Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum in Chisago City, Minnesota
Railroad museumOpen by appointment only, according to its Facebook page
The Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum in Chisago City grew from three friends' love of trains: they bought Traprock locomotive No. 4 in 1963 and have kept their collection on the same rural site since 1966.
- Started in 1963
- At this site since 1966
- Traprock locomotive No. 4
- Open by appointment only
Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum at a glance
- Hours
- By appointment only; message the museum's Facebook page
- Admission
- Not posted online; ask when you book
- Train rides
- A past review mentioned Bumblebee Train rides; confirm with the museum
- Best for
- Rail fans who plan ahead
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
Follow Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Ironhorse Central 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 Chisago City.
Rally Takes the Train
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Three rail fans and a locomotive called No. 4
The museum's roots go back to the 1950s, when Richard Thompson, Robert Thompson and Doug Alexander began collecting railroad memorabilia, taking photographs and riding fan trips with the Minnesota Railfans Association. In 1963 they bought their first locomotive, Traprock No. 4, and in 1966 they settled the collection at its current home in Chisago City.
Explore Minnesota's listing describes the museum marking its 50th year, a long run for a collection built by a few dedicated people rather than a large institution. The museum's Facebook page, which uses the name Ironhorse Railroad Park, describes the site as open by appointment only. A past visitor review mentioned short rides on a Bumblebee Train, but the museum does not post a current ride schedule, so contact it through Facebook before you plan a trip.
What to expect
The museum sits among small farms and cornfields outside Chisago City. Visitor listings describe locomotives, rolling stock and railroad memorabilia gathered over decades, starting with Traprock No. 4. Because visits are by appointment, what you see will depend on what the owners are able to show that day, so ask when you message them.
Don’t miss
- Traprock locomotive No. 4The engine the founders bought in 1963, which started the whole collection.
Ask ahead about what children can see
The museum does not post kids' programs or current ride details online. A visitor review once described short train rides, which would be a treat for young rail fans, but confirm through the museum's Facebook page whether rides or a walk around the equipment are possible during an appointment.
Plan your visit: tips for Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum
- Message the Ironhorse Railroad Park Facebook page to set up a visit.
- Confirm whether any train rides are running before you drive out.
- Pair it with other rail stops in the St. Croix Valley and Twin Cities.
Founders who kept it going
The collection was started by Richard and Robert Thompson and Doug Alexander, longtime rail fans, and it remains a small operation. The best way to support it is to follow and message its Facebook page and visit by appointment.
More rail stops near Chisago City
The Osceola and St. Croix Valley Railway boards in Osceola, Wisconsin, about 10 miles away, and is the closest regular train ride. The Minnesota Transportation Museum is about 30 miles south in St. Paul, and the Twin City Model Railroad Museum about 32 miles. See Minnesota train museums for the full list.
- Minnesota Transportation MuseumSt. Paul, MN · about 30 mi
- Osceola & St. Croix Valley RailwayMinnesota / Wisconsin, MN · about 30 mi
- Twin City Model Railroad MuseumSt. Paul, MN · about 32 mi
- Minnesota Streetcar MuseumMinneapolis / Excelsior, MN · about 37 mi
- Wisconsin Great Northern RailroadTrego, WI · about 62 mi
- Gopher State Railway MuseumNew Prague, MN · about 64 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
Ironhorse sits out among farms and cornfields, and I can imagine kids pressing their faces to a car window there. In our book, Rally gets the window seat, too. He watches the ocean roll by through an arched window and greets a white bird like an old friend, while Mom and Dad watch him. My mom wrote that moment in her head long before I painted it. Our story page tells how it became a 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
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 Minnesota: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Minnesota
- Halloween train rides in Minnesota
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Ironhorse Central 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.
Sources
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum: 20 questions answered
Is the Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum open to the public?
The museum's Facebook page, listed as Ironhorse Railroad Park, says it is open by appointment only. There are no regular walk-in hours posted online. Message the Facebook page before you go to ask whether a visit can be arranged and when.
Where is the Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum?
Directory listings place the museum at 24880 Morgan Ave in Chisago City, Minnesota, among small farms and fields. It has been at this site since 1966. Since visits are by appointment, confirm the address and directions when you set up your visit through Facebook.
What are the Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum hours?
The museum does not post regular hours. Its Facebook page says it is open by appointment only. An older visitor review mentioned Saturday train rides, but that may be out of date, so check with the museum before planning around it.
How much does it cost to visit the Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum?
The museum does not post admission prices online. A past visitor review listed ride prices of $11 for adults and $9 for children and seniors, but that information may no longer be current. Ask about any fees when you message the museum to book.
Does the Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum offer train rides?
A visitor review once described 15 to 20 minute rides on a Bumblebee Train on Saturdays. The museum does not post a current ride schedule, and its Facebook page says it is open by appointment only, so ask directly whether rides are offered.
Is Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum the same as Ironhorse Railroad Park?
Yes. The museum's Facebook page uses the name Ironhorse Railroad Park, while visitor listings and Explore Minnesota use Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum. Both names refer to the rail collection in Chisago City that began in 1963.
When was the Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum founded?
The museum dates its start to 1963, when its founders bought Traprock locomotive No. 4. The collection moved to its current Chisago City location in 1966. Explore Minnesota's listing notes the museum celebrating its 50th year.
Who started the Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum?
Richard Thompson, Robert Thompson and Doug Alexander started the collection. In the 1950s they gathered railroad memorabilia, took photos and rode Minnesota Railfans Association fan trips, then bought their first locomotive in 1963. Their collection has grown from that hobby into the museum.
What is Traprock locomotive No. 4?
Traprock No. 4 is the locomotive the founders bought in 1963, the purchase that turned their railfan hobby into a museum collection. Ask about seeing it when you book a visit, since what is on view can vary.
What is in the Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum collection?
Visitor listings describe locomotives, rolling stock and railroad memorabilia gathered by the founders since the 1950s, starting with Traprock No. 4. The museum does not post a full equipment list online, so ask about specific pieces when you arrange your visit.
How do I book a visit to the Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum?
Send a message through the Ironhorse Railroad Park Facebook page, which is the museum's only posted contact. Include the date you hope to visit and how many people are coming, and give yourself a few days for a reply.
Is the Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum good for kids?
It can be for young rail fans, especially if rides are running, but the museum does not post kids' programs. Since it is a small, appointment-only site, ask ahead what children will be able to see and whether there are any safety rules around the equipment.
Is the Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum wheelchair accessible?
The museum does not post accessibility information online. It is a rural outdoor site, so ground surfaces may vary. Ask about access to the equipment and any paths when you message the museum to set up a visit.
Is there parking at the Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum?
The museum does not list parking details online. Since it is on a rural property outside Chisago City, ask where to park when you confirm your appointment through Facebook. Ask, too, whether the ground near the equipment suits strollers.
Can you have a birthday party at the Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum?
The museum does not post party packages online. Because it is open by appointment only, you can ask through its Facebook page whether private group visits or celebrations are possible. Include your preferred date and the size of your group in the message.
Does the Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum do Christmas or Halloween events?
The museum does not list holiday events online. For seasonal train rides nearby, the Osceola and St. Croix Valley Railway in Wisconsin runs fall trips, and the Minnesota Transportation Museum is open year round in St. Paul.
Can groups visit the Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum?
The museum does not post group or school visit information. Since all visits are by appointment, a group can ask through the Ironhorse Railroad Park Facebook page whether a date and group size would work.
Is the Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum still operating?
Yes, as far as its online presence shows. Its Facebook page is active under the name Ironhorse Railroad Park and says the site is open by appointment only. Message the page to confirm before making the drive.
How can I support the Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum?
The museum does not post membership or donation details online. Following and sharing its Facebook page and arranging a visit are the clearest ways to show support. You can ask in a message whether it accepts donations of memorabilia or help.
What train museums are near the Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum?
The Osceola and St. Croix Valley Railway in Osceola, Wisconsin is about 10 miles away. The Minnesota Transportation Museum in St. Paul is about 30 miles south, the Twin City Model Railroad Museum about 32 miles, and the Minnesota Streetcar Museum about 37 miles.
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