East Troy Railroad Museum, Wisconsin

Written By Kelsey Cecil

East Troy, Wisconsin · Updated October 19, 2026 · 13 min read

Trolley and streetcar museumTrain ridesRegular trains April to August; Harvest Fest, Halloween and Christmas trains in fall and winter

The East Troy Railroad Museum keeps Wisconsin's last interurban railroad running: a seven-mile electric line built in 1907, where volunteers operate restored trolleys and interurban cars between the East Troy depot, The Elegant Farmer and Lower Phantom Lake.

  • Wisconsin's last interurban railroad
  • Track dating to 1907
  • Over 15 operating historic cars
  • All-day ride passes
  • Depot on the National Register
  • Run by 110 active volunteers

East Troy Railroad Museum at a glance

Hours
2026 regular trains: Saturdays April 18 to August 29, Fridays June 5 to August 28, Sundays May 31 to August 30; departures from 10 am. Harvest Fest weekends September 12 to October 25
Admission
All-day ride pass: adults 15 to 64 $17, seniors 65+ and military $14.50, ages 3 to 14 $11, 2 and under free, members free (plus tax)
Train rides
Electric trolley and interurban rides on 7 miles of track between East Troy and Mukwonago, day passes good on all trains
Seasonal events
Harvest Fest Trains, Trick or Treat Trains, Daytime Christmas Trains, Santa's Special Evening Trains, Christmas Parade Train, Bunny Trains, East Troy Day, Railfan Day
Plan for
About 2 to 3 hours, longer with a stop at The Elegant Farmer
Best for
Families with young kids, trolley fans and dinner train couples
Best ages
Toddlers to age 10
Parking
Free parking

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

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to East Troy 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 East Troy.

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.

Saving the last seven miles of the Milwaukee interurban

In 1907, The Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company opened a 36-mile electric interurban line linking East Troy with Milwaukee. When the rest of the route was abandoned in 1939, the Village of East Troy bought the last seven miles to Mukwonago, and for decades it was the only municipally owned electric freight railway in the nation. The village hired its own crews from 1950 and ran the line until 1985.

Rail preservationists were already on the scene. In 1967 The Wisconsin Electric Railway Historical Society moved its electric railway equipment to East Troy and ran trolleys over the village's tracks, and in the mid-1980s the Wisconsin Trolley Museum took over operation of the line as the East Troy Electric Railroad. The Friends of East Troy Railroad Museum, Inc. bought the railroad from the village in 1995, and over the following years also acquired Paul Averdung's trolley collection.

Today the museum is a volunteer-run nonprofit with about 30 pieces of equipment, more than 500 members around the world, 110 active volunteers and close to 25,000 visitors a year. Much of the track is original, the railbed was rebuilt in the mid-1990s, and cars still draw 600-volt power from overhead wires just as interurbans did more than a century ago. The original substation on Church Street, now the depot and museum, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

A trolley ride to The Elegant Farmer and Lower Phantom Lake

Most visits start at the East Troy Depot, the old electric substation, where you can browse the museum displays, look at model trains and railroad artifacts, learn about electricity, and see the original 500-kilowatt rotary converter that once powered the line. The gift shop sells railroad souvenirs and cold drinks, and restrooms are free.

Then it is all aboard one of more than 15 operating historic electric cars. The conductor punches your ticket and tells stories while the motorman runs the car down rails laid in 1907, through Southeast Wisconsin countryside to The Elegant Farmer, known for its apple pie, and on to Lower Phantom Lake in Mukwonago, where the crew turns the train for the trip back. Tickets are day passes, so you can hop off at the farm market and catch a later train. The collection leans heavily on Chicago South Shore and South Bend steel interurbans from the 1920s, along with a 1908 Sheboygan wooden interurban and two art deco dining cars.

Don’t miss

  1. Sheboygan Light, Power and Railway No. 26A wooden interurban car built in 1908 and restored for service in 2005, one of the oldest cars you can ride here.
  2. Dining cars Ravenswood and Beverly Shores (Nos. 24 and 25)Former Chicago South Shore and South Bend cars from 1927, rebuilt as art deco dining cars that seat 50 each for the museum's dinner, lunch and brunch trains.
  3. Chicago South Shore and South Bend interurbansSeveral steel interurban cars from 1926 to 1929, including Nos. 9, 13, 30 and 33, carry passengers on regular days.
  4. The rotary converterThe original 500-kilowatt motor-generator that once turned utility power into trolley power is on display at the depot museum.
  5. Milwaukee Street Railway horse car No. 17An 1880s horse-drawn streetcar awaiting restoration, a reminder of how city transit worked before electricity.

Be a motorman, then ride the real thing

Inside the depot museum, kids can pretend to be a trolley motorman, peek at model trains and learn how electricity moves the cars. Out on the line, the conductor punches tickets and tells stories, and because tickets are good all day, families can ride as many trips as little ones have patience for. Children 2 and under ride free.

Seasonal trains are built for families: Bunny Trains in spring, Picnic in the Park as a kid-friendly alternative to the dinner trains, Trick or Treat Trains in October with spooky games at Jim Byrnes Memorial Park and a pumpkin for every child, and daytime Christmas trains. Trains are smoke-free and run rain or shine, and parking is free.

Plan your visit: tips for East Troy Railroad Museum

  • Start at the East Troy Depot for free restrooms and the museum displays.
  • If you start at The Elegant Farmer, ride to the depot to buy or secure paper tickets before your return.
  • There are no trains on Saturday, July 4, 2026.
  • Visa, Mastercard and Discover are accepted; fares carry 5.5% sales tax.
  • The depot is close to restaurants and shops on the village square.

Fall and winter keep the trolleys busy. Harvest Fest trains shuttle families between East Troy and The Elegant Farmer's fall festivities on weekends from September 12 to October 25, and Trick or Treat Trains on October 9, 16, 23 and 30 head to Jim Byrnes Memorial Park for spooky games, with a pumpkin for each child back at the depot. December brings Daytime Christmas Trains, Santa's Special Evening Trains and the Christmas Parade Train. Compare options in our guides to Wisconsin Halloween train rides and Christmas train rides in Wisconsin.

A volunteer family of motormen, conductors and car builders

The East Troy Electric Railroad is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit run by volunteers who operate, restore and preserve historic trolleys and interurban cars, and every ticket and gift shop sale supports that work. Several cars, including Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee No. 162, are under restoration now. You can help by joining as a member (members ride free), volunteering through the museum's volunteer program, donating toward car restorations, buying gift certificates or chartering a train.

More rail stops around Southeast Wisconsin

The Milwaukee County Zoo Railway is about 25 miles away, and the Kenosha Electric Streetcar, another electric ride, is about 33 miles. Across the state line, the Illinois Railway Museum in Union is about 39 miles south. Browse every Wisconsin train museum for more.

Every train museum in Wisconsin

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 trolleys here roll right past Lower Phantom Lake, and I love imagining a little nose pressed to the glass as the water comes into view. That's Rally's favorite part of our book: he looks out the arched train window at the ocean and says hello to a white bird. My mom pictured that window long before I painted it. You can print it out and color it on our coloring pages.

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 East Troy 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.

East Troy Railroad Museum: 20 questions riders ask

What are the East Troy Railroad Museum hours?

As of October 2026, regular trains run Saturdays from April 18 to August 29, Fridays from June 5 to August 28 and Sundays from May 31 to August 30, with first departures from the East Troy Depot at 10 am (11 am Sundays). Harvest Fest trains run weekends from September 12 to October 25. There are no trains on July 4.

How much are East Troy Railroad Museum tickets?

As of October 2026, all-day ride passes cost $17 for adults 15 to 64, $14.50 for seniors 65 and up and military with ID, $11 for children 3 to 14, and nothing for ages 2 and under. Members ride free. Fares carry 5.5% sales tax, and online orders through Etix add a convenience fee.

Where is the East Troy Railroad Museum?

The East Troy Depot and museum is at 2002 Church Street, East Troy, WI 53120, near the shops and restaurants on the village square. Spring and summer regular trains also board at The Elegant Farmer platform, 1545 Main Street, Mukwonago. Parking is free, and the mailing address is PO Box 943, East Troy.

Is the East Troy train museum the same as the East Troy Electric Railroad?

Yes. The East Troy Railroad Museum owns and operates the East Troy Electric Railroad, so people search for it by both names, along with East Troy train museum. The museum runs the depot exhibits in East Troy and the trolley and interurban rides on the seven-mile electric line to Mukwonago.

What is the train ride like at the East Troy Railroad Museum?

You ride a restored electric trolley or interurban car on rails dating to 1907. The conductor punches your ticket and tells stories while the motorman runs the car to The Elegant Farmer and on to Lower Phantom Lake in Mukwonago, where the crew turns the train around. Some trains continue into Indianhead Park.

Can you get off at The Elegant Farmer on the East Troy train?

Yes. Trains from East Troy stop briefly at The Elegant Farmer, and because tickets are all-day passes good on every train, you can step off to shop at the farm market and board a later train. Travel Wisconsin notes the stop is popular for The Elegant Farmer's homemade apple pie.

Does the East Troy Railroad Museum run in the rain?

Yes. The museum says its smoke-free trains run rain or shine, so a cloudy forecast does not have to cancel your trip. The ride is in enclosed historic cars, and the East Troy Depot has restrooms and museum displays to explore. Check the weather and dress for the platforms, which are outdoors.

Does the East Troy Railroad Museum have a Christmas train?

Yes, it runs several. The holiday lineup includes Daytime Christmas Trains, Santa's Special Evening Trains and a Christmas Parade Train. Dates and tickets are posted on the Christmas Trains pages of easttroyrr.org, and holiday trains can fill up, so check early or call (262) 642-3263.

What are the Trick or Treat Trains at East Troy?

Trick or Treat Trains are family-friendly Halloween rides, held October 9, 16, 23 and 30 in 2026. The train takes families to Jim Byrnes Memorial Park for spooky games and playground fun, and every child picks a pumpkin when the train returns to the depot. Book through the museum's website.

What events does the East Troy Railroad Museum hold?

Besides Harvest Fest, Halloween and Christmas trains, the calendar includes Bunny Trains, East Troy Day, a Night Photo Shoot, Milwaukee Day, Chicago Day and Railfan Day. The museum also runs dinner, lunch and brunch trains, a Wine and Cheese Train, a Beer Tasting Train and Picnic in the Park. Dates are listed on easttroyrr.org.

Does the East Troy Railroad Museum have dinner trains?

Yes. Dinner, lunch and brunch trains run in the art deco dining cars Ravenswood and Beverly Shores, which seat 50 each at tables for two and four, with a cash bar and restrooms on board. Dessert comes beside Lower Phantom Lake, then the train lays over for 10 minutes in Indianhead Park. The cars can also be chartered.

What can you see in the East Troy depot museum?

The depot, the line's original electric substation, holds museum displays where kids can be a trolley motorman, peek at model trains and artifacts, and learn about electricity. The original rotary converter that powered the railroad is on display. A gift shop sells railroad souvenirs and cold non-alcoholic drinks.

What trolleys are in the East Troy Railroad Museum collection?

The museum has about 30 pieces of equipment, with more than 15 operating cars. Highlights include Chicago South Shore and South Bend steel interurbans from the 1920s, the 1908 Sheboygan wooden interurban No. 26, an 1880s Milwaukee horse car, a 1916 Mississippi Valley streetcar and Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee No. 162, now under restoration.

How old is the East Troy Electric Railroad?

The line opened in 1907 as part of a 36-mile interurban between East Troy and Milwaukee built by The Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company. The village bought the last seven miles in 1939, and the Friends of East Troy Railroad Museum purchased the railroad in 1995. Much of the track is original.

Is the East Troy Railroad Museum good for toddlers?

Yes. Children 2 and under ride free, the depot has a pretend motorman spot and model trains, and all-day passes let you ride one short trip or several. Picnic in the Park and the Bunny and Trick or Treat Trains are aimed at families. Start at the East Troy Depot, where restrooms are free.

Where can I see photos and reviews of the East Troy Railroad Museum?

The museum posts photos and news on its Facebook page, which has more than 15,000 followers, as well as on Instagram and YouTube, and its website has a live webcam. Travel sites such as Travel Wisconsin and VISIT Milwaukee also list the museum and describe the scenic round trip ride.

Can you charter a train at the East Troy Railroad Museum?

Yes. The museum offers charters for any occasion, and the dining cars, Nos. 24 and 25, can be booked for a private lunch or dinner train. The museum mentions the lakeside stop at Indianhead Park, with its beach and bridge, as a favorite spot for proposals. Call (262) 642-3263 for charter details.

How can I volunteer at the East Troy Railroad Museum?

The museum is run entirely by volunteers, about 110 of them active, and it invites new people to join its volunteer family. Roles range from operating trains to restoring cars. Visit the Volunteer With Us page on easttroyrr.org, or call (262) 642-3263; the answering service takes messages and a volunteer calls back within 24 hours.

How do I become a member of the East Troy Railroad Museum?

Memberships are sold through the Membership page on easttroyrr.org, and members ride regular trains for free. The museum has more than 500 members worldwide, and it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so donations are tax deductible as the law allows. Donations can also go toward restoring specific cars.

What train museums are near the East Troy Railroad Museum?

The Milwaukee County Zoo Railway is about 25 miles away, and the Kenosha Electric Streetcar, another electric line, is about 33 miles. The Wisconsin Automotive Museum's railway exhibits in Hartford are about 37 miles, and the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Illinois, is about 39 miles south.

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