Iron Mountain Railway in Jackson, Missouri

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Jackson, Missouri · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesThemed Saturday trains spring through fall; busiest at Christmas

The Iron Mountain Railway is an all-volunteer, nonprofit excursion railroad in Jackson, Missouri, whose 1926 passenger cars serve as a rolling history museum for the railroads, people and land of Southeast Missouri.

  • Passenger cars built in 1926
  • Run entirely by volunteers
  • More than 11,000 riders a year
  • New theme every Saturday at 1 pm
  • Buy a tie for a $20 donation

Iron Mountain Railway at a glance

Hours
Saturday trains at 1 pm, with some 11 am, 3 pm and 6 pm departures; see the posted schedule
Admission
Fares vary by train; see current prices on the railway's online reservations page
Train rides
Two-hour themed round trips in 1926 coaches, spring through fall plus the Christmas season
Seasonal events
Iron Mountain James Gang Robbery, Easter Express, Dinosaur Train, Ice Cream Express, Chuck Wagon evening trains, Murder Mystery trains, Christmas season trains
Plan for
About 2 hours for the ride
Best for
Families with kids and anyone who wants a train ride with a show
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 Iron Mountain Railway? 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 Jackson.

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.

A volunteer railroad that treats every trip like theater

The Iron Mountain Railway carries the name of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway, the line known simply as the Iron Mountain, which operated from 1856 until it was merged into the Missouri Pacific in 1917. Today's Iron Mountain is a different kind of railroad: a 501(c)(3) nonprofit excursion line in Jackson, run entirely by volunteers, that describes itself as a rolling history museum focused on the railroads, the people and the land of Southeast Missouri.

The heart of that museum is the train itself. Its passenger cars were built in 1926, which made 2026 their hundredth year, and the railway marked the season with a 100th Birthday Vintage Tea Party in June. The cars roll behind a diesel over roughly six miles of track through Cape Girardeau County toward Gordonville, boarding at the depot on East Jackson Boulevard.

What sets this railroad apart is how hard its volunteers work to make each ride feel like an event. The railway says there is always something going on aboard: train robberies, treasure hunts, music, even dinosaurs. Every Saturday 1 pm train has its own theme, and riders are encouraged to come in costume. That effort draws more than 11,000 visitors a year, with Christmas the busiest stretch by far.

Volunteers also maintain the track, and the railway invites the public to help. A $20 donation puts a new railroad tie into service with the donor's name painted on it by a volunteer, and the railway sends a photo once it is in the line.

Aboard the 1926 coaches

A visit here is a ride, not a walk through a gallery. You board at the depot on East Jackson Boulevard and settle into one of the 1926 passenger cars for a round trip of about two hours. Third-party guides describe the route as a closed line of about six miles between Jackson and Gordonville, often with a stop at Iron Mountain Junction Village along the way.

The staple of the season is the Iron Mountain James Gang Robbery, when outlaws stop the train. Many Saturdays pair it with a second theme, such as Jr Engineers and Conductors, the Chocolate Express, National Cowboy Day or the Scavenger Hunt Train, and some Saturdays are given over entirely to the Dinosaur Train. Evening departures switch to grown-up and family dinner outings: Murder Mystery trains, Pizza Trains, Chuck Wagon dinners and Sunset Train Rides. The railway has also run special photo charters for rail fans.

Don’t miss

  1. The 1926 passenger carsA full century old in 2026, these coaches are the railway's rolling museum and the reason it calls itself a traveling history exhibit.
  2. Iron Mountain James Gang RobberyThe railway's signature show, when the James Gang holds up the train. It runs on most Saturday afternoons in season.
  3. Dinosaur TrainA whole Saturday departure built around dinosaurs, a favorite with preschoolers.
  4. Evening Chuck Wagon and Murder Mystery trainsSummer and spring evening departures that add a meal or a mystery to the ride.
  5. Buy a TieFor a $20 donation a volunteer paints your name on a new tie and sets it in the track, then sends you a photo.

Costumes welcome, outlaws expected

This railroad is built for families. Kids get a real ride in century-old coaches, plus a show: the James Gang robbery, treasure hunts and the Dinosaur Train are all aimed at young riders. The railway's motto is that any day is a good day for a costume, so let them dress the part. Jr Engineers and Conductors days are a good pick for kids who want to learn how a train works.

Round trips run about two hours, which is a good length for school-age children and manageable for preschoolers with a snack. Parents of toddlers may prefer an afternoon theme train to the evening dinner and mystery rides.

Plan your visit: tips for Iron Mountain Railway

  • Reserve online; themed trains, and especially Christmas trains, are the busiest.
  • Check the weekly theme on the schedule before choosing a date.
  • Costumes are encouraged, so let the kids dress up.
  • Ask at the depot about the $20 Buy a Tie donation.
  • Board at the depot at 252 E Jackson Blvd in Jackson.

Christmas is the Iron Mountain Railway's busiest season, and holiday trains fill quickly, so watch the schedule and reserve as soon as dates go up. Spring brings the Easter Express, and summer Sundays add the Ice Cream Express. For more holiday rides around the state, see our guide to Christmas train rides in Missouri, and for October outings, our list of Halloween train rides in Missouri.

Volunteers in every seat that matters

The Iron Mountain Railway is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit run entirely by trained volunteers, from the train crew to the actors who stage the robberies. It welcomes new volunteers from every background. You can help by riding, by giving $20 to put a named tie in the track, or by calling 573-243-1688 to ask how to join the crew.

More rail stops within a few hours

Across the river, the Paducah Railroad Museum is about 62 miles away, and the Historic Illinois Central Depot Museum in Centralia is about 85 miles. Head north about 93 miles to the National Museum of Transportation to see a Big Boy up close. More ideas are on our page of train museums across Missouri.

Every train museum in Missouri

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi looking out an arched train window at the ocean and a white bird
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Riding in a coach built in 1926, I would want a window seat for the whole six miles. In our book Rally presses his nose to an arched window, watches the ocean roll by and says hello to a white bird. Here the view would be Missouri fields instead of the Pacific, but I think he would be just as happy. If your little rider wants to color that window scene, our coloring pages are free.

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 Iron Mountain Railway?

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.

Iron Mountain Railway: 20 questions riders ask

Where is the Iron Mountain Railway in Jackson, MO?

The Iron Mountain Railway boards at its depot at 252 E Jackson Blvd, Jackson, MO 63755, in Cape Girardeau County in Southeast Missouri. Trips leave from and return to the same depot. Call 573-243-1688 if you need directions or want to confirm where to check in for your train.

How much are Iron Mountain Railway tickets?

Fares depend on the train you choose, since afternoon theme trains, evening dinner rides and holiday trains are priced differently. The railway lists current prices through its online reservations page at slimrr.com, and third-party guides quote different figures, so check there or call 573-243-1688 before you buy.

Can I buy Iron Mountain Railway tickets online?

Yes. The railway takes online reservations through its website, with links under each month of its schedule. Booking ahead is the safest plan, especially for themed trains and the Christmas season, when the railway carries the most riders. You can also call 573-243-1688 with questions.

What is the Iron Mountain Railway schedule?

As of October 2026, most excursions run on Saturdays at 1 pm, with each week's train built around a theme, and some Saturdays add 11 am, 3 pm or 6 pm evening departures. A few Sunday specials run in summer. The full month-by-month schedule is posted on slimrr.com.

Does the Iron Mountain Railway have a Santa Express or Christmas train?

Yes, Christmas is the railway's busiest time of year, and holiday trains draw more riders than any other season. Dates and train names for the holidays are posted on the schedule page at slimrr.com. Reserve early, and call 573-243-1688 if you have questions about the Christmas trains.

How long is the Iron Mountain Railway ride?

Excursions are round trips of about two hours. Third-party guides describe the route as a closed line of roughly six miles between Jackson and Gordonville, often with a stop at Iron Mountain Junction Village. Evening dinner and mystery trains may run longer, so check the details for your train when you book.

What is the Iron Mountain James Gang Robbery?

It is the railway's signature themed ride, when the James Gang stages a holdup of the train. As of October 2026 it runs on most Saturday 1 pm trains from spring into fall, sometimes paired with another theme like the Chocolate Express or Jr Engineers and Conductors. Check the schedule for dates.

Is there a map of the Iron Mountain Railway route?

The railway does not post a route map on its main pages. Third-party guides describe the line as about six miles of track through Cape Girardeau County between Jackson and Gordonville, boarding at the depot on East Jackson Boulevard. Ask a volunteer at the depot to point out the route.

Why is it called the Iron Mountain Railway?

It takes its name from the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway, commonly called the Iron Mountain, which operated from 1856 until 1917, when it was merged into the Missouri Pacific Railroad. Today's Iron Mountain Railway is a volunteer-run excursion line in Jackson that keeps that name in use.

How old are the Iron Mountain Railway passenger cars?

The passenger cars were built in 1926, so they reached 100 years old in 2026. The railway calls its train a traveling history museum because of them, and it held a 100th Birthday Vintage Tea Party aboard in June 2026. They ride behind a diesel locomotive.

Is the Iron Mountain Railway good for kids?

Yes. Most Saturday trains are built around family themes such as the James Gang Robbery, the Dinosaur Train, scavenger hunts and Jr Engineers and Conductors days. Kids are welcome to come in costume. The roughly two-hour ride suits school-age kids well, and preschoolers usually do fine with snacks.

Does the Iron Mountain Railway have dinner trains?

Yes. As of October 2026, evening departures at 6 pm include Chuck Wagon dinner trains, Pizza Trains, Murder Mystery trains and Sunset Train Rides on selected Saturdays from spring through early fall. Check the schedule for which evening train runs on your date, and reserve ahead.

Is the Iron Mountain Railway run by volunteers?

Yes, entirely. It is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, and the railway says it is one of very few trains run completely by trained volunteers. They staff the trains, put on the themed shows and maintain the line, and new volunteers from all backgrounds are welcome. Call 573-243-1688 to ask about joining.

What is the Buy a Tie program at the Iron Mountain Railway?

For a $20 donation, the railway puts a new railroad tie into service in your honor. A volunteer paints your name on the tie, and once it is set into the track the railway sends you a photo. Ask about it at the depot when you arrive or by calling 573-243-1688.

Are Iron Mountain Railway reviews good?

The railway draws more than 11,000 visitors a year, and families often mention the volunteers and the themed shows aboard the train. You can read visitor reviews and photos on the railway's Facebook page and on travel review sites. Christmas is the busiest season, so expect full trains then.

Where can I see photos of the Iron Mountain Railway?

The railway posts photos of its 1926 coaches, themed rides and special trips on its Facebook and Instagram pages. Facebook is also where it announces special trips such as photo charters for rail fans. Riders are welcome to bring cameras on board and share their own pictures.

Does the Iron Mountain Railway run Easter or summer specials?

Yes. In 2026 the season opened with the Easter Express in April, and summer brought the Ice Cream Express on selected Sunday afternoons, a Dad's Day train in June and an Independence Day celebration in July. Watch the posted schedule for the coming year's specials.

Is the Iron Mountain Railway wheelchair accessible?

The railway does not post accessibility details online. Its passenger cars date from 1926, and older coaches usually have steps at the doors, so call 573-243-1688 or email slimrr1@gmail.com before booking to ask how volunteers can help a rider who uses a wheelchair or walker.

Can I hold a group outing or private event on the Iron Mountain Railway?

The railway does not list a group or charter package on its main pages, though it has run special charters such as photo trips for rail fans. Call 573-243-1688 or email slimrr1@gmail.com to ask about group seating on a regular train or a private booking.

What train museums are near the Iron Mountain Railway?

The Paducah Railroad Museum in Kentucky is about 62 miles away, and the Historic Illinois Central Depot Museum in Centralia, Illinois is about 85 miles. In St. Louis, about 91 to 99 miles north, you can visit Union Station's historic exhibits and the National Museum of Transportation.

Keep exploring

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Kelsey Cecil
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