Foley Railroad Museum and Model Train Exhibit, Alabama
Depot museumTrain ridesFreeMuseum open Monday to Saturday; model trains Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
The Foley Railroad Museum fills the 1909 Louisville and Nashville depot with photos, tools and memorabilia that show how the railroad built Foley, and adds a 1,200 square foot O scale model railroad and a free ride on the Charles Ebert Express II.
- 1909 L&N depot
- 1,200 sq ft O scale layout
- Free train rides for kids
- Free admission, donations welcome
- Run by the City of Foley
Foley Railroad Museum and Model Train Exhibit at a glance
- Hours
- Museum Monday to Saturday 10 am to 3 pm; model trains Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday 10 am to 3 pm
- Admission
- Free; donations accepted
- Train rides
- Free Charles Ebert Express II rides, Saturdays 10 am to 3 pm year round, plus Tuesdays and Thursdays in summer
- Plan for
- About 1 to 2 hours
- Best for
- Families with young kids and model railroad fans
- Best ages
- Toddlers to age 10
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
- Address125 E. Laurel Ave., Foley, AL 36535(opens in a new tab)
- Phone(251) 943-1818
- Emaillwhite@cityoffoley.org
- Websitefoleyrailroadmuseum.com(opens in a new tab)
Follow Foley Railroad Museum and Model Train Exhibit
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Foley Railroad Museum and Model Train Exhibit? 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 Foley.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
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.
See the full bookPage 1 of 8
Like it so far? See the full book
25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.
Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
The depot that built a farm town
Foley grew up around its railroad. The Louisville and Nashville station on Laurel Avenue was built in 1909, and for more than sixty years it was the center of activity in town. In those decades Foley was a thriving agricultural center in Baldwin County, and the railroad was how its crops and its people reached the rest of the country, which made the depot as important to the local economy as any building on the main street.
Today the depot is a museum run by the City of Foley through its Museum and Heritage Department. Inside, photographs, railroad tools and memorabilia trace the history of Foley and Baldwin County and show the part the railroad played in developing the area. The building also holds artifacts and archives for the city.
Two later additions have made it a favorite stop for families. A group of model railroad engineers built and still run a large custom O scale layout in the Model Train Exhibit, and they are happy to talk about it with anyone who asks. Outside, the Charles Ebert Express II, Foley's event train, carries children and their parents around Heritage Park. The museum keeps all of it free, relying on visitor donations, and it runs a Caboose Club for young fans.
Inside the depot and out in Heritage Park
Start in the historic depot, where the museum's displays of photos, tools and memorabilia document Foley's early years and the railroad's role in its growth. Then head to the Model Train Exhibit, an O scale layout covering 1,200 square feet of tabletop. Several freight and passenger trains run at once past a detailed model town, a farming community, a country fair, a potato shed and an outdoor drive-in, crossing tall wooden trestles and ducking through tunnels.
Outside, the Charles Ebert Express II picks up riders in front of the depot for a free loop around Heritage Park. It runs on Saturdays all year and on Tuesdays and Thursdays in summer, weather permitting.
Don’t miss
- The 1909 L&N depotThe building itself is the main artifact, the station that served as Foley's hub for more than sixty years.
- The O scale Model Train ExhibitA 1,200 square foot custom layout where several trains run at once, built and operated by engineers who enjoy answering questions.
- The potato shed and country fair scenesSmall details on the layout nod to Foley's farming past, alongside the model town, the drive-in and the wooden trestles.
- Charles Ebert Express IIFoley's event train gives children and their parents a free ride around Heritage Park, boarding in front of the depot.
Model trains, tunnels and a ride around the park
This is an easy, low-cost outing with small children. Kids can watch freight and passenger trains wind through tunnels and over tall trestles on the O scale layout, and the engineers running it are glad to answer questions. Then they can ride the Charles Ebert Express II around Heritage Park with a parent. Plan a Saturday, or a Tuesday or Thursday in summer, so the model trains and the ride are both running.
Rides depend on the weather, so have a backup plan for rainy days. The museum also has a Caboose Club for young train fans; ask staff how to join.
Plan your visit: tips for Foley Railroad Museum and Model Train Exhibit
- Visit on a Saturday to see the depot, the model trains and the event train all in one trip.
- Train rides are weather dependent, so check the forecast.
- Catch the event train in front of the depot at 125 E. Laurel Avenue.
- Admission is free, but donations help keep the trains running.
- Call (251) 943-1818 to confirm summer ride days before you go.
A city museum and its model railroaders
The Foley Railroad Museum is part of the City of Foley's Museum and Heritage Department, and the Model Train Exhibit is run by engineers who designed the custom layout and enjoy sharing it. Everything is free to visitors, so donations at the depot, the model train exhibit and the event train go a long way. Families can also ask about the Foley Caboose Club.
More trains on the Gulf Coast
The Wales West Light Railway in Silverhill is only about 9 miles away and adds a longer ride. Across the state line, the West Florida Railroad Museum in Milton is about 41 miles east. For the rest of the state, see our guide to Alabama train museums.
- Wales West Light RailwaySilverhill, AL · about 9 mi
- West Florida Railroad MuseumMilton, FL · about 41 mi
- Historic Hattiesburg Train DepotHattiesburg, MS · about 115 mi
- New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal historic exhibitsNew Orleans, LA · about 146 mi
- New Orleans Streetcar historic operationsNew Orleans, LA · about 147 mi
- Meridian Railroad MuseumMeridian, MS · about 148 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
On the Foley layout, little trains slip into tunnels under the trestles and pop out again, and I love imagining small faces waiting for them to reappear. That is the feeling of the tunnel page in our book: dark for a moment, then a big bright light and Rally hearing happy cheers. My mom dreamed up that page, and Rally rides through it with Mom and Dad close by.
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
- Train museums in Alabama: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Alabama
- Halloween train rides in Alabama
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Foley Railroad Museum and Model Train Exhibit?
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
- Foley Railroad Museum and Model Train Exhibit official website(opens in a new tab)
- Foley Railroad Museum and Model Train Exhibit on Facebook(opens in a new tab)
- Foley Railroad Museum and Model Train Exhibit on Tripadvisor(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.
Foley Railroad Museum: 20 questions families ask
Where is the Foley Railroad Museum?
The Foley Railroad Museum is in the historic depot at 125 E. Laurel Ave., Foley, Alabama 36535, beside Heritage Park in downtown Foley. The event train boards right in front of the depot. Call (251) 943-1818 if you need directions or want to confirm the day's schedule.
What is the Foley Railroad Museum and Model Train Exhibit?
It is a city museum in Foley's 1909 Louisville and Nashville depot, combining local railroad history with a large model railroad. The depot holds photos, tools and memorabilia about Foley and the railroad, the Model Train Exhibit features an O scale layout, and the Charles Ebert Express II gives free rides around Heritage Park.
How much does the Foley Railroad Museum cost?
The Foley Railroad Museum is free. The city lists the Model Train Exhibit and the Charles Ebert Express II rides as free too, and donations are accepted and appreciated at each. That makes it one of the easiest train outings on the Gulf Coast for a family on a budget.
Do you need tickets for the Foley Railroad Museum?
No tickets are needed. Walk into the depot during open hours, visit the model train exhibit on its open days, and line up in front of the depot for the event train when it is running. If you are bringing a large group, call (251) 943-1818 ahead so staff know to expect you.
What are the Foley Railroad Museum hours?
As of October 2026, the museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm. The Model Train Exhibit is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm. Hours can change around holidays, so check foleyrailroadmuseum.com or call (251) 943-1818 before a special trip.
When is the Foley model train exhibit open?
As of October 2026, the Model Train Exhibit is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm, and it is free. An older travel review listing gives shorter Saturday hours, so if you are cutting it close to closing, call (251) 943-1818 to confirm the trains are still running.
How big is the Foley model railroad?
The Foley Model Train Exhibit is an O scale layout covering 1,200 square feet of tabletop. Multiple freight and passenger trains run at the same time through a detailed town, a farming community, a country fair, a potato shed and a drive-in, crossing tall wooden trestles and passing through tunnels.
Can kids ride a train at the Foley Railroad Museum?
Yes. The Charles Ebert Express II, Foley's event train, gives free rides around Heritage Park to children and their parents. Board in front of the depot. As of October 2026 it runs Saturdays from 10 am to 3 pm year round, and also Tuesdays and Thursdays in summer.
When does the Charles Ebert Express II run in summer?
In summer the event train adds Tuesday and Thursday rides from 10 am to 3 pm to its regular Saturday schedule. The city listed its 2026 summer schedule as May 26 to July 30. Rides are weather dependent, so call (251) 943-1818 if skies look doubtful.
Does the Foley train ride run in bad weather?
No, the Charles Ebert Express II rides are weather dependent, so rain or storms can stop the train for the day. The depot museum is indoors and stays open during its regular hours, and the model train exhibit is indoors too on its open days, so the trip is not wasted.
Is the Foley Railroad Museum good for toddlers?
Yes. Toddlers usually love watching several trains move at once on the O scale layout, and the free ride around Heritage Park is short and gentle. Because it costs nothing, it is easy to leave when little ones are tired and come back another Saturday.
What is in the Foley depot museum?
The depot displays photographs, tools and memorabilia documenting Foley's history and the railroad's role in developing the area, from the days when Foley was a thriving agricultural center. It also houses artifacts and archives for the City of Foley and its Louisville and Nashville railroad past.
When was the Foley train depot built?
The Foley depot was built in 1909 for the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. For more than sixty years it was the hub of activity in town, handling the passengers and farm shipments that helped Foley grow. Today it is the home of the city's railroad museum.
Who runs the Foley Railroad Museum?
The City of Foley runs the museum through its Museum and Heritage Department. The Model Train Exhibit is operated by model railroad engineers who built the custom layout and enjoy talking about it. Contact the department at (251) 943-1818 or lwhite@cityoffoley.org.
What is the Foley Caboose Club?
The Foley Caboose Club is a program of the Foley Railroad Museum with its own page on the museum's website. The museum does not spell out membership details there, so ask at the depot or call (251) 943-1818 to learn how kids can join and what it includes.
How long should I spend at the Foley Railroad Museum?
Plan about an hour to two hours. That leaves time to look through the depot exhibits, watch the model trains make several laps, and ride the event train around Heritage Park. Families with toddlers may do it in under an hour, while model railroaders tend to linger.
Can I take photos at the Foley Railroad Museum?
The museum does not post a photo policy online, and visitors regularly share pictures of the depot and model layout on review sites. If you plan to use a tripod or film the layout in detail, ask the staff or the engineers on duty first.
Does the Foley Railroad Museum host special events?
Yes, from time to time. For example, the museum hosted an America 250 living history day with Revolutionary War reenactors in Heritage Park in July 2026. Watch the museum's Facebook page for upcoming events, since they are announced there first.
Is the Foley Railroad Museum worth visiting?
For families with young kids, yes. Visitors get a historic 1909 depot, a 1,200 square foot model railroad and a free train ride for the price of a donation. Rail fans with a long drive should plan for a Saturday, when all three are usually open at once.
What other train attractions are near Foley, Alabama?
The Wales West Light Railway in Silverhill is about 9 miles away, with steam train rides on a larger property. The West Florida Railroad Museum in Milton is about 41 miles east. Farther afield, the Historic Hattiesburg Train Depot in Mississippi is about 115 miles away.
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