Midland Railway Historical Association in Baldwin City, Kansas

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Baldwin City, Kansas · Updated October 19, 2026 · 10 min read

Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesOperating schedule not posted online; confirm before you go

The Midland Railway Historical Association took a former Santa Fe branch between Baldwin City and Ottawa and turned it into a demonstration railroad, restoring equipment and running excursion trains so people could learn what railroading meant to the heartland.

  • Chartered in 1982
  • Bought Santa Fe line in 1987
  • Listed on National Register in 1983
  • Nonprofit 501(c)(3) association

Midland Railway Historical Association at a glance

Hours
Not posted online; confirm the operating schedule before you go
Admission
Fares not posted online; ask the association
Train rides
Excursion train rides from Baldwin City when operating; schedule not posted online
Seasonal events
Maple Leaf Festival train rides, Haunted Train Rides
Best for
Rail fans and families who like festival trains

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

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Midland Railway Historical Association? 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 Baldwin City.

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.

A railroad chartered to save a railroad

The Midland Railway was chartered in 1982 with an unusual goal: find an abandoned railroad line and operate it. Its supporters found one in eastern Kansas. In 1987 the Midland bought the former Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe line from Baldwin City toward Ottawa Junction, crossing Douglas and Franklin counties, and began running excursion trains on part of it that same year. The Midland Historic Railway was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

The Midland Railway Historical Association, a nonprofit educational charity, is the group behind the trains. Its members gather and restore historic railroad artifacts, equipment and facilities, then use them to run a demonstration passenger railroad that shows how railroading shaped commerce, social life and culture across the heartland. Over the years volunteers ran festival trains, haunted rides, Scout programs and school days. Some descriptions of the railroad now use the past tense, so check its current status before planning a ride.

What the Midland has offered riders

The association's operation is built around excursion rides from Baldwin City in restored equipment. Its website has listed an operating schedule, departure times and fares, group charters, Scouting programs, school days and an equipment roster. Seasonal favorites have included train rides during Baldwin City's Maple Leaf Festival, where a staged gang of train robbers sometimes appeared, and Haunted Train Rides that grew scarier on later departures. The railroad has also offered free July rides to people who serve in uniform.

Don’t miss

  1. Maple Leaf Festival trainsFestival weekend rides where the Bart Plasterson Gang has been known to try to rob the train.
  2. Haunted Train RidesHaunted house thrills on board, with fright levels rising on later trains.
  3. The former Santa Fe branchThe line the Midland bought from the Santa Fe in 1987, running between Baldwin City and Ottawa.

Festival trains and pretend robbers

When the Midland runs, its events are designed with families in mind: festival rides with costumed train robbers, Scout programs and school days. The Haunted Train Rides get scarier on later trains, so families with small children should pick an early departure. The association does not post age guidance or accessibility details online.

Plan your visit: tips for Midland Railway Historical Association

  • Confirm the railroad is operating before you drive to Baldwin City.
  • On haunted rides, earlier trains are less scary for young kids.
  • Pair a trip with the depot museums in Ottawa and Lawrence.

The Midland has been known for Haunted Train Rides each fall, with haunted house scares on board that intensify on later trains, and for train rides during Baldwin City's Maple Leaf Festival. Dates are not posted online, so confirm before you plan around them. For other options, see our list of Halloween train rides in Kansas.

Members who restore and run the trains

The Midland Railway Historical Association is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational and charitable corporation. Its members restore historically significant railroad equipment and artifacts and operate the trains, and the association has offered memberships through a form on its website and is led by a board of directors.

Other rail stops near Baldwin City

The Old Depot Museum in Ottawa, at the other end of the old Santa Fe line, is about 12 miles south. The Historic Santa Fe Depot in Lawrence is about 14 miles north, and the Kansas Museum of History in Topeka is about 32 miles away. Explore more Kansas train museums.

Every train museum in Kansas

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi dreaming about his toy turtle, green bone and yellow ball
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

A pretend gang trying to rob the train during a festival ride makes me laugh, and it makes me think of what Rally would guard. In our book he packs his suitcase with his turtle toy, his green bone and his yellow ball. No robber would get those away from a corgi. When my kids pack for a trip, they still argue over which toys get a seat. Rally is ready on our coloring pages.

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 Midland Railway Historical Association?

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.

Midland Railway Historical Association: 20 questions answered

What is the Midland Railway Historical Association?

The Midland Railway Historical Association is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational and charitable corporation based in Baldwin City, Kansas. It obtains and restores historic railroad artifacts, equipment and facilities and uses them to operate the Midland Railway as a demonstration excursion railroad that teaches how railroading shaped life in the heartland.

Is it called the Midland Railway Historical Association or Historical Society?

The group's official name is the Midland Railway Historical Association, though people sometimes search for it as a historical society. The association operates the Midland Railway, the excursion line between Baldwin City and Ottawa. If you are looking for membership or volunteer information, search for the Association name.

What is the history of the Midland Railway in Kansas?

The Midland Railway was chartered in 1982 to find an abandoned railroad line to operate. In 1987 it bought the former Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe line from Baldwin City toward Ottawa Junction and began running excursion trains on part of it later that year. The Midland Historic Railway was listed on the National Register in 1983.

Is the Midland Railway in Baldwin City still running?

The railroad does not post a current operating schedule online, and some recent descriptions refer to it in the past tense. Its related Kansas Belle dinner train did not return after the 2020 season. Before planning a trip, check for recent news or ask in Baldwin City whether excursions are running this year.

Where is the Midland Railway in Baldwin City?

Directory listings place the Midland Railway Historical Association at 1515 High Street in Baldwin City, Kansas 66006. Baldwin City is in Douglas County, south of Lawrence. The railroad's line runs from Baldwin City toward Ottawa in Franklin County. Confirm the boarding location before you go.

How much does it cost to ride the Midland Railway?

The Midland Railway does not post current fares online. Its website has listed a page for its operating schedule, departure times and fares, but no up-to-date prices are available. Check for current information before you travel, and expect special event trains to have their own pricing.

When does the Midland Railway run train rides?

The railroad has historically run excursion trains seasonally, along with special trains for the Maple Leaf Festival and fall haunted rides. A current schedule is not posted online. Look for recent announcements before visiting, since the operating status of the line is not clear.

What are the Midland Railway Maple Leaf Festival train rides?

During Baldwin City's Maple Leaf Festival, the Midland has run train rides on Saturday and Sunday. Riders were warned that the Bart Plasterson Gang might try to rob the train, a staged bit of fun for kids. Check festival information each fall to see whether train rides are part of the schedule.

Does the Midland Railway do haunted train rides?

The Midland has offered Haunted Train Rides with haunted house thrills on board, and the scares increase on later trains. Families with young children should choose the earliest departure. Dates are not posted online, so look for current announcements each October.

Is the Midland Railway good for kids?

The Midland's events have been built with families in mind, from festival trains with pretend train robbers to Scouting programs and school days. A train ride on a real former Santa Fe branch line is the main draw for kids. The railroad does not post age or accessibility guidance online.

Does the Midland Railway offer school field trips?

The association has offered School Days programs for classes, along with Scouting programs and group charters. Details and current availability are not posted online. Teachers should reach out well ahead of the school year to ask whether programs are being offered.

Can I charter a Midland Railway train for a group?

The Midland has offered group charters, which have been a way for clubs, families and companies to book a train of their own. Pricing and availability are not posted online. Ask the association directly about whether charters are currently possible.

Does the Midland Railway offer free rides for military and first responders?

The Midland has run a July promotion where military, police, fire, ambulance, rescue and others who serve in uniform rode free with official ID. It is not clear whether this offer continues, so confirm before you go. If you qualify, bring your official ID and ask when you arrive.

What equipment does the Midland Railway have?

The association keeps an equipment roster and photo pages on its website, but they are not currently up to date online. Its mission centers on restoring historically significant locomotives, cars and artifacts and operating them on the line between Baldwin City and Ottawa.

What was the Kansas Belle Dinner Train?

The Kansas Belle was the Midland Railway's dinner train in Baldwin City, offering year-round dining reminiscent of the 1940s aboard vintage cars. It did not return after the 2020 season. Families looking for a dinner train ride in Kansas now look to other railroads in the state.

Is the Midland Railway on the National Register of Historic Places?

Yes. The Midland Historic Railway was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. That listing recognizes the historic significance of the railroad line itself, which the Midland later bought from the Santa Fe in 1987 to run excursion trains.

How do I join the Midland Railway Historical Association?

The association has offered memberships through a form on its website, and it is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit, so contributions are generally tax-deductible. Members help restore equipment and operate trains. Check the association's website for the current membership form and contact.

Can I volunteer with the Midland Railway?

The Midland Railway is run by members of its historical association, who restore equipment and work the trains. Joining as a member is the usual first step toward volunteering. Current volunteer contacts are not posted online, so start with the membership information on its website.

How far is the Midland Railway from Ottawa and Lawrence?

Baldwin City is about 12 miles from Ottawa and about 14 miles from Lawrence. The Midland's line once connected Baldwin City toward Ottawa Junction, and both Ottawa and Lawrence have historic depot museums of their own, which make easy add-ons to a visit.

What train museums are near the Midland Railway in Baldwin City?

The Old Depot Museum in Ottawa is about 12 miles away and the Historic Santa Fe Depot in Lawrence about 14 miles. The Kansas Museum of History in Topeka is about 32 miles, and the Belton, Grandview and Kansas City Railroad in Missouri is about 35 miles from Baldwin City.

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