Gopher State Railway Museum in New Prague, Minnesota

Written By Kelsey Cecil

New Prague, Minnesota · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Railroad museumTrain ridesFirst Saturday of the month, May to October, plus special event days

The Gopher State Railway Museum is an all-volunteer operating railroad museum on 20 acres north of New Prague, where a caboose train carries families around the grounds and crews are rebuilding James J. Hill's 1880 private car, Manitoba.

  • 100% volunteer staffed
  • Caboose train rides
  • James J. Hill's 1880 car Manitoba
  • 1871 Burlington waycar
  • Five special event days a year
  • 20-acre site near Highway 21

Gopher State Railway Museum at a glance

Hours
First Saturday of the month, May to October, 10 am to 4 pm; special events and appointments by arrangement
Admission
Event-day example: adults $10, children under 16 $5, 2 and under free, with unlimited train rides
Train rides
Caboose train rides on open Saturdays and event days, May to October
Seasonal events
Pre Mother's Day Family Day, Celebrate 4th of July at GSRM, Take the Throttle Day, Dozinky Day Train Rides, Pumpkin Express
Plan for
About 1 to 2 hours
Best for
Families with young kids and Great Northern history fans
Best ages
Ages 2 to 12

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

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Gopher State 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 New Prague.

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.

Building a living railroad museum on 20 acres

The Gopher State Railway Museum is a Minnesota nonprofit that, according to museum directories, was established in 1988 to turn 20 acres of privately owned land about two miles north of New Prague, beside Highway 21, into a living history railroad museum. Its mission is to educate the public by collecting, preserving, restoring, displaying and operating railroad equipment, and the operating part matters here: the museum is building a working railroad, not just a display yard.

Every bit of that work is done by volunteers. Crews meet at the museum most Saturdays year round, weather permitting, starting around 9 am, to restore equipment, run the train, lay track and build structures. There is no minimum commitment: the museum asks people to come when they can and leave when they need to.

The museum's most ambitious project is car Manitoba, built by Pullman in May 1880 for the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway. Officially assigned to the St. Paul superintendent, it was in practice James J. Hill's private car as he oversaw construction west from Minneapolis, and his wife Mary used it to visit family in the East and Canada. It survived a rear-end collision near Spokane in 1893, became a farm building in Howard Lake in the 1930s, and came to New Prague in 1998. Volunteers began roof work in May 2022 and in 2025 started rebuilding its frame.

Cabooses, switchers and a car that carried an empire builder

On open days, the caboose train is the main attraction: a string of historic cabooses from 1900 to 1956, representing several Minnesota railroads, running on a short stretch of track across the grounds. It is pulled by one of two operating locomotives, a 1940 EMC SW-1 numbered NSP4 or a 1954 Alco S-4 numbered FW-1 from the University of Minnesota.

Between rides you can tour the depot and other cars and displays. Look for the 1871 Burlington waycar No. 14534, a 1911 Wisconsin Central caboose, the 1946 Minneapolis and St. Louis caboose No. 1201 and Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range caboose C-25. Car Manitoba, with its open section seating, upper berths, master bedroom and Pullman pattern clerestory glass, shows restoration in progress. Other projects include Milwaukee Road trolley car T-1, Fairmont motorcars and track work toward a hilltop depot.

Don’t miss

  1. Car ManitobaJames J. Hill's private car from 1880, rescued from a Howard Lake farm and now being returned to a frame and wheels by volunteers.
  2. The caboose trainSeveral historic cabooses spanning 1900 to 1956, the ride every visit is built around.
  3. Alco S-4 FW-1A 1954 diesel switcher that once worked for the University of Minnesota and now pulls the museum's train.
  4. 1871 Burlington waycar No. 14534An early style of caboose, among the oldest pieces of equipment on the grounds.
  5. Minneapolis and St. Louis caboose No. 1201A 1946 caboose and one of the museum's featured restoration projects.

Unlimited caboose rides on event days

Riding in a caboose is the highlight for kids, and on event days admission includes unlimited train rides. At the Pre Mother's Day Family Day, children decorate a flower pot and plant a flower to take home to Mom, and the Pumpkin Express in October is built for families. Take the Throttle Day in August is for anyone who dreams of running a locomotive.

The grounds are a developing outdoor site, so dress for the weather. Food and drinks are sold on site during events.

Plan your visit: tips for Gopher State Railway Museum

  • Event tickets are sold the day of the event at the ticket window inside the depot.
  • Follow the museum's Facebook page for the latest event details.
  • Volunteers do not check email daily, so call for faster answers.
  • For a visit outside open days, call (952) 412-2145 to ask about an appointment.

The Pumpkin Express runs on the second Saturday of October from 10 am to 4 pm, with caboose train rides on the museum grounds. In September the museum joins New Prague's Dozinky Days with train rides from 3 to 7 pm on the third Saturday. For more fall outings, see our guide to Halloween and pumpkin train rides in Minnesota.

All volunteers, all the time

The Gopher State Railway Museum is 100% volunteer staffed and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so donations are tax deductible. A major fund drive is underway to build a restoration shop for the caboose train and projects like car Manitoba. You can donate through the museum's Square page, mail a check to PO Box 125, New Prague, MN 56071, become a member or sponsor a project, or join the Saturday work crew.

Twin Cities rail stops within an hour

The Minnesota Streetcar Museum is about 28 miles away, and the Twin City Model Railroad Museum about 33 miles. The Minnesota Transportation Museum, at James J. Hill's Jackson Street Roundhouse, is about 36 miles north. More options are on our list of train museums in Minnesota.

Every train museum in Minnesota

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi dreaming about his toy turtle, green bone and yellow ball
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Mary Hill rode car Manitoba to visit her family back east, and that made me smile, because Rally's whole trip in our book is a visit to his grand-paw-rents. Before he leaves, he packs his own little suitcase with a turtle toy, a green bone and a yellow ball, then heads out with Mom and Dad. My mom would have loved knowing a railroad family packed for the same reason. Our story page tells how her idea became the book.

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 Gopher State 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.

Gopher State Railway Museum: 20 questions families ask

What is the Gopher State Railway Museum?

The Gopher State Railway Museum is an all-volunteer nonprofit developing an operating railroad museum on 20 acres about two miles north of New Prague, Minnesota. It runs a caboose train on open days, displays historic cabooses and locomotives, and is restoring James J. Hill's 1880 private car, Manitoba.

When is the Gopher State Railway Museum open?

As of October 2026, the museum is open the first Saturday of each month from May through October, 10 am to 4 pm. It also opens for special events and, depending on volunteer availability, by appointment. Call (952) 412-2145 to ask about an appointment.

Where is the Gopher State Railway Museum?

The museum is at 25501 Helena Blvd, New Prague, Minnesota 56071, about two miles north of town next to Highway 21. Its mailing address is PO Box 125, New Prague, MN 56071, so use the Helena Blvd address for directions.

Can you ride a train at the Gopher State Railway Museum?

Yes. The caboose train runs on the first Saturday of the month, May through October, and on special event days. It is made up of historic cabooses from 1900 to 1956 on a short track across the museum grounds, pulled by a vintage diesel switcher.

How much does the Gopher State Railway Museum cost?

The museum posts prices per event. For the Pre Mother's Day Family Day, admission was $10 for adults, $5 for children under 16 and free for kids 2 and under, including unlimited train rides. Check gsrm.org or the museum's Facebook page for the price on the day you plan to visit.

What is car Manitoba at the Gopher State Railway Museum?

Car Manitoba was built by Pullman in May 1880 for the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway and served as James J. Hill's private car while he oversaw construction west from Minneapolis. The museum acquired its body in 1998 and volunteers are rebuilding its roof and frame.

What locomotives does the Gopher State Railway Museum have?

The museum's two operating locomotives are a 1940 EMC model SW-1, number NSP4, and a 1954 Alco model S-4, number FW-1, which came from the University of Minnesota. One of them powers the caboose train on open days.

What cabooses can you see at the Gopher State Railway Museum?

Cabooses on display include an 1871 Burlington waycar No. 14534, a 1911 Wisconsin Central caboose No. 99114, a 1946 Minneapolis and St. Louis caboose No. 1201 and Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range caboose C-25. Several others make up the caboose train.

What special events does the Gopher State Railway Museum hold?

The museum hosts five events each season: Pre Mother's Day Family Day on the first Saturday in May, Celebrate 4th of July on the first Saturday in July, Take the Throttle Day on the first Saturday in August, Dozinky Day Train Rides on the third Saturday in September, and the Pumpkin Express on the second Saturday in October.

What is the Pumpkin Express at the Gopher State Railway Museum?

The Pumpkin Express is the museum's fall family event, held every year on the second Saturday in October from 10 am to 4 pm. It is the last big day of the season. Check the museum's Facebook page in early fall for activities and admission details.

What is Take the Throttle Day at the Gopher State Railway Museum?

Take the Throttle Day is a special event held on the first Saturday in August. As the name suggests, it centers on the controls of the museum's locomotives. Check the event page on gsrm.org or the Facebook page for eligibility, times and pricing before you go.

What happens at the Gopher State Railway Museum on Dozinky Days?

During New Prague's Dozinky Days, held the third Saturday of September, the museum offers train rides from 3 to 7 pm, later than its usual open hours. It is a good chance to pair the town festival with a caboose ride.

Is the Gopher State Railway Museum good for young kids?

Yes. The caboose train is a gentle ride for small children, and event days add family activities like decorating a flower pot for Mom in May. Children 2 and under have been admitted free at events. The site is outdoors, so bring sun or rain gear.

Is there food at the Gopher State Railway Museum?

During events such as the Pre Mother's Day Family Day, food and beverages are sold on site. The museum does not post food details for regular open Saturdays, so bring snacks or plan a meal in New Prague.

How do you buy Gopher State Railway Museum tickets?

For events, tickets are sold the day of the event at the ticket window inside the museum's depot. The museum does not post an online ticket system, so plan to pay when you arrive. Follow the museum's Facebook page for event updates before you go.

Can I visit the Gopher State Railway Museum by appointment?

Yes, outside regular hours the museum opens through prior arrangement when volunteers are available. Call (952) 412-2145 to ask. Since every staff member is a volunteer, give plenty of notice. Let them know your group size and what you hope to see, such as the caboose train or car Manitoba.

How do I volunteer at the Gopher State Railway Museum?

Show up on a Saturday: work sessions run year round, weather permitting, starting around 9 am. Volunteers restore equipment, operate the train, build track and structures and handle office tasks. There is no minimum number of hours, so come when you can.

How can I donate to the Gopher State Railway Museum?

The museum is a 501(c)(3), so donations are tax deductible. Give through its secure Square page or mail a check to PO Box 125, New Prague, MN 56071. A fund drive is underway to build a shop for restoration and caboose train work, and projects can be sponsored.

How do I contact the Gopher State Railway Museum?

Call (952) 758-8729 or the alternate line at (952) 412-2145, or email gopherstaterailwaymuseum@yahoo.com. The volunteers note that email is not checked every day, so a call or a message on the museum's Facebook page may get a quicker reply.

What train museums are near the Gopher State Railway Museum?

The Minnesota Streetcar Museum is about 28 miles away, the Twin City Model Railroad Museum about 33 miles, and the Minnesota Transportation Museum in St. Paul about 36 miles. The Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum in Chisago City is about 64 miles north.

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