Hinton Railroad Museum, West Virginia

Oct 19

Hinton, West Virginia · Updated October 19, 2026 · 9 min read

Railroad museumHours are not posted online; check the museum's Facebook page before you go

The Hinton Railroad Museum keeps the story of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway alive in downtown Hinton, with model trains, tools from the days of John Henry, railroad uniforms and photographs of the town's railroad past.

Nonprofit founded in 1995
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway history
Model train exhibits
John Henry era tools
Downtown on Temple Street

Hinton Railroad Museum at a glance

Hours: Not posted online; check the museum's Facebook page
Admission: Not posted online
Plan for: Under an hour
Best for: C&O fans and visitors exploring downtown Hinton
Best ages: Ages 5 and up

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

Contact and directions

Address206 Temple Street, Hinton, WV 25951(opens in a new tab)

Directions(opens in a new tab)

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Hinton 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 Hinton.

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.

Keeping the C&O story in a railroad town

The Hinton Railroad Museum is a nonprofit organization set up in 1995 to preserve and share the railroad history of Hinton and Summers County, a history that shaped the town's growth. Its focus is the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway in its early days.

The collection was built by people with deep ties to the railroad. One of the museum's devoted supporters spent her railroad career as secretary to the division superintendent and gave her retirement to the museum, serving as a living link to the history it preserves. Today the museum sits at 206 Temple Street in downtown Hinton, and the National Park Service includes it among the places to visit around the New River Gorge. The museum does not post hours or admission online, so check its Facebook page or stop by downtown to confirm it is open.

Models, tools and uniforms from the C&O

Expect a compact museum filled with artifacts from the early Chesapeake and Ohio Railway: model train exhibits, tools used in the time of John Henry, the Steel Drivin' Man, railroad uniforms and historic photographs of Hinton and Summers County. Many visitors make it a short stop while exploring downtown Hinton.

Don’t miss

Model train exhibitsThe museum's model trains are the easiest way into C&O history for young visitors.
John Henry era toolsTools from the days of John Henry, the Steel Drivin' Man, connect the museum to one of railroading's best known legends.
Railroad uniforms and photographsPeriod uniforms and photos show the people who worked the C&O in and around Hinton.

Model trains and a legend to share

Model train exhibits give younger visitors something to watch, and the story of John Henry, the Steel Drivin' Man, is a good one to tell before you go. This is a small indoor museum, so it fits best as a short stop for school-age kids rather than a full day out.

Plan your visit: tips for Hinton Railroad Museum

Check the museum's Facebook page for current hours before you go.
Combine your visit with a walk around downtown Hinton.
Read up on John Henry with kids beforehand to bring the tools to life.

A nonprofit carried by railroad families

The Hinton Railroad Museum is a nonprofit, and it has been kept going by people who lived the railroad, including retirees who gave their later years to it. The museum does not post membership or volunteer details online, so ask through its Facebook page how you can help.

More rail history in southern West Virginia

The Princeton Railroad Museum is about 24 miles away. Across the Virginia line, the C&O Railway Heritage Center in Clifton Forge and the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke are each about 59 miles. Browse West Virginia's railroad museums for more.

Every train museum in West Virginia

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of a conductor in a blue suit shaking Rally's paw on the train — From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

The old railroad uniforms in Hinton make me think of the moment in our book when Mr. Conductor, in his blue uniform, holds out a hand to welcome Rally aboard. I like that a uniform can say you are safe here. My kids are just learning to read, and that page is one they like to find again. You can read how the story began on our story page.

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)

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Work or volunteer at Hinton 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.

Hinton Railroad Museum: 20 visitor questions

What are the Hinton Railroad Museum hours?

The Hinton Railroad Museum does not post its hours online. Check the museum's Facebook page for current opening times before you go, since small volunteer-supported museums often keep limited or seasonal hours. If you are already in downtown Hinton, walk by 206 Temple Street to see whether it is open.

Where is the Hinton Railroad Museum?

The Hinton Railroad Museum is at 206 Temple Street in downtown Hinton, West Virginia, in Summers County. Hinton is in the southern part of the state, and the National Park Service lists the museum among places to visit around the New River Gorge. Use the Temple Street address in your GPS.

How much does the Hinton Railroad Museum cost?

The museum does not post admission prices online. Check its Facebook page or ask at the door when you arrive. Small nonprofit museums like this one often rely on admission, gift sales or donations, so bringing a little cash is a good way to support its work.

What is in the Hinton Railroad Museum?

The museum is filled with history and artifacts from the early days of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway. Exhibits include model trains, tools used during the time of John Henry, the Steel Drivin' Man, railroad uniforms and historic photographs of Hinton and Summers County.

Is the Hinton Railroad Museum worth visiting?

For anyone interested in the C&O Railway, John Henry or Hinton's history, it makes a rewarding short stop. It is a compact specialty museum rather than a large equipment yard, so plan it as part of a day exploring downtown Hinton. Check the museum's Facebook page for recent photos and visitor comments.

Are there Hinton Railroad Museum reviews and photos online?

Yes. The museum has a Tripadvisor listing and a Facebook page, where visitors and the museum share photos of the exhibits. Travel listings describe it as a small specialty museum where people often stop briefly while visiting downtown. Recent posts are the best guide to what is on display now.

When was the Hinton Railroad Museum founded?

The Hinton Railroad Museum Inc. was established in 1995 as a nonprofit to preserve and showcase the railroad history of the Hinton area. Railroading played a major role in the town's development, and the museum focuses on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway's early years.

What railroad does the Hinton Railroad Museum cover?

The museum focuses on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, the C&O, especially its early days in Hinton and Summers County. Its uniforms, tools, models and photographs all help tell how the C&O shaped the town and the people who worked for it.

Does the Hinton Railroad Museum have John Henry exhibits?

Yes. Among its exhibits are tools used during the time of John Henry, the Steel Drivin' Man, the legendary railroad worker. They sit alongside the museum's C&O uniforms and photographs. Ask at the museum for more about how the John Henry story connects to the local railroad.

Does the Hinton Railroad Museum have model trains?

Yes. Model train exhibits are part of the collection, along with tools, uniforms and photographs from the early C&O Railway. Models are often the part young visitors enjoy most, so they are a good place to start a visit with children.

Is the Hinton Railroad Museum good for kids?

It suits school-age children who like trains, history or the legend of John Henry. The model train exhibits are the main draw for kids. It is a small indoor museum, so very young children may be done fairly quickly, and pairing it with a walk downtown helps round out the outing.

How long does a visit to the Hinton Railroad Museum take?

Most visitors need less than an hour. The museum is compact, and travel listings describe it as a place people often stop briefly while exploring downtown Hinton. Allow more time if you want to read every photo caption or talk with the people on duty.

Can you ride a train at the Hinton Railroad Museum?

The museum does not offer train rides. It is an indoor collection of artifacts, models, uniforms and photographs. For a ride, look at West Virginia's excursion railroads, such as Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, about 73 miles away.

Is the Hinton Railroad Museum part of the National Park Service?

No, it is a separate nonprofit. The National Park Service lists the Hinton Railroad Museum as a place to visit on its New River Gorge pages, tagged for railroad history and driving tours, but the museum itself is run by Hinton Railroad Museum Inc. Contact the museum directly with questions.

Is the Hinton Railroad Museum wheelchair accessible?

The museum does not post accessibility details online. If you use a wheelchair or are bringing a stroller, message the museum through its Facebook page before you visit to ask about steps, entrances and space between exhibits.

Is there parking at the Hinton Railroad Museum?

The museum does not post parking information online. It is in downtown Hinton at 206 Temple Street, so look for street parking nearby. Message the museum on Facebook if you are coming with a group or a larger vehicle.

Can groups visit the Hinton Railroad Museum?

The museum does not list group tour details online. Message it through its Facebook page to ask about a visit for a school class, club or tour group, and mention your preferred date, since a small museum may need notice to arrange extra help.

How can I support the Hinton Railroad Museum?

The museum is a nonprofit that has depended on people with railroad ties, including retirees who gave their time to it. It does not post membership or donation details online, so ask through its Facebook page or in person how to volunteer or give.

How do I contact the Hinton Railroad Museum?

The museum does not list a phone number or email address on a website of its own. The most reliable way to reach it is through its Facebook page, or by visiting 206 Temple Street in downtown Hinton during open hours.

What train museums are near the Hinton Railroad Museum?

The Princeton Railroad Museum is about 24 miles away. In Virginia, the C&O Railway Heritage Center and the Historic C&O Depot in Clifton Forge, the Virginia Museum of Transportation and the O. Winston Link Museum in Roanoke are each about 59 miles from Hinton.

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Kelsey Cecil