Eastern Shore Railway Museum in Parksley, Virginia
Depot museumListed as open March to October, Wednesday to Saturday; confirm on Facebook
The Eastern Shore Railway Museum is a nonprofit museum on the town square in Parksley, where a restored train station, vintage rail cars and memorabilia remember the lines that once carried passengers up and down Virginia's Eastern Shore.
- Restored Parksley train station
- Vintage rail cars and equipment
- On Parksley's town square
- Seasonal, March to October
- Nonprofit museum
Eastern Shore Railway Museum at a glance
- Hours
- Listed as noon to 4 pm, Wednesday to Saturday, March to October; confirm on Facebook
- Admission
- Not posted online; check the museum's Facebook page
- Best for
- Rail fans and families exploring the Eastern Shore
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
Follow Eastern Shore Railway Museum
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Eastern Shore 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 Parksley.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
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See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $13.99 on 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.
When fourteen trains a day stopped in Parksley
Parksley grew up around its railroad. The tracks run right into the town square, and in the busiest years of rail travel, 14 passenger trains a day stopped at the station here. Travelers bought tickets at the window and warmed themselves by the coal stoves while they waited.
The Eastern Shore Railway Museum, a nonprofit, keeps that station restored and fills it with memorabilia from the railroads that served Virginia's Eastern Shore. Outside, vintage rail cars and other historic equipment sit on the tracks, and the museum describes a dining car experience that recalls early 20th-century rail travel. The museum does not keep a regular website, so its Facebook page is the best place to check hours and news before a visit.
A station, rail cars and a town that looks like a layout
Expect a compact visit: the restored station with its ticket area, coal stoves and display cases of Eastern Shore railroad memorabilia, and a line of vintage rail cars and equipment outside. Around it, Parksley's small shops and Victorian homes give the square the look of a model train village.
Don’t miss
- The restored stationThe ticket area and coal stoves show what waiting for a train in Parksley was like when 14 passenger trains stopped each day.
- The vintage rail carsHistoric cars and equipment on the museum's tracks, including a dining car the museum highlights.
- Parksley's town squareThe tracks lead straight into the square, so the town itself is part of the story.
Rail cars to see and a small-town square
Kids who like real trains get historic rail cars up close, and the old coal stoves and ticket area make it easy to picture the station in its busy years. The museum does not post which cars are open to board, so ask volunteers when you arrive. Because it is small, it fits easily into a day on the Eastern Shore.
Plan your visit: tips for Eastern Shore Railway Museum
- Check the museum's Facebook page for current hours before you drive out.
- Plan a visit between March and October, when the museum is listed as open.
- Walk around Parksley's town square while you are there.
A nonprofit keeping the Shore's rail story
The Eastern Shore Railway Museum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the railroad history of Virginia's Eastern Shore. Visiting, sharing its Facebook posts and asking how to donate or volunteer are the best ways to help keep the station and cars cared for.
Rail history up and down the Delmarva
Across the state line, the Laurel Heritage Museum is about 53 miles north and the Historic Georgetown Train Station about 64 miles. Heading south across the bay, the Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad Museum is about 89 miles away. See more train museums in Virginia.
- Laurel Heritage Museum / railroad-history collectionLaurel, DE · about 53 mi
- Historic Georgetown Train StationGeorgetown, DE · about 64 mi
- Harrington Railroad MuseumHarrington, DE · about 79 mi
- Chesapeake Beach Railway MuseumChesapeake Beach, MD · about 79 mi
- Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad MuseumSuffolk, VA · about 89 mi
- Cape May Seashore LinesCape May County, NJ · about 89 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
Fourteen passenger trains a day once stopped in Parksley, and I picture a conductor at each one, reaching down to help folks aboard. That is my favorite small moment in our book: Mr. Conductor in his blue uniform holding out his hand to Rally, who rides with Mom and Dad. My kids are learning to read now, and a kind conductor is an easy hero for them to follow. More picks are on our train books for toddlers list.
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 Virginia
- Halloween train rides in Virginia
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Eastern Shore 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.
Eastern Shore Railway Museum: 20 questions visitors ask
Where is the Eastern Shore Railway Museum in Parksley, VA?
The Eastern Shore Railway Museum is at 18568 Dunne Avenue, Parksley, Virginia 23421, on the town square where the railroad tracks run into the center of Parksley. Some map services show a slightly different street number, so search for the museum by name if your GPS struggles.
What are the Eastern Shore Railway Museum hours?
The museum has been listed as open from noon to 4 pm, Wednesday through Saturday, March through October. Hours can change from year to year, so check the museum's Facebook page before you drive out, especially early or late in the season.
Is the Eastern Shore Railway Museum open year round?
No. It is listed as a seasonal museum, open from March through October. Outside that window, plan on it being closed unless the museum announces a special event on its Facebook page. Even in season, it is only open a few afternoons a week.
How much does it cost to visit the Eastern Shore Railway Museum?
The museum does not post admission prices online. Message the museum through its Facebook page to ask about current admission before your visit, and bring a little cash in case it is a donation or small-fee setup at the door.
What is there to see at the Eastern Shore Railway Museum?
The museum has a restored train station with railroad memorabilia from the lines that ran on Virginia's Eastern Shore, plus historic trains, vintage rail cars and equipment on its tracks. The station's ticket area and coal stoves show how travelers waited for trains in Parksley's busiest years.
Is there a dining car at the Eastern Shore Railway Museum?
The museum highlights a dining car experience among its restored train cars, meant to capture the feel of early 20th-century rail travel. It does not post details online about how that works, so message its Facebook page to ask whether the car is open on the day you plan to visit.
How busy was the railroad in Parksley?
Very busy for a small town. In the peak years of rail travel, 14 passenger trains a day stopped at Parksley's station. The tracks lead right into the town square, and the shops and Victorian homes around it grew up with the railroad.
Can you ride a train at the Eastern Shore Railway Museum?
The museum does not list train rides. A visit is about seeing the restored station and the historic rail cars on its tracks. If a ride is the goal, ask through its Facebook page about any special events, or look at heritage railroads elsewhere in the region.
Can you go inside the train cars at the Eastern Shore Railway Museum?
The museum describes restored train cars and a dining car experience, which suggests some cars can be entered, but it does not post which ones are open. Ask the volunteers when you arrive, and wear sturdy shoes, since rail car steps can be steep for small children.
Is the Eastern Shore Railway Museum good for kids?
It is a good short stop for children who love real trains, since they can see vintage rail cars up close and explore a station with old coal stoves. The museum is small, so it suits a quick visit on a day out on the Eastern Shore rather than a full-day outing.
Where can I see Eastern Shore Railway Museum photos?
The museum's Facebook page is the best place for current photos of the station and rail cars. Virginia tourism listings, including the Eastern Shore of Virginia Tourism Commission, also feature the museum with pictures of its vintage cars and depot.
What do visitors say about the Eastern Shore Railway Museum?
Travel listings describe it as a charming small museum with vintage rail cars, artifacts and a restored station, set in a town square that looks like a model train village. For recent reviews, check the museum's Facebook page and the major travel review sites.
Is there parking at the Eastern Shore Railway Museum?
The museum does not post parking details online. Parksley is a small town, and the museum sits on its town square, so street parking nearby is the likely option. Message the museum through Facebook if you need accessible parking information.
Is the Eastern Shore Railway Museum wheelchair accessible?
The museum does not list accessibility details online. The station building and historic rail cars may involve steps, so contact the museum through its Facebook page before your visit to ask about access to the station and the outdoor displays.
Who runs the Eastern Shore Railway Museum?
The Eastern Shore Railway Museum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the railroad history of Virginia's Eastern Shore. It shares news and hours through its Facebook page rather than a separate website. Visiting in season and sharing its posts with friends both help.
How can I volunteer at or donate to the Eastern Shore Railway Museum?
As a nonprofit, the museum depends on community support. It does not post a volunteer or donation page online, so send a message through its Facebook page or ask in person during open hours about helping with the station, the rail cars or events.
Can groups visit the Eastern Shore Railway Museum?
The museum does not post group tour details online. Schools, clubs and tour groups should message the museum through its Facebook page well ahead of time, since regular hours are limited to a few afternoons a week in season.
How long should I spend at the Eastern Shore Railway Museum?
The museum does not suggest a visit length, but it is small: a restored station and a group of rail cars. Most visitors can see it at an easy pace and still have time to explore Parksley's town square and shops afterward.
Is Parksley worth visiting for train fans?
Yes. The railroad tracks lead straight into Parksley's town square, with small shops and Victorian homes around it, so the town itself feels like part of the museum. Combine it with the Eastern Shore Railway Museum's station and rail cars for a relaxed afternoon.
What train museums are near the Eastern Shore Railway Museum?
The Laurel Heritage Museum in Delaware is about 53 miles north, the Historic Georgetown Train Station about 64 miles, and the Harrington Railroad Museum and the Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum in Maryland about 79 miles. The Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad Museum is about 89 miles away.
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