Clinton Northern Railway Museum in St. Johns, Michigan

Oct 19

St. Johns, Michigan · Updated October 19, 2026 · 9 min read

Depot museumOpen May through October; appointments for field trips

The Clinton Northern Railway Museum is a nonprofit museum at the historic Grand Trunk depot in St. Johns, where volunteers show early 1900s railcars, with a focus on cars built by Barney and Smith, along a former rail line that is now a trail.

Historic Grand Trunk depot
Early 1900s railcars
Barney and Smith car focus
Open May through October
Beside a rail trail

Clinton Northern Railway Museum at a glance

Hours: Open May through October; a recent season opened on May 6 with hours of 1 to 3 pm. Check Facebook for current hours.
Admission: Not posted online; call or message the museum on Facebook
Plan for: About 1 hour
Best for: Rail history fans and families with school-age kids

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

Contact and directions

Address107 E Railroad St, St. Johns, MI 48879(opens in a new tab)
Phone(989) 224-6134

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Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Clinton Northern 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 St. Johns.

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.

Barney and Smith cars at the old Grand Trunk depot

The Clinton Northern Railway Museum is a nonprofit railway museum based at the historic Grand Trunk depot in St. Johns. Its collection centers on railcars from the early 1900s, and it pays special attention to cars built by Barney and Smith, giving visitors a chance to tour vintage equipment rather than only look at it from a distance.

The museum sits along a former Grand Trunk Western right of way that has since become a bicycle trail, so the depot keeps its connection to the line it once served. One visitor review described it as a nice smaller railroad museum with a better than average selection of historic equipment.

The museum opens for a season each year from May through October, and it shares updates on its Facebook page. Hours and details are not posted on a website, so a quick call or message before you go is a good idea.

Vintage railcars and depot memorabilia

Visitors can tour the vintage railcars and look over an assortment of railroad artifacts and memorabilia in and around the depot. The museum does not post a list of its cars online, so check its Facebook page for current photos and news.

Don’t miss

The Barney and Smith carsThe museum's collection has a special focus on railcars from this builder, which sets it apart from other small museums.
The Grand Trunk depotThe historic depot is the museum's home and the heart of a visit.
The rail trailThe former Grand Trunk Western line beside the museum is now a bicycle trail, a pleasant way to arrive or stretch your legs.

Walking through real railcars

Kids can step inside vintage railcars and see railroad memorabilia up close, which suits curious grade schoolers who like to explore. Schools and groups can call to set up appointments for field trips or special showings. The museum does not post stroller or accessibility details, so ask when you call.

Plan your visit: tips for Clinton Northern Railway Museum

Confirm hours on the museum's Facebook page before you go, since it does not have a separate website.
Call ahead to arrange field trips or special showings.
Bring bikes if you like: the museum sits along a rail trail.

A nonprofit keeping the depot open

The Clinton Northern Railway Museum is a nonprofit, and it depends on visitors and supporters to keep its railcars and depot cared for. The best way to help is to visit during the season, follow and share its Facebook page, and ask staff on site about donating or getting involved.

Rail stops east of St. Johns

The Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso is about 20 miles east, home of a giant working steam locomotive. Durand Union Station is about 30 miles away, and the Flushing Area Museum about 35 miles. Find more in our Michigan train museum list.

Every train museum in Michigan

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi dreaming about his toy turtle, green bone and yellow ball — From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Old railcars like these always make me wonder what people carried aboard a century ago. In our book, Rally is very serious about packing, and his suitcase holds only the essentials: his turtle toy, his green bone and his yellow ball. Ask your kids what they would bring on a trip in one of these cars. My own kids are learning to read, and they have strong opinions about what belongs in a suitcase. Our train books for toddlers list has more ideas for little travelers.

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

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)

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Every Amtrak route with kids

Work or volunteer at Clinton Northern 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

Clinton Northern Railway Museum on Facebook(opens in a new tab)

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

Clinton Northern Railway Museum: 20 questions answered

Where is the Clinton Northern Railway Museum?

The Clinton Northern Railway Museum is at the historic Grand Trunk depot, listed at 107 E Railroad St, St. Johns, MI 48879. It sits along a former Grand Trunk Western right of way that is now a bicycle trail. Call (989) 224-6134 if you need directions.

What are the Clinton Northern Railway Museum hours?

The museum is open May through October. A recent season opened on May 6 with depot hours of 1 to 3 pm, but the museum does not post a full weekly schedule online. Check its Facebook page or call (989) 224-6134 for current open days and times.

Is the Clinton Northern Railway Museum open now?

The museum's season runs May through October, so it may be closed outside those months. Even in season, hours are limited and can change, so confirm on the Clinton Northern Railway Facebook page or by phone at (989) 224-6134 before you drive over.

How much does the Clinton Northern Railway Museum cost?

The museum does not post admission prices online. As a small nonprofit, it may ask for a donation. Call (989) 224-6134 or send a message through its Facebook page to ask about admission and group pricing before your visit.

What is the Clinton Northern Railway Museum?

It is a nonprofit railway museum in St. Johns, Michigan, that preserves railcars from the early 1900s with a focus on Barney and Smith cars. It is located at the historic Grand Trunk depot, and visitors can tour vintage railcars and see railroad artifacts and memorabilia.

What are Barney and Smith cars?

Barney and Smith was a builder of railroad cars, and the Clinton Northern Railway Museum focuses its collection on cars made by that company in the early 1900s. Ask volunteers during your visit which cars in the collection are Barney and Smith cars and how they came to St. Johns.

Can you go inside the railcars at the Clinton Northern Railway Museum?

Yes. The museum invites visitors to tour its vintage railcars, which is a big part of the visit. If anyone in your group has mobility needs, call (989) 224-6134 ahead of time to ask about getting into the cars.

Does the Clinton Northern Railway Museum have a website?

The museum does not appear to have its own website. Its main online presence is the Clinton Northern Railway Facebook page, which posts season openings and news. For questions, call (989) 224-6134 or message the museum on Facebook.

Can schools book field trips to the Clinton Northern Railway Museum?

Yes. The museum asks schools and groups to call to set up appointments for field trips or special showings. Reach it at (989) 224-6134, and plan well ahead, since special showings depend on who is available to open the depot and cars.

Is the Clinton Northern Railway Museum good for kids?

It can be a good outing for school-age kids who like to explore, since they can walk through real early 1900s railcars and look at railroad memorabilia. The visit is fairly short, so pair it with a ride on the nearby rail trail or another museum in the area.

Is the Clinton Northern Railway Museum wheelchair accessible?

The museum does not post accessibility information online. The depot and vintage railcars are historic structures, so access may vary between the building and the cars. Call (989) 224-6134 before your visit to ask which parts of the museum are accessible and whether staff can help.

Can you ride a train at the Clinton Northern Railway Museum?

The museum does not advertise train rides. It is a static museum where you tour railcars and see artifacts. For a train ride, consider heritage lines elsewhere in Michigan, and check our state page for options.

Is there a rail trail at the Clinton Northern Railway Museum?

Yes. The museum sits along a former Grand Trunk Western right of way that is now a bicycle trail, mapped as the Fred Meijer Clinton-Ionia-Shiawassee Rail Trail. It makes a nice add-on to a visit, especially for families who bring bikes.

What do visitors say about the Clinton Northern Railway Museum?

One online reviewer called it a nice smaller railroad-themed museum in central Michigan with a better than average selection of historic railroad equipment. It is a small, volunteer-scale stop rather than a large attraction, so plan for an hour or so.

How long should I plan at the Clinton Northern Railway Museum?

Plan on about an hour to tour the railcars and look at the artifacts and memorabilia. If you want to bike part of the rail trail beside the museum, allow extra time. Check open hours first, since they are limited.

What railroad was the St. Johns depot built for?

The museum's home is described as the historic Grand Trunk depot, and the trail beside it follows a former Grand Trunk Western right of way. For more on the depot's history, ask museum volunteers when you visit.

Does the Clinton Northern Railway Museum offer special showings?

Yes. Besides regular season hours, the museum lets people call to arrange special showings and field trips by appointment. That is a good option for rail fans visiting from out of town. Call (989) 224-6134 to ask.

How can I support the Clinton Northern Railway Museum?

The museum is a nonprofit, so visits, donations and word of mouth all help. Following and sharing its Facebook page keeps more people aware of open days. Ask on site or by phone at (989) 224-6134 about donating or volunteering.

Is the Clinton Northern Railway Museum open in winter?

Its listed season is May through October, so it is generally closed from November through April. If you hope to visit in the off season, call (989) 224-6134 to ask whether a special showing by appointment might be possible.

What train museums are near the Clinton Northern Railway Museum?

The Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso is about 20 miles away, Durand Union Station about 30 miles, and the Flushing Area Museum about 35 miles. The Saginaw Railway Museum is about 40 miles away, and the Huckleberry Railroad near Flint, about 46 miles off, offers a real train ride.

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Kelsey Cecil