels a train, you receive a gift card valid for one year rather than a refund.

What is the cancellation policy for the Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad?

Changes or cancellations must be made at least 10 days before departure and carry a 15 percent fee. Cancellations less than 10 days before departure carry a 30 percent fee. Passengers who miss their train do not receive refunds, so plan to arrive early.

Is the Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad good for toddlers?

Yes, for most families. Rides are about an hour, children's fares start at $5, and themed trains with cocoa, cookies or pizza keep little ones happy. The cars are not climate controlled, so bring layers, and remember that restrooms are at the station rather than on the train.

Does the Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad offer group tours or charters?

Yes. Groups and charters are handled through a dedicated contact, group_tours@belfastandmooseheadlakerail.org, and the website has a Charter Your Own Train page. You can also choose Group Tours & Charters on the contact form or call (888) 317-2142.

How can I volunteer with the Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad?

The railroad relies on volunteers for train operations, railcycle guiding, station and grounds work at Brooks and City Point, coach restoration, track maintenance and office tasks. Operating roles require experience or the railroad's training program. Email info@belfastandmooseheadlakerail.org or fill out the membership application to start.

What train museums are near the Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad?

The Cole Land Transportation Museum in Bangor is about 29 miles away, the Maine Forest & Logging Museum at Leonard's Mills about 38 miles, and the WW&F Railway Museum in Alna about 41 miles. The Downeast Scenic Railroad in Hancock is about 47 miles away for a second train ride.

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