Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum in Lenox and Adams, Massachusetts

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Lenox and Adams, Massachusetts · Updated October 19, 2026 · 14 min read

Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesLenox Station Museum reopens Memorial Day weekend 2027; Hoosac Valley train rides run from Adams

Founded in 1984, the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum keeps western Massachusetts railroading alive in two places: a restored 1903 New Haven depot in Lenox full of vintage diesels and Budd cars, and the Hoosac Valley Train Ride out of Adams.

  • Founded in 1984
  • 1903 New Haven depot in Lenox
  • Hoosac Valley rides since 2016
  • Budd RDC cars in the collection
  • Tinseliner holiday train
  • Long run by volunteers

Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum at a glance

Hours
Lenox museum: select Saturdays, Memorial Day to Labor Day (closed for 2026 as of September 5). Train rides on scheduled days from Adams.
Admission
Train fares vary by trip and event; book on the museum's tickets page
Train rides
Hoosac Valley Train Ride, one-hour round trips from Adams Station on scheduled weekends, holidays and special events; Yard Jitney rides at Lenox
Seasonal events
Pumpkin Patch Rides, Children's Ghost Stories & Pumpkin Patch Excursion, Halloween Rides, The Tinseliner, Mistletoe Magic Cabaret Trains, Music Trains
Plan for
About 1.5 hours for a train ride; 1 to 2 hours at Lenox Station
Best for
Families wanting a short vintage train ride in the Berkshires
Best ages
Ages 2 to 12
Parking
Free train parking at the Adams Welcome Center across from Adams Station
Accessibility
The museum's contact page calls the Adams platform and cars wheelchair accessible, but its tickets page says the historic equipment cannot take wheelchairs; call ahead. Service animals welcome.

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

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum? 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 Lenox and Adams.

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.

From the Lee yard to Lenox Station to the Hoosac Valley

The Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum began in 1984 as a nonprofit with a simple mission: save the railroad history of the Berkshire Hills, collect the records and objects that explain it, and keep a museum open to the public. For its first couple of years the group worked out of the old Lee train yard. In 1986 it acquired Lenox Station, a 1903 New Haven depot now on the National Register of Historic Places, and volunteers had its restoration finished by the late 1990s.

Train rides have always paid the bills here. Excursions ran between Lenox and Stockbridge in the 1980s and again from 2003 to 2011, when the museum's trackage rights on the Berkshire Line ended for the second time in 20 years. Rather than give up, the volunteers revived a plan that was nearly 30 years old: bring trains to the Hoosac Valley in northern Berkshire County.

That expansion was announced in 2013 with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, the City of North Adams and the Town of Adams as partners. Crews rebuilt 4 miles of branch line, laid a new mile of track and built fresh support facilities, and the Hoosac Valley rides started in 2016 from North Adams. They now depart from Adams over tracks that once linked this corner of Massachusetts to New York City.

The Boston Globe named the museum one of the Top 10 Railroad Museums in New England in 2008. For decades it has been run entirely by volunteers, and in January 2026 Melanie Seiden became its first Executive Director, the organization's first paid staff position, with a focus on growing the museum as a cultural destination and restoring scenic rides.

A depot, a block station and a yard full of diesels

At Lenox Station, guided tours start in the restored 1903 depot and continue to a replica New Haven block station known as Yokun Station. The Lenox complex holds most of the museum's equipment along with exhibits and a restoration shop and warehouse, so you see first and second generation diesel locomotives on display and New Haven RDC #42 "Firestone" under restoration. A short ride on the Lenox Yard Jitney is part of the visit.

The roster is broad for a volunteer museum: ALCO switchers and road units, an EMD FL-9 from the New Haven family, a GE 50-ton industrial switcher, several Budd rail diesel cars including New Haven's experimental Roger Williams set, heavyweight Lackawanna coaches, two New Haven cabooses and Fairmont motor cars. In Adams, the Hoosac Valley Train Ride is a narrated one-hour round trip between Adams and North Adams that the museum describes as a living history exhibit on wheels.

Don’t miss

  1. Lenox StationThe 1903 New Haven depot is the museum's headquarters and the reason it settled in Lenox, restored by volunteers after the group bought it in 1986.
  2. New Haven RDC #42 "Firestone"A Budd rail diesel car under restoration at Lenox, one of several self-propelled Budd cars the museum has saved.
  3. Yokun Block StationA replica New Haven block station that shows how operators once controlled train movements along the line.
  4. Roger Williams cars 140, 141 and 162Budd-built high-speed experimental equipment from the New Haven, an unusual survivor to find in a small museum's yard.
  5. Penn Central 5599 and Maine Central 954Two ALCO diesels, an RS-3 and an S-1, that represent the first generation of locomotives that replaced steam after World War II.
  6. The Hoosac Valley Train RideThe museum's moving exhibit, a one-hour round trip from Adams through the valley on restored vintage cars.

Pumpkin trains, a yard jitney and a station to explore

For most families the train ride is the main event. The one-hour Hoosac Valley trip is a manageable length for young riders, and the fall calendar adds Pumpkin Patch Rides, a Children's Ghost Stories and Pumpkin Patch Excursion, and costume-friendly Halloween Rides. The Tinseliner holiday train starts after Thanksgiving. At Lenox Station on summer Saturdays, the short Yard Jitney ride and the cabooses and diesels on display give kids a closer look.

There are no restrooms on board the train, so plan a stop in the Adams Station building before you board. The Ashuwillticook Rail Trail meets the train in Adams, which makes a stroller walk or bike ride an easy add-on.

Plan your visit: tips for Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum

  • Buy train tickets online; walk-up seats are not guaranteed and all sales are final.
  • There are no restrooms on the train; use the Adams Station building first.
  • The ride does not go through the Hoosac Tunnel.
  • Lenox Station Museum and the train ride are in different towns, so check which one a date applies to.
  • The info phone is answered only around operating hours on ride and event days.

October is busy in Adams, with Pumpkin Patch Rides on two weekends, a Children's Ghost Stories and Pumpkin Patch Excursion, an adults-only ghost tour train and Halloween Rides on October 31. See more Halloween train rides in Massachusetts. From late November the Tinseliner, the museum's Berkshire holiday tradition, takes over the schedule alongside the grown-up Mistletoe Magic Cabaret Trains; compare it with other Christmas train rides in Massachusetts.

Volunteers, members and a first executive director

The museum is a nonprofit that was run entirely by volunteers until it hired its first executive director in 2026. Ticket sales from train rides have always been its main source of money, with memberships, grants and donations filling in the rest. The contact form lists membership, volunteering and donations as options, so riding the train, joining or signing up to help all keep the equipment rolling.

More rail stops in the Berkshires and beyond

The Chester Railway Station & Museum is about 14 miles away on the site's map, and the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum is roughly 30 miles east for a trolley ride. Across the Connecticut line, the Connecticut Trolley Museum is about 44 miles off. Plan a longer trip with every train museum in Massachusetts.

Every train museum in Massachusetts

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor view from inside a dark tunnel looking out at a sunny beach and cliffs
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

The museum is careful to tell riders that its train does not pass through the Hoosac Tunnel, and I smiled at that, because in our book the tunnel is the best part. Everything goes dark, Rally presses close to Mom and Dad, and then a big bright light pours in and everyone cheers. If your little one wants to draw that moment, there are free coloring pages waiting.

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 Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum?

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.

Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum: 20 questions riders and visitors ask

What is the Lenox Station Museum at the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum?

Lenox Station Museum is the museum's home base: a restored 1903 New Haven depot at 10 Willow Creek Road in Lenox, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Guided tours cover the depot, the replica Yokun block station, vintage diesel locomotives and a short Yard Jitney ride. It is also where the restoration shop and most of the collection are kept.

When is the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum in Lenox open?

As of October 2026, Lenox Station Museum has closed for the 2026 season, which ended September 5. It reopens for public visits Memorial Day weekend 2027 and will be open on select Saturdays from Memorial Day through Labor Day, with exact dates posted each spring. Check berkshiretrains.org before you drive over.

Where do Berkshire Scenic Railway train rides leave from?

All Hoosac Valley Train Rides depart from Adams Station, 4 Hoosac Street, Adams, MA 01220, not from Lenox. Passenger parking is at the Adams Welcome Center across the street, listed as both 3 Hoosac Street and 55 Depot Street on the museum's site. The station is just off Route 8, a short drive from North Adams and Williamstown.

What is the Hoosac Valley Train Ride?

The Hoosac Valley Train Ride is the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum's excursion service, a narrated one-hour round trip between Adams and North Adams on restored vintage equipment. It began in 2016 after the museum and its state and local partners rebuilt the branch line. The trip connects with the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail in Adams.

How much are Berkshire Scenic Railway train tickets?

Fares vary by trip, seating and special event, and the museum sells them through a dynamic online ticketing system linked from its tickets page. One scenic railroad directory lists adult fares at roughly $17 to $28, but confirm current prices on berkshiretrains.org. Online sales are final, and booking ahead is the only way to guarantee a seat.

Can I buy Hoosac Valley train tickets at the station?

Sometimes. Walk-up seats are sold at Adams Station on departure days if any are left, but they are not guaranteed and some trains sell out in advance. The museum recommends buying online, where you get an email confirmation, and suggests purchasing at least 30 minutes before departure. All sales are final.

Does the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum train go through the Hoosac Tunnel?

No. The museum states plainly that the Hoosac Valley Train Ride does not pass through the Hoosac Tunnel. The trip runs between Adams and North Adams in the valley, over tracks that once connected this part of Massachusetts with New York City, with narration about the region's railroad history along the way.

Are there restrooms on the Berkshire Scenic train?

No, the train has no restrooms on board. Restrooms are available in the Adams Station building, so it is worth a stop before boarding, especially with young children. The ride is about an hour, which is short enough for most kids once they have had a bathroom break at the station.

Is the Hoosac Valley Train Ride wheelchair accessible?

The museum's site gives two answers. Its contact page says the Adams Station platform and passenger cars are wheelchair accessible and service animals are welcome, while its tickets page says the historic train equipment cannot accommodate wheelchairs. Call (413) 637-2210 or use the contact form before booking so volunteers can tell you what to expect on your date.

Does the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum run a Christmas train?

Yes. The Tinseliner, which the museum calls a Berkshire holiday tradition, starts November 27 in the 2026 season and departs from Adams. For adults there are also Mistletoe Magic Cabaret Trains on November 28 and December 12. Holiday trains are popular, so reserve online as soon as the calendar opens.

What Halloween and fall train rides does the Berkshire Scenic Railway offer?

In October 2026 the museum added Pumpkin Patch Rides on October 17 to 18 and 24 to 25, a Children's Ghost Stories and Pumpkin Patch Excursion on October 17, and Halloween Rides on October 31. An adults-only night called Chilling Tales on Mysterious Rails sold out with a waitlist. Check the tickets page for next year's dates.

What locomotives are at the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum?

The collection is all diesel, from a GE 50-ton industrial switcher to ALCO units such as Penn Central RS-3 5599 and Maine Central S-1 954, Boston & Maine EMD SW1 1113 and an FL-9 numbered WEBX 2024. Passenger equipment includes several Budd RDC cars and New Haven's experimental Roger Williams cars.

When was the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum founded?

The museum was founded in 1984 as a nonprofit. It first operated from the old Lee train yard, bought Lenox Station in 1986 and finished restoring it in the late 1990s. Rides ran between Lenox and Stockbridge until 2011, and the Hoosac Valley service from Adams began in 2016.

Why did train rides stop running from Lenox?

Rides between Lenox and Stockbridge ran from 2003 until 2011, when the museum's trackage rights on the Berkshire Line were ended, the second time in 20 years that had happened. The museum then turned to the Hoosac Valley, where it rebuilt track with state and local partners and restarted rides in 2016.

Is the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum good for young kids?

Yes, especially the train ride. At about an hour, the Hoosac Valley trip suits toddlers and early grade schoolers, and the fall pumpkin and ghost story trains are built for children. Summer Saturdays at Lenox Station add a short Yard Jitney ride and cabooses and diesels to look at. Remember there are no restrooms on the train.

Can I book a group or school trip with the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum?

Yes. The museum hosts school groups, scout troops and private charters of 10 or more; email groups@berkshiretrains.org or call (413) 637-2210. For group pricing on 20 or more tickets on a regular train, or for day and coach charters, contact charters@berkshirescenicrailroad.org or use the form on the website's contact page.

What is the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum phone number?

The main number is (413) 637-2210, which is a voicemail line, and the fax is (413) 637-4965. The museum also has a train day info phone that is answered only in the hour before and during operating hours on ride or event days. For anything else, the online contact form is the fastest route.

What do people say in Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum reviews?

The museum has listings on Tripadvisor for both Lenox and the Hoosac Valley rides, and its Hoosac Valley Facebook page has thousands of followers. The Boston Globe named it one of the Top 10 Railroad Museums in New England in 2008 and one of the Top 10 Things to Do in the Berkshires. Read recent reviews for current impressions.

How can I volunteer or become a member of the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum?

Use the contact form on berkshiretrains.org and choose membership, volunteering or donations as your area of interest. The museum was run entirely by volunteers for decades, and ticket sales, memberships, grants and gifts pay for restoration and operations, so new help on the train, in the shop or at Lenox Station is welcome.

What other train museums are near the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum?

The Chester Railway Station & Museum is about 14 miles away by the map used on this site, and the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum is about 30 miles away. Over the state line, the Connecticut Trolley Museum in East Windsor is about 44 miles, and the Railroad Museum of New England and the Naugatuck Railroad in Thomaston are about 48 miles.

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