Lorain & West Virginia Railway in Wellington, Ohio

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Wellington, Ohio · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesEvent trains in April, June, October and from late November to mid December

The Lorain & West Virginia Railway is a 1906 industrial branch line that volunteers of the Lake Shore Railway Association rescued from abandonment, and today it carries families out of Wellington in 1950s-era coaches and cabooses on seasonal event trains.

  • Line built in 1906
  • Saved by volunteers since 1979
  • Rides began in 1993
  • Coach or caboose seating
  • Pick-your-own pumpkin train
  • Santa Trains in December

Lorain & West Virginia Railway at a glance

Hours
Event trains only: Easter (April), Railroad Heritage day (June), fall weekends in October, Santa Trains late November to mid December
Admission
Fall Foliage adults $16.95 coach, $22.60 caboose; Pumpkin Patch Limited adults $25.42 coach, $33.90 caboose; child and senior discounts
Train rides
Short round trips of about 30 to 50 minutes from Wellington; pumpkin train about 1 to 1.5 hours
Seasonal events
Easter Train, Railroad Heritage Caboose Trains, Fall Foliage, Fall Bluegrass Train, Pumpkin Patch Limited, Wine on the Rails, Sweetest Day Train, Santa Trains
Plan for
About 1 hour
Best for
Families with young kids and caboose fans
Best ages
Ages 2 to 10

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

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Lorain & West Virginia 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 Wellington.

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.

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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

How volunteers kept a steel mill branch line from being torn up

The Lorain and West Virginia Railway was built in 1906 by the Wheeling and Lake Erie and the Wabash to serve the steel mill in Lorain, at a time when Lorain County was an industrial powerhouse and railroads tied it to the rest of the country. After the waves of railroad mergers in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, the line became redundant and saw less and less traffic. A washout in the 1960s split it in two and ended through service, and in April 1977 the Norfolk and Western announced plans to abandon it.

Local rail fans did not want to see it torn up. In 1979 they formally organized the Lake Shore Railway Association, a nonprofit dedicated to saving the line, turning it into an excursion railway and preserving historic equipment for future generations. Years of hard work led to the purchase of the southern 7.8 miles in 1991, and the first trains carried passengers in 1993, during the week of the Lorain County Fair.

Since then the association has bought more of the line and rehabilitated the southern six miles. Its members are all volunteers. They rebuilt the railroad crossing at State Route 303 with help from Timiny Rail Maintenance, which in 2025 donated relay ties and other track material to keep the work going. Track work continues, and the association hopes to stretch its rides farther as it does.

Coaches, cabooses and the woods of southern Lorain County

Every train departs from the station at 46485 State Route 18 in Wellington. The railway runs 1950s-era equipment, a locomotive with passenger coaches and cabooses, and on many trips you can choose your seat: a coach ticket, or a caboose ticket for a ride in the car that once marked the end of every freight train.

Fall Foliage trips leave at 1:30 pm, travel about 2 miles north through the countryside while track work continues beyond that point, then return to Wellington, for a ride of roughly 35 to 50 minutes. Special trains add stops in the woods: an Easter egg hunt in spring and a pumpkin patch in October, where riders get off the train to choose a pumpkin. In June, short caboose rides celebrate railroad heritage and the association's members.

Don’t miss

  1. A caboose ticketMany trips sell caboose seats alongside coach seats, a rare chance to ride where freight train crews once rode.
  2. The L&WV pumpkin patchOn the Pumpkin Patch Limited, the train stops in the woods so riders can pick a pumpkin to take home, with the pumpkin included in the fare.
  3. Railroad Heritage Caboose TrainsShort caboose rides on the Saturday before Father's Day, a low-cost way to try the railroad.
  4. The 1906 right-of-wayThe track itself is the artifact: a steel mill branch line that volunteers saved from abandonment and are still rebuilding tie by tie.

Egg hunts, pumpkins, bells from Santa

Rides here are short, usually 30 to 50 minutes, which makes them a good first train trip for small children. The Easter Train stops in the woods for an egg hunt, the Pumpkin Patch Limited lets each family pick a pumpkin, and on the Santa Trains children under 12 receive a bell after a visit with Santa on a decorated train.

Discounts are offered for children and seniors on most trains, and kids 12 and under pay just $5 for the June caboose rides. Caboose seats cost a little more, but many kids remember that ride most.

Plan your visit: tips for Lorain & West Virginia Railway

  • Buy tickets online or at the station on operating days; June caboose ride tickets are sold only in person that day.
  • Choose a caboose ticket for a different view, if it fits your budget.
  • Sign up for the mailing list to hear about new dates.
  • Use the station address, 46485 State Route 18; PO Box 3 is for mail only.

The Santa Trains run on weekends from late November into mid December (November 28 and 29 and December 5, 6, 12 and 13 in 2026), with a short ride on a decorated train, a visit with Santa and a bell for every child under 12. In October, the Pumpkin Patch Limited takes riders into the woods to pick their own pumpkins. For more seasonal rides, see our guides to Christmas train rides in Ohio and Halloween and pumpkin train rides in Ohio.

The Lake Shore Railway Association

The railway is owned and operated by volunteers of the Lake Shore Railway Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit formed in 1979. Members run the trains, sell tickets and rebuild track. You can help by becoming a member (membership@lwvry.org), making a donation, riding a train or joining the mailing list for news.

Other rail stops near Wellington

The Northern Ohio Railway Museum is about 19 miles east. The Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum in Bellevue is about 33 miles west, and the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad is about 36 miles away. See all of Ohio's train museums and rides for more.

Every train museum in Ohio

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.

Caboose steps are steep, and that made me smile, because the big train stairs are where Rally gets stuck in our book. His corgi legs are just too short, so Dad lifts him up and in. I picture little riders in Wellington getting that same boost from a parent before they settle in by the caboose window. You can read how Rally's 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
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 Lorain & West Virginia 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.

Lorain & West Virginia Railway: 20 questions answered

Where is the Lorain & West Virginia Railway station?

All trains depart from the railway's station at 46485 State Route 18 in Wellington, Ohio 44090, in southern Lorain County. The mailing address is PO Box 3, Wellington, so use the State Route 18 address for directions. Call (440) 647-6660 if you need help finding the station.

Is there a Lorain and West Virginia Railway map?

The railway does not post a route map online. Its rides leave Wellington and run about 2 miles north before returning, while track work continues farther up the line. The association owns and has rehabilitated the southern six miles of the old route. For a route overview, ask at the station or call (440) 647-6660.

What do Lorain and West Virginia Railway reviews say?

Visitors share their experiences on the railway's Facebook page, which has thousands of followers, and on review sites. The railway itself describes its rides as a way for young and old to experience train travel on 1950s-era equipment. Read recent reviews on Facebook to get a feel for each seasonal event before you book.

How much are Lorain & West Virginia Railway tickets?

As of October 2026, Fall Foliage and Bluegrass train tickets are $16.95 for adults in the coach and $22.60 in the caboose, and Pumpkin Patch Limited tickets are $25.42 coach and $33.90 caboose. Seniors and children get discounts. June caboose rides are $12 for adults and $5 for kids 12 and under.

When does the Lorain & West Virginia Railway run?

The railway runs event trains rather than a daily schedule. As of October 2026, the year includes an Easter Train in April, Railroad Heritage caboose rides in June, Fall Foliage weekends and a pumpkin train in October, and Santa Trains from late November into mid December. Check lwvry.org for exact dates.

How long is a ride on the Lorain & West Virginia Railway?

Most rides last about 35 to 50 minutes, traveling roughly 2 miles north of Wellington and back. The Pumpkin Patch Limited takes 1 to 1.5 hours because it stops for pumpkin picking. Santa Trains last 30 to 50 minutes and travel about 1.5 miles before backing up to the station.

What is the Pumpkin Patch Limited on the Lorain & West Virginia Railway?

The Pumpkin Patch Limited carries passengers into the woods of southern Lorain County to the L&WV pumpkin patch, where everyone gets off to choose a pumpkin to take home. The pumpkin is included in the ticket. In 2026 it left at 3:30 pm on October 4 and 10, with a trip of 1 to 1.5 hours.

Does the Lorain & West Virginia Railway have Santa Trains?

Yes. Santa Trains run on weekends from late November into mid December, with 2026 dates of November 28 and 29 and December 5, 6, 12 and 13. Families board a seasonally decorated train for a short ride and a visit with Santa, and children under 12 receive a bell. Check lwvry.org for tickets.

What is the Easter Train in Wellington?

The Easter Train is the railway's annual spring ride. Ticket holders ride out to the woods, get off the train for an Easter egg hunt, and then ride back to Wellington. In 2026 it ran on April 4. Watch lwvry.org and the Facebook page for next year's date and ticket details.

Can you ride in a caboose on the Lorain & West Virginia Railway?

Yes. Many trips sell caboose tickets alongside coach tickets, at a higher fare: $22.60 for adults on Fall Foliage trips as of October 2026. In June, the Railroad Heritage day offers short caboose rides from noon to 3:30 pm, with tickets sold only in person at the station that day.

What is the Fall Foliage train in Wellington?

Fall Foliage trains run on Saturdays and Sundays over three weekends in October, leaving the Wellington station at 1:30 pm for a ride of about 35 to 50 minutes through the countryside. Tickets are sold at the station or online on operating days, with discounts for seniors and children.

Does the Lorain & West Virginia Railway have a music train?

Yes. The Fall Bluegrass Train features live music from The Bear Pickins Band, playing only in the coach. In 2026 it ran on October 3 at 1:30 pm, with the same 2-mile route and fares as the Fall Foliage rides. The calendar also lists Wine on the Rails and a Sweetest Day Train for adults.

What kind of train does the Lorain & West Virginia Railway use?

The railway operates 1950s-era equipment: a locomotive with passenger coaches and cabooses. Choosing a coach or caboose ticket changes where you ride. The association's goal is to keep historic equipment in use so that people who have never set foot on a train can experience one.

What is the history of the Lorain & West Virginia Railway?

The line was built in 1906 by the Wheeling and Lake Erie and the Wabash to serve the steel mill in Lorain. After mid-century mergers it lost traffic, a 1960s washout ended through service, and the Norfolk and Western moved to abandon it in 1977. Volunteers organized in 1979, bought 7.8 miles in 1991 and began rides in 1993.

Who runs the Lorain & West Virginia Railway?

The railway is owned and operated by volunteers of the Lake Shore Railway Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1979 to promote the educational and historical side of railroading in Lorain County. Members handle everything from ticket sales to track repairs, with help from partners such as Timiny Rail Maintenance.

How do I join the Lake Shore Railway Association?

Fill out the membership application on lwvry.org or email membership@lwvry.org. The association is made up entirely of volunteers who preserve the line and share their love of railroads. Members are honored at the Membership Appreciation event in June, and you can also donate online to support track work.

Is the Lorain & West Virginia Railway good for toddlers?

Yes. Rides are short, usually under an hour, and event trains like the Easter egg hunt, pumpkin patch and Santa visits are made with young children in mind. Children get discounted fares on most trains. Dress for the weather, since the Easter and pumpkin trips involve stepping off the train outdoors.

Is the Lorain & West Virginia Railway wheelchair accessible?

The railway does not post accessibility information online. Its 1950s-era coaches and cabooses have steps, and some event trips include walking in the woods. Call (440) 647-6660 or email sales@lwvry.org before your trip to ask about boarding help and which car will work best.

How do I buy Lorain & West Virginia Railway tickets?

Use the Purchase Tickets link on lwvry.org, or buy at the Wellington station on operating days. Some events are in-person only: June caboose ride tickets are sold only at the station on the day. For ticket questions, email sales@lwvry.org or call (440) 647-6660.

What train museums are near the Lorain & West Virginia Railway?

The Northern Ohio Railway Museum is about 19 miles away. The Orrville Railroad Heritage Society and the Mad River and NKP Railroad Museum in Bellevue are each about 33 miles, and the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad is about 36 miles. The Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum in Sugarcreek is about 56 miles.

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Kelsey Cecil
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