Danbury Railway Museum, Connecticut

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Danbury, Connecticut · Updated October 19, 2026 · 13 min read

Railroad museumTrain ridesOpen year-round on weekends; train rides early spring to October and in December

The Danbury Railway Museum is an all-volunteer museum in Danbury's restored 1903 Union Station, with a 10-acre railyard of locomotives, coaches and cabooses and weekend rides that turn on the only intact railroad turntable in Connecticut.

  • Restored 1903 Union Station
  • Over 70 pieces of rolling stock
  • Connecticut's only intact turntable
  • Weekend train rides and cab rides
  • Open year-round on weekends
  • All-volunteer museum

Danbury Railway Museum at a glance

Hours
Saturdays and Sundays, 10 am to 4 pm, year-round
Admission
$10 ages 3 and up; members and under 3 free
Train rides
Railyard Local weekends early spring to September at 11, 12, 1 and 2; coach or caboose $5, cab ride $20, plus admission
Seasonal events
Pumpkin Patch Trains, Santa Trains, Storytime Express, Steel & Wheels Car Show, Owney RPO Day, Short Lines & Short Stories Lecture Series
Plan for
About 2 hours
Best for
Families with young kids and New England rail fans
Best ages
Toddlers to age 12
Parking
Small lot beside the station on White Street
Accessibility
Station and railyard are wheelchair accessible; the historic trains are not.

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

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Danbury 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 Danbury.

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.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

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

From a hat city's busiest station to a volunteer museum

In the 1880s Danbury was served by three railroads, each with its own small station. When they were all folded into the New York, New Haven and Hartford, residents pushed for one proper depot, and in 1903 the New Haven opened Union Station, a buff and brown brick building designed by A. Malkin that mixed Richardsonian Romanesque bones with Colonial Revival windows. At its peak it may have seen as many as 125 trains a day, many of them carrying workers and buyers for the city's hatmaking industry, commuters bound for Bridgeport and New York, and crowds for the Danbury Fair every October. Alfred Hitchcock even filmed scenes for Strangers on a Train on its curved platform.

Ridership fell after World War II as highways, air travel and bare heads took their toll, and the last intercity train left for Pittsfield in 1972. Metro-North closed the station in 1993. Mayor Gene Eriquez did not want to lose another downtown landmark, and the following year a group of National Railway Historical Society members and local rail fans formed the Danbury Railway Museum. They ran a temporary museum from an Ives Street storefront while the station was restored with a $1.5 million grant, and about a thousand people came to the rededication in late 1995.

Volunteers restored the yard's turntable in 1998, and it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005, joining the station, which had been listed in 1986. The museum has kept growing ever since, and today it is partnering to restore New Haven 0814 and working to save the last New York Central System electric locomotives.

Inside Union Station and out in the 15-track yard

Most visits begin inside Union Station, where the old waiting room now holds railroad lanterns, dining car china and silverware, timetables, tools, uniforms, telegrams and historic photographs, along with model railroads and a play area for younger visitors. The original ticket window is still there, and the gift shop and a research library round out the building.

Out back, the 15-track, 10-acre railyard holds more than 70 pieces of rolling stock and locomotives. A few pieces rotate in and out and open for touring, and over the years these have included Boston and Maine steam locomotive 1455, a Budd rail diesel car and cabooses. On weekends from early spring, the Railyard Local carries visitors around the yard in vintage coaches, cabooses or the locomotive cab, a 30 to 35 minute trip with a layover at the historic turntable and the restored Danbury fairground pumphouse.

Don’t miss

  1. The turntableBuilt around 1914 for a roundhouse that later burned, it is the only intact railroad turntable in Connecticut, and the Railyard Local stops there on every ride.
  2. Union Station's curved platformThe 1903 station's platform appears in Alfred Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train, and the building itself is on the National Register.
  3. New Haven 0673An ALCO RS-1 built in 1948 that takes regular turns pulling the Railyard Local.
  4. Electric Boat DianeA 1947 GE 44-tonner, one of the smaller locomotives in the ride rotation and a good one for kids to compare with the big diesels.
  5. New Haven RDC 32A 1953 Budd self-propelled rail diesel car that sometimes carries riders around the yard.
  6. The fairground pumphouseA restored piece of the old Danbury Fair grounds, visited during the train ride layover.

A play area, a caboose seat and a cab ride

Inside the station, younger visitors have their own play area next to the model railroads, which makes it easy to split time between the displays and some free play. Out in the yard, kids can pick a seat in a vintage coach or a caboose, and older kids and grownups can book the locomotive cab for 1 to 3 riders.

Rides last 30 to 35 minutes, a good length for small children. The station and railyard are wheelchair accessible, but the historic trains are not, so plan to lift little ones and fold strollers before boarding. Families with preschoolers should look for Storytime Express on the events calendar.

Plan your visit: tips for Danbury Railway Museum

  • Regular ride tickets are sold only at the front desk, and cab rides are confirmed on the day.
  • General admission is not sold during Pumpkin Patch and Santa Trains; buy event tickets instead.
  • The museum opens late or closes when Danbury schools close for weather.
  • Closed on most major holidays, and only Santa Train ticket holders are admitted from Thanksgiving weekend through Christmas.

In October the regular rides give way to Pumpkin Patch Trains, and in December the museum runs Santa Trains, when only ticket holders are admitted from Thanksgiving weekend through Christmas Day. Tickets for both go on sale online ahead of the season and tend to be the busiest days of the year. For more holiday outings, see our guides to Christmas train rides in Connecticut and fall and Halloween train rides in Connecticut.

Run entirely by volunteers

The Danbury Railway Museum is a nonprofit staffed solely by volunteers, who restore equipment, run the trains, staff the station and keep the research library. Anyone interested can join, and the museum welcomes help in every part of its work, including operating locomotives. Members get free admission and event discounts, and a partnership with the Railroad Museum of New England adds member benefits. Donations and gift shop purchases also support the work.

Other rail stops from Danbury

The SoNo Switch Tower Museum is about 21 miles south in South Norwalk. About 27 miles away in Thomaston, the Railroad Museum of New England and the Naugatuck Railroad share a home base. Find more in our guide to Connecticut train museums.

Every train museum in Connecticut

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of a dad lifting Rally the corgi up the big stairs of a red train car
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

The museum says plainly that its old trains are not wheelchair accessible because of their age, and anyone who has helped a small child up into a vintage coach knows those steps are tall. That is exactly where Rally gets stuck in our book: his short corgi legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. My kids are learning to read, and that is a page they can follow on their own. Our free coloring pages include Rally too.

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 Danbury 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.

Danbury Railway Museum: 20 questions families ask

Where is the Danbury Railway Museum?

The Danbury Railway Museum is at 120 White Street in downtown Danbury, Connecticut 06810, in the restored 1903 Union Station at the corner of White Street and Patriot Drive. The current Metro-North Danbury station is a short walk away. Mail goes to P.O. Box 90, Danbury, CT 06813, and the phone is (203) 778-8337.

What are the Danbury Railway Museum hours?

As of October 2026, regular hours are Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 4 pm, year-round. The museum is closed on most major holidays, opens late or closes when Danbury schools close for weather, and from Thanksgiving weekend through Christmas Day admits only Santa Train ticket holders. Hours can change for special events.

How much are Danbury Railway Museum tickets?

As of October 2026, general admission is $10 per person age 3 and up, and members and children under 3 get in free. This was the first price increase since 2018. Train rides cost extra: $5 for a coach or caboose seat and $20 for a locomotive cab ride. Special events are ticketed separately.

Can you ride a train at the Danbury Railway Museum?

Yes. The Railyard Local runs on Saturdays and Sundays from early spring through September, departing at 11 am, noon, 1 pm and 2 pm. The ride lasts 30 to 35 minutes and includes a layover at the turntable and the restored fairground pumphouse. Ride tickets are sold only at the front desk, on top of admission.

What is the Danbury Railway Museum cab ride?

A cab ride puts 1 to 3 people in the locomotive cab with the crew for the Railyard Local. As of October 2026 it costs $20 per person plus admission. Availability depends on equipment and crew and is decided on the day, so ask at the front desk when you arrive. The museum also offers a separate Throttle Experience for learning to run a locomotive.

Does the Danbury Railway Museum have a Santa Train?

Yes. Santa Trains run in December, and from Thanksgiving weekend through Christmas Day the museum is open only to Santa Train ticket holders, with no general admission. Tickets go on sale online ahead of the season, and members receive a discount on most special events. Check danburyrail.org in the fall for dates.

What does the Danbury Railway Museum do for Christmas?

Christmas at the museum centers on the Santa Trains, which take over the schedule from Thanksgiving weekend through December 25. The station is decorated for the season and open only to ticket holders on those days. The museum also lists an Operation Toy Train program on its site; check the events calendar for details each year.

When are Danbury Railway Museum Pumpkin Patch Trains?

Pumpkin Patch Trains run in October in place of the regular Railyard Local. General admission is not sold during the event, so families buy Pumpkin Patch tickets online ahead of time. Dates and times are posted on the event calendar at danburyrail.org, and the event regularly sells tickets well before October.

What is the Danbury Railway Museum car show?

The museum hosts the Steel & Wheels Car Show, which brings classic cars to the station grounds alongside the trains. It is listed on the museum's events menu, but dates, entry rules and spectator pricing change by year. Check the event calendar at danburyrail.org or call (203) 778-8337 for this year's details.

Does the Danbury Railway Museum have a gift shop?

Yes. The gift shop is in the northern half of Union Station, next to the restrooms, and sells railroad books, toys and souvenirs. Purchases support the volunteer-run museum. For questions about stock or orders, email giftshop@danburyrail.org.

Can you have a birthday party at the Danbury Railway Museum?

The museum does not post a birthday party package on its main visitor pages. Email info@danburyrail.org or call (203) 778-8337 to ask about group visits or a party on an operating weekend. For a simple celebration, families can buy admission and ride tickets at the front desk and bring the group along for the Railyard Local.

Is the Danbury Railway Museum good for toddlers?

Yes. Inside the station there is a play area for younger visitors next to the model railroads, and children under 3 get in free. The train rides are only 30 to 35 minutes. The museum also runs Storytime Express, a program aimed at young children; check the events calendar for dates.

Is the Danbury Railway Museum wheelchair accessible?

The station building and the railyard are both wheelchair accessible. Because of their age, the historic trains are not, so riders need to manage the steps into the cars. If someone in your group has mobility needs, call (203) 778-8337 ahead of time to talk through the best way to visit.

How many trains are at the Danbury Railway Museum?

The museum's 15-track, 10-acre railyard holds more than 70 pieces of rolling stock and locomotives, from steam engines to diesel switchers, coaches, cabooses and work cars. A few pieces rotate in and out for touring. The full equipment roster with details on each piece is on danburyrail.org.

When was the Danbury Railway Museum founded?

The museum was formed in 1994, the year after Metro-North closed Danbury's Union Station, by National Railway Historical Society members and local rail fans with backing from Mayor Gene Eriquez. The restored station was rededicated in late 1995 before about a thousand people, and the museum's interior opened in 1996.

Was Strangers on a Train filmed at the Danbury station?

Yes. Alfred Hitchcock filmed station scenes for Strangers on a Train on the curved platform of Danbury's Union Station, the building that now houses the museum. Built in 1903 by the New Haven railroad, the station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.

What is the Danbury Railway Museum turntable?

The turntable was built around 1914 as part of a roundhouse and machine shop complex. A fire destroyed those buildings in the 1980s, leaving what is described as the only intact railroad turntable in Connecticut. Volunteers restored it in 1998, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.

How long should you spend at the Danbury Railway Museum?

Plan on about 2 hours on a ride weekend: time in the station's exhibits and play area, a 30 to 35 minute Railyard Local ride, and a look at the open equipment in the yard. Rail fans who want to study the full collection or use the research library may stay much longer.

How can I volunteer at the Danbury Railway Museum?

The museum is staffed entirely by volunteers and welcomes anyone interested in any part of its work, including restoring equipment, staffing the station and operating locomotives and self-propelled cars. Use the Volunteer link on danburyrail.org or email members@danburyrail.org about membership, which comes with free admission.

What train museums are near the Danbury Railway Museum?

The SoNo Switch Tower Museum is about 21 miles away in South Norwalk, and the Railroad Museum of New England and the Naugatuck Railroad are about 27 miles away in Thomaston. The Shore Line Trolley Museum in East Haven is about 32 miles away, and the Trolley Museum of New York in Kingston is about 45 miles.

Keep exploring

More family train guides from Rally

Kelsey Cecil
Previous

Rhode Island Railroad Museum in West Kingston, Rhode Island
Next

Three Rivers Rambler in Knoxville, Tennessee