Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum in Willimantic, Connecticut
Railroad museumHours are not posted online; check the museum's Facebook page
Founded by members of the Connecticut Eastern Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum has gathered restored local railroad buildings and a rebuilt six-stall roundhouse into Columbia Junction, a railroad village in Willimantic.
- Rebuilt six-stall roundhouse
- Restored Chaplin Station
- Groton Freight House
- Diesel-electric locomotives
- Members restoring on site
Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum at a glance
- Hours
- Not posted online; check the museum's Facebook page
- Admission
- Not posted online; check the museum's Facebook page
- Best for
- Rail fans and families who like old buildings and engines
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
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Taking the kids to Connecticut Eastern Railroad 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 Willimantic.
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Columbia Junction, rebuilt one building at a time
The Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum was started by members of the Connecticut Eastern Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, who set out to save the railroad buildings and equipment of eastern Connecticut before they disappeared. Rather than fill one hall with exhibits, they built a whole setting: Columbia Junction, a railroad-themed village of restored local buildings in a park-like setting in Willimantic.
The village brings together the Chaplin Station, the Groton Freight House and the Willimantic Section House, each moved or saved from its working life on the railroad. At its center is a replica of the Columbia Junction six-stall roundhouse, rebuilt by the museum in 2000. Members are often at work on restoration projects around the grounds, so the museum keeps changing from one visit to the next. The museum does not post hours or admission on a website; check its Facebook page or the CTvisit listing before you plan a trip.
A roundhouse, depots and diesels
Visitors can walk the site on their own or as part of a tour. Expect the rebuilt six-stall roundhouse, the Chaplin Station, the Groton Freight House and the Willimantic Section House, along with locomotives and rolling stock that include a dozen diesel-electric locomotives. Because the work is done by members, you may find restoration projects underway as you explore.
Don’t miss
- The Columbia Junction roundhouseA six-stall roundhouse rebuilt in 2000 to stand in for the one that once served Columbia Junction.
- Chaplin StationThe former station for the nearby town of Chaplin, restored as part of the village.
- Groton Freight HouseA freight building saved from the shoreline town of Groton and brought into the village.
Big engines and buildings to explore
Kids who like big machines will enjoy seeing diesel locomotives up close and walking from building to building in the village. The museum does not post details about rides, climbing aboard equipment or accessibility online, so message it on Facebook before visiting with small children, and plan for an outdoor visit with walking between buildings.
Plan your visit: tips for Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum
- Check the museum's Facebook page for open days before you drive over.
- Ask about a guided tour; the site can be explored on your own or with a guide.
- Wear good walking shoes for moving between buildings outdoors.
NRHS chapter members at work
The museum was founded by members of the Connecticut Eastern Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, and members carry out the restoration work visitors see around the grounds. If you would like to help, reach out through the museum's Facebook page to ask about membership or volunteering.
More rail stops near Willimantic
The New England Civil War Museum in Rockville is about 15 miles away, and the Connecticut Trolley Museum is about 24 miles west. For a train ride, the Essex Steam Train and Riverboat is about 27 miles south. See the full list of Connecticut train museums.
- New England Civil War Museum / historic railroad exhibitsRockville, CT · about 15 mi
- Connecticut Trolley MuseumEast Windsor, CT · about 24 mi
- Connecticut River Museum railroad-history exhibitsEssex, CT · about 26 mi
- Essex Steam Train & Riverboat / Valley RailroadEssex, CT · about 27 mi
- Rhode Island Railroad MuseumWoonsocket area, RI · about 38 mi
- Woonsocket Depot historic railway siteWoonsocket, RI · about 42 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
Old depots like the Chaplin Station were built with platforms and steps sized for grown-up travelers. In our book, Rally reaches the train and finds the stairs far too tall for a corgi, so Dad scoops him up and gives him a boost. It is a tiny moment, but it is the kind of help every small traveler needs. Our free coloring pages let kids color that boost themselves.
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)More for train families
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- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Connecticut
- Halloween train rides in Connecticut
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Connecticut Eastern Railroad 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.
Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum: 20 common questions
Where is the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum in Willimantic, CT?
The Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum is off Bridge Street in downtown Willimantic, Connecticut, and business directories list it at 55 Bridge Street, Willimantic, CT 06226. Some listings place it along Route 32. Check the museum's Facebook page for directions before you go.
What are the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum hours?
The museum does not post its hours on a website. Its Facebook page is the best place to check open days and times, and the CTvisit listing may also help. Because volunteers staff the site, it is worth confirming before you make the drive to Willimantic.
How much are Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum tickets?
The museum does not list admission prices online. Message the museum through its Facebook page to ask about current admission and tours, or check the CTvisit listing. The museum's Facebook page is also the quickest way to ask whether guided tours carry a separate charge.
What is Columbia Junction at the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum?
Columbia Junction is the museum's railroad-themed village of restored local railroad buildings in a park-like setting. It includes the Chaplin Station, the Groton Freight House, the Willimantic Section House and a rebuilt six-stall roundhouse, so you walk through a small railroad settlement rather than a single building.
Does the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum have a roundhouse?
Yes. The museum is home to a replica of the Columbia Junction six-stall roundhouse, rebuilt in 2000. It sits at the heart of the museum's railroad village alongside the restored stations and freight house, and it is the building most visitors head to first when they arrive at Columbia Junction.
Who runs the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum?
The museum was founded by members of the Connecticut Eastern Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, and members carry out its restoration work. Visitors often find them at work on projects around the grounds.
What locomotives are at the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum?
The museum's collection includes about a dozen diesel-electric locomotives along with other rolling stock. The museum does not post a full roster online, so check its Facebook page for photos and updates on specific engines and restoration projects.
Can you ride a train at the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum?
The museum does not advertise regular train rides online. Visits center on the railroad village, the roundhouse and the equipment on display. If you are hoping for a ride or a special event, message the museum on Facebook to ask what is planned.
Is the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum good for kids?
Kids who like big engines usually enjoy seeing diesel locomotives up close and walking between old railroad buildings. The museum does not post kid-specific programs or accessibility details online, so check its Facebook page and plan for an outdoor visit with some walking.
Are tours available at the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum?
Yes. Visitors can explore the site on their own or as part of a tour. Tour times are not posted online, so ask through the museum's Facebook page if you would like a guide to walk you through Columbia Junction.
Are there photos of the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum?
The museum's Facebook page, which has a following of more than 2,500 people, is the best place to see photos of the roundhouse, buildings and locomotives along with restoration updates. Travel listings such as CTvisit also show the site.
What do visitors say about the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum?
Travel listings describe a park-like village of restored railroad buildings where visitors often find members at work on restoration projects. For current reviews, check the museum's Facebook page and travel listings, where hundreds of people have checked in.
What is the Chaplin Station?
The Chaplin Station is the former railroad station for the town of Chaplin, now restored as part of the museum's Columbia Junction village. It stands with the Groton Freight House and the Willimantic Section House as examples of the small buildings that served local lines.
Is the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum indoors or outdoors?
Mostly outdoors. The museum is laid out as a village of separate railroad buildings and a roundhouse in a park-like setting, with equipment on the grounds. Dress for the weather and wear shoes for walking.
Is the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum wheelchair accessible?
The museum does not post accessibility details online. The site is spread across several outdoor buildings and tracks, so contact the museum through its Facebook page before you visit to ask about paths and access.
How can I volunteer at the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum?
Restoration at the museum is carried out by members, many of them connected to the Connecticut Eastern Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. To ask about joining or volunteering, send a message through the museum's Facebook page.
Is there parking at the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum?
The museum does not post parking details online. It is off Bridge Street in downtown Willimantic, so check its Facebook page for directions to the entrance and where to leave your car, or send a message before you go if you are bringing a larger group.
Does the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum hold events?
The museum does not keep an events calendar on a website. Any open houses or special days are most likely to be announced on its Facebook page, so follow the page if you want to hear about them.
How long should I spend at the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum?
The museum does not suggest a visit length online. Walking through the village buildings, the roundhouse and the locomotives at an easy pace can fill an hour or more, longer if you join a tour or stop to talk with members.
What train museums are near the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum?
The New England Civil War Museum in Rockville is about 15 miles away, and the Connecticut Trolley Museum in East Windsor is about 24 miles. The Connecticut River Museum and the Essex Steam Train are about 26 to 27 miles south in Essex, and the Rhode Island Railroad Museum is about 38 miles east.
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