Great Plains Transportation Museum in Wichita, Kansas

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Wichita, Kansas · Updated October 19, 2026 · 13 min read

Railroad museumOpen Saturdays, 9 am to 4 pm

The Great Plains Transportation Museum sits beside an active main line in downtown Wichita, where volunteers have spent four decades gathering and restoring the locomotives and cars that tell the story of Kansas railroading, from Santa Fe steam engine 3768 to the home of the new Kansas Railroad Hall of Fame.

  • Incorporated in 1983
  • Santa Fe 4-8-4 steam engine 3768
  • Climb aboard some locomotives
  • Home of Kansas Railroad Hall of Fame
  • Open Saturdays 9 am to 4 pm
  • Railfest every September

Great Plains Transportation Museum at a glance

Hours
Saturdays, 9 am to 4 pm
Admission
Adults (13+) $9.75, ages 4 to 12 $6.25, 3 and under free (tax included)
Train rides
Short locomotive or rail car rides are often offered during Railfest; no regular rides
Seasonal events
Railfest, Rail Baron's Ball, Rail Baron's Back Nine Golf Tournament, Steam & Stogies
Plan for
About 1 to 2 hours
Best for
Families with young climbers and Santa Fe fans
Best ages
Ages 3 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 Great Plains Transportation 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 Wichita.

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 Union Station's attic to a yard by the tracks

Wichita had a railroad museum before this one. The Great Plains Railway Museum filled the second floor of Union Station until 1977, when the station was emptied for an urban renewal project. When the Great Plains Transportation Museum was incorporated in 1983, it took over that earlier museum's collection: a former KG&E electric locomotive, a wooden Frisco caboose and a Santa Fe drovers' car. The city's sale of Union Station also left behind Santa Fe steam locomotive 3768, and the new owner, a cable television company with no use for a steam engine, donated it to the museum. A former Frisco switcher stored by Burlington Northern joined soon after.

Volunteers did the heavy lifting. In the summer of 1985 they fenced the site beside Douglas Avenue to protect the outdoor displays, and the museum leased track-level space in the neighboring Player Piano building for an office, gift shop and indoor exhibits. The doors opened to the public in December 1986, with a grand opening in June 1987, and a street-level entrance on Douglas followed in November 1999.

The last few years have been busy. Supporters, helped by actor and rail fan Michael Gross, raised the money for a cosmetic restoration of Santa Fe diesel 93, and the Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad donated the inspections the engine needed to travel to a Kansas City shop. In 2025 the museum hired Lon Smith as its first paid director, and in 2026 the Kansas Legislature named the museum the home of the new Kansas Railroad Hall of Fame, with Governor Laura Kelly holding a ceremonial bill signing on site that July.

Steam, diesel and cabooses on East Douglas

The museum sits right against an active railroad, across Douglas Avenue from Wichita's former Union Station, and the big steam engine on display stretches out over the street. Most of the collection is outdoors: six locomotives plus freight and passenger cars, including a drovers' car, tank car, box car, postal storage car, heavyweight baggage car, maintenance of way equipment and several styles of caboose. Visitors can board some of the cars and locomotives and work the controls, which is the moment many kids remember most.

Inside the track-level rooms you will find exhibits, railroad memorabilia and a gift shop that is free to browse. Guided tours are part of the experience, and the museum describes its approach as hands-on: up close with historic equipment rather than behind ropes. The two headline pieces, steam engine 3768 and diesel 93, both come from the final class of passenger locomotives built for the Santa Fe in their eras.

Don’t miss

  1. Santa Fe 4-8-4 No. 3768The big steam locomotive came to the museum after the sale of Union Station and represents the last class of passenger steam power built for the Santa Fe.
  2. Santa Fe FP45 No. 93One of nine FP45 passenger diesels EMD built for the Santa Fe in 1967; it served 31 years under several numbers and paint schemes and has been the focus of a major fundraising campaign for its cosmetic restoration.
  3. Frisco switcher No. 261This EMD NW2, later Burlington Northern 421, was among the first locomotives the museum acquired in the 1980s.
  4. The KG&E electric locomotiveAn electric engine from the old Great Plains Railway Museum collection, a reminder that the museum grew out of an earlier one at Union Station.
  5. The Santa Fe drovers' carDrovers' cars carried the men who rode with livestock shipments, a very Kansas piece of railroad history.
  6. Cargill Whitcomb No. 316A small industrial switcher from Cargill, showing the working side of grain country railroading.

Climbing into cabs and pulling the levers

This is a museum where kids are allowed to touch. Some locomotives and cars are open to board, and visitors can handle the controls, so a child can stand where an engineer stood and see the tracks from the cab. The working main line right beside the museum adds the chance of a real train rolling past.

Most of the collection is outside, so dress for the weather. The museum may close if the temperature drops below 40 degrees or climbs over 100, for the safety of its volunteers. Children 3 and under get in free, and Railfest in September is the best day for families, with interactive activities and, in many years, short rides on locomotives or rail cars.

Plan your visit: tips for Great Plains Transportation Museum

  • The museum may close for bad weather or when it is below 40 or above 100 degrees; call ahead on borderline days.
  • Cash, Visa and Mastercard are accepted.
  • Group tours can be set up during open hours or by appointment; call to schedule.
  • Browsing the gift shop is free, even without admission.
  • Most equipment is outdoors, so bring hats and water in summer.

Railfest is the museum's big family day each September, with interactive exhibits, historic equipment and, in many years, short rides on real locomotives or cars. The Rail Baron's Ball in October and a spring golf tournament raise money for preservation. For holiday rides around the state, see our guide to Christmas train rides in Kansas.

Four decades of volunteers, now with a director

For most of its life the museum ran entirely on volunteers, who fenced the site, moved the equipment and keep it open every Saturday. Its first paid employee, director Lon Smith, joined in 2025. The museum relies on donations, memberships and event sponsors, and there is a dedicated restoration fund for Santa Fe 93. Admission, a gift shop purchase or a ticket to Railfest all help.

More rail history within a drive of Wichita

The Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum is right in downtown Wichita too. The Newton Railroad Museum is about 25 miles north, and the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad, about 85 miles away, has a train to ride. See all the train museums in Kansas for more.

Every train museum in Kansas

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.

Visitors here can climb up into some of the locomotives, and I can already see the problem: those cab steps are tall. In our book, Rally's short corgi legs cannot make it up the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. I think plenty of little kids at this museum get the same lift from a parent, and then the view from the top is all theirs. If your crew loves that moment, our coloring pages have Rally on the train.

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 Great Plains Transportation 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.

Great Plains Transportation Museum: 20 questions families ask

Where is the Great Plains Transportation Museum in Wichita, KS?

The Great Plains Transportation Museum is at 700 East Douglas Avenue, Wichita, Kansas 67202, on the east edge of downtown. It sits beside the railroad overpass and directly across Douglas from Wichita's former Union Station. Look for the large steam locomotive on the tracks above the street, and call (316) 263-0944 if you need directions.

What are the Great Plains Transportation Museum hours?

As of October 2026, the museum is open on Saturdays from 9 am to 4 pm. It may close for bad weather, or when the temperature is below 40 degrees or above 100 degrees, to keep its volunteers safe. On a cold, hot or stormy Saturday, call (316) 263-0944 before you head downtown.

How much are tickets to the Great Plains Transportation Museum?

As of October 2026, admission is $9.75 for adults 13 and older and $6.25 for youths ages 4 to 12, with tax included, and children 3 and under get in free. The museum takes cash, Visa and Mastercard, and says prices can change without notice, so check gptm.us before your visit.

Do I need to buy Great Plains Transportation Museum tickets in advance?

The museum does not mention advance tickets for regular Saturday visits; admission is paid when you arrive, by cash, Visa or Mastercard. Special events like Railfest and the Rail Baron's Ball have their own ticketing on the museum's events page. Groups should call (316) 263-0944 ahead to schedule a tour.

Is the Great Plains Transportation Museum worth visiting?

For families with train-loving kids, the big draw is access: visitors can board some of the locomotives and cars and handle the controls, which many museums do not allow. The collection includes Santa Fe steam engine 3768 and six locomotives in all, with an active main line right next door. A visit fits easily into a Saturday downtown.

What do visitors say in Great Plains Transportation Museum reviews?

Visitors often mention the hands-on access, especially climbing aboard locomotives and trying the controls, and the setting beside a busy railroad in downtown Wichita. Travel listings point to the two Santa Fe passenger locomotives, steam 3768 and diesel 93, as the headliners. Read current reviews on travel sites to see recent impressions.

Can you go inside the locomotives at the Great Plains Transportation Museum?

Yes. Visitors are allowed to board some of the cars, including locomotives, and manipulate the controls. Not every piece is open, and access can depend on which volunteers are working that day, so ask at the entrance what you can climb into. Cab steps are steep, so small children will need a hand.

Can you ride a train at the Great Plains Transportation Museum?

Not on a regular Saturday. The museum is a static collection, but its annual Railfest in September usually includes the chance to buy very short rides on actual locomotives or rail cars. Check the events page at gptm.us or call (316) 263-0944 to confirm what Railfest will offer this year.

What is Railfest at the Great Plains Transportation Museum?

Railfest is the museum's annual family festival, held on September 26 in 2026, with interactive exhibits, historic equipment and activities for all ages. It is often the one time each year you can buy a short ride on a locomotive or rail car. Watch gptm.us in late summer for the next date and details.

What locomotives are at the Great Plains Transportation Museum?

The collection includes six locomotives. Headliners are Santa Fe 4-8-4 steam locomotive 3768 and Santa Fe FP45 diesel 93, plus former Frisco switcher 261 (later Burlington Northern 421), Cargill Whitcomb switcher 316, an electric locomotive from KG&E and other diesels. There are also cabooses, a drovers' car, a box car, a tank car and a baggage car.

What is the story of Santa Fe 93 at the Great Plains Transportation Museum?

Santa Fe 93 is one of nine FP45 passenger diesels EMD built for the Santa Fe in 1967. Originally numbered 103, it worked 31 years under several numbers and paint schemes. Supporters, with help from actor Michael Gross, raised money for a cosmetic restoration in Kansas City, and its return to Wichita was scheduled for summer 2026.

When did the Great Plains Transportation Museum open?

The museum was incorporated in 1983, opened to the public in December 1986 and held a grand opening in June 1987. It grew from the collection of the earlier Great Plains Railway Museum, which had been on the second floor of Union Station until it closed in 1977. A street-level entrance on Douglas opened in 1999.

What is the Kansas Railroad Hall of Fame?

In 2026 the Kansas Legislature created the Kansas Railroad Hall of Fame and named the Great Plains Transportation Museum as its home. Governor Laura Kelly held a ceremonial signing at the museum on July 20, 2026. The first class of inductees is expected in November 2026, with the first induction ceremony planned for April 2027.

Is the Great Plains Transportation Museum good for toddlers?

Yes, with some planning. Children 3 and under are free, and little ones usually love seeing the huge engines and the trains passing on the main line next door. Most of the collection is outdoors, and climbing into cabs means steep steps, so keep a close hand on toddlers and dress for the weather.

Does the Great Plains Transportation Museum offer group tours?

Yes. Group tours can be arranged during normal Saturday hours or by appointment on other days. Call (316) 263-0944 to schedule, or email info@gptm.us with your group size and preferred date. Scout troops, school groups and clubs should reach out well ahead so volunteers can be lined up.

Is there a gift shop at the Great Plains Transportation Museum?

Yes. The museum has a gift shop in its indoor space, and there is no charge to browse it, even without paying admission. There is also a Santa Fe 93 store connected to the restoration fund on the museum's website. Purchases help support the volunteers' preservation work.

How long should I plan at the Great Plains Transportation Museum?

Plan on about one to two hours. That leaves time to walk the outdoor yard, climb into the locomotives that are open, see the indoor exhibits and browse the gift shop. Rail fans who want to talk with volunteers about each piece, or who watch for trains on the main line, can easily stay longer.

Can I rent the Great Plains Transportation Museum for an event?

In March 2026 the museum announced it would convert its 1953 stainless steel baggage car into a rental event venue. The museum does not list rental details online, so call (316) 263-0944 or email info@gptm.us to ask about availability and pricing for parties or meetings.

How can I volunteer or donate at the Great Plains Transportation Museum?

The museum relies on volunteers and on the generosity of friends and supporters to preserve, restore and share Kansas railroad history. You can donate through its Get Involved page, give to the Santa Fe 93 Restoration Fund, or sponsor events like Railfest. To volunteer, contact info@gptm.us or call (316) 263-0944.

What train museums are near the Great Plains Transportation Museum?

The Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum is also in downtown Wichita. The Newton Railroad Museum is about 25 miles north, and the Emporia historic railroad collection is about 80 miles away. The Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad, about 85 miles away, runs excursion trains, and the Railroad Museum of Oklahoma in Enid is about 94 miles south.

Keep exploring

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Kelsey Cecil
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