Northern Ohio Railway Museum in Seville, Ohio

Oct 19

Seville, Ohio · Updated October 19, 2026 · 13 min read

Trolley and streetcar museumTrain ridesOpen Saturdays late May to late September; 2026 season has ended, returning in 2027

Since 1965, the Northern Ohio Railway Museum has been collecting, restoring and running the streetcars and interurbans that once carried people across northern Ohio, on 42 acres of the old Cleveland and Southwestern interurban right-of-way near Chippewa Lake.

Founded in 1965
Over 40 vintage rail cars
Streetcar rides on select Saturdays
Built on old interurban right-of-way
Discovery Track play area for kids
Gift shop inside a PRR boxcar

Northern Ohio Railway Museum at a glance

Hours: Saturdays, late May to late September, 10 am to 4 pm; trolley rides on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays
Admission: Operating days: adults and teens $7, ages 6 to 12 $3, 5 and under free; walking tour days $3
Train rides: Historic streetcar rides every 30 minutes, 11 am to 3:30 pm, on select Saturdays May to September, weather permitting
Seasonal events: Operating Day Trolley Rides, Public Walking Tours, Story Time at NORM, Media Morning history programs
Plan for: About 2 to 3 hours on an operating day
Best for: Families with young kids and electric railway fans
Best ages: Toddlers to age 12
Accessibility: A wheelchair lift gives access to Car 109, a 1954 Cleveland Transit System rapid transit car.

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

Contact and directions

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Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Northern Ohio Railway 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 Seville.

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.

Bringing the interurban back to the Chippewa Valley

The Northern Ohio Railway Museum began in 1965 as a group of electric railway enthusiasts determined to save the streetcars and interurbans of their region. The group received 501(c)(3) status in 1966 and incorporated in Ohio in 1976. Its mission is to collect, preserve and maintain the streetcars, artifacts and equipment tied to the story of transit in northern Ohio, and above all to build an operating museum where that equipment can run for the public again.

Home is a 42-acre site in the Chippewa Valley in Westfield Township. It includes two miles of former Cleveland and Southwestern interurban right-of-way, the kind of electric line that once linked towns across this part of Ohio, along with a 30-acre parcel for carbarns, yards and visitor facilities. The museum also holds an easement on two more acres for a planned loop near Lake Road.

Members have built the place piece by piece. The Anson W. Bennett Carhouse went up in 1997, the Rowen S. Prunkard Maintenance Facility in 2000 to house the work trucks and tractors, and the John R. McCarthy Carhouse in 2003. Every structure follows a long-range master plan that calls for seven buildings, room for 42 full-size cars indoors, and a demonstration railroad of more than three miles giving a five-mile round trip. Over a mile of that track is already in place.

The membership numbers roughly 180 electric railway devotees from across the United States and Canada, most of them in northeastern Ohio. Volunteers restore 100-year-old cars in the workshop, guide tours, staff the store and run the trolleys on operating days.

Carbarns, a demonstration track and cars from the 1890s to the 1970s

The collection of more than 40 vintage rail cars lives inside the two big carbarns, where docent-led and self-guided walking tours take you through the era of interurbans and streetcars. The equipment spans more than 75 years of electric railway history, from the 1890s through the 1970s, and walking tours include the restoration shop, so you may see volunteers at work on a car. This is not a hands-off place: the museum invites visitors to step inside the cars and look at the craftsmanship up close.

On operating Saturdays, a restored streetcar, trolley or rapid transit car carries riders on the demonstration track, with a volunteer conductor telling stories about the people who built, worked and rode these cars. The museum also screens THE TROLLEY, a 46-minute film first made for IMAX, in large-screen HD every hour, and says it is the only place in Ohio to see it. Before you leave, step into the Boxcar Store, set inside an authentic Pennsylvania Railroad boxcar.

Don’t miss

Car 109A 1954 rapid transit car built for the Cleveland Transit System, and the car with a wheelchair lift for riders with mobility needs.
A ride on the demonstration trackDepartures run every half hour on operating Saturdays, with the hum of the motors and the bell ringing as the car rolls along the old interurban route.
THE TROLLEY filmA 46-minute film originally made for IMAX screens, shown hourly, and according to the museum not screened anywhere else in Ohio.
The Anson W. Bennett and John R. McCarthy CarhousesThe two large carbarns that shelter the collection, built by the museum in 1997 and 2003.
The Boxcar StoreRailway books, toys and local history gifts sold from inside a genuine PRR boxcar.
Hands-On HistoryA rotating exhibit where kids and adults handle real tools and everyday objects and see how one technology changed over time.

Wooden trains, a working farebox and story time among the streetcars

The Discovery Track is a shaded outdoor space built for young visitors. Kids can build a railroad with classic wooden trains at the train tables, color at the coloring station and try a working vintage trolley farebox, while rotating activities change through the season. It is open on regular operating days and is included with admission. Story Time at NORM reads children's books surrounded by historic streetcars, tying each story to something kids can see around them.

Children 5 and under ride free with an adult, and the museum describes its experience as hands-on and suited to all ages. Discovery Track and Hands-On History are offered on operating days only, so pick a trolley Saturday if you are bringing little ones.

Plan your visit: tips for Northern Ohio Railway Museum

Go on a 2nd or 4th Saturday to get the trolley ride, Discovery Track and Hands-On History.
Arrive by 3 pm to see everything; the last ride leaves at 3:30 pm.
Buy ride tickets on site at the Museum Store.
Rides are weather permitting, so check the museum's Facebook page for same-day updates.
Members ride and visit free.

Run by about 180 electric railway volunteers

The Northern Ohio Railway Museum is a nonprofit run by its members and volunteers, who restore cars, lay track, lead tours, staff the store and operate the trolleys. The museum is always looking for help with tours, the store and the trolley operations team, and it welcomes donations and memberships. Members ride and visit for free, and anyone can attend the Media Morning history programs at the Hinckley Township Administration Building.

More rail stops around Medina County

The Orrville Railroad Heritage Society is about 15 miles south, and the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad is about 19 miles away for a longer train ride. The Lorain & West Virginia Railway in Wellington is also about 19 miles off. For a full list, see train museums across Ohio.

Every train museum in Ohio

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.

On trolley Saturdays here, volunteer conductors ride along and tell stories about the people who used these cars. That makes me think of Mr. Conductor in our book, in his blue uniform, holding out a hand to welcome Rally aboard. A friendly conductor turns a ride into a memory. If your little one wants to color a conductor of their own, 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

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.

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Work or volunteer at Northern Ohio Railway 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.

Northern Ohio Railway Museum: 20 questions before your trolley ride

Where is the Northern Ohio Railway Museum?

The museum campus is at 5515 Buffham Road, Seville, Ohio 44273, in Westfield Township near Chippewa Lake in Medina County. It is a short drive from Medina Square and the I-76 and I-71 interchange, and about 25 minutes west of downtown Akron. The mailing address is PO Box 458, Chippewa Lake, OH 44215, so use the Buffham Road address in your GPS.

How much are Northern Ohio Railway Museum tickets?

As of October 2026, fares on trolley operating days are $7 for adults and teens 13 and up, $3 for children 6 to 12, and free for kids 5 and under with an adult. On walking tour days without rides, adults and children 6 to 12 pay $3. Museum members are free. Tickets are sold on site at the Museum Store.

What are the Northern Ohio Railway Museum hours?

As of October 2026, the grounds open on Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm during the season, which ran May 23 to September 26 in 2026. Trolley rides run on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays, and the other Saturdays are walking tour days. The 2026 season has ended, so check the museum's website for 2027 dates.

Is the Northern Ohio Railway Museum open now?

Not until next season. The museum's rides page says it is closed for the 2026 season, which wrapped up on September 26, 2026, and it looks forward to welcoming visitors in 2027. Watch the website calendar or the museum's Facebook page for the new operating dates, usually posted ahead of a late May opening.

Can you ride a trolley at the Northern Ohio Railway Museum?

Yes. On select operating Saturdays from May through September, visitors ride a historic electric streetcar, trolley or rapid transit car on the museum's demonstration track. Cars depart every 30 minutes from 11 am, with the last ride at 3:30 pm, weather permitting. Volunteer conductors share stories about the riders and crews of these cars along the way.

What can you see at the Northern Ohio Railway Museum?

The museum holds more than 40 vintage rail cars, mostly streetcars and interurbans, stored in two large carbarns. Docent-led and self-guided walking tours cover equipment from the 1890s through the 1970s and include the restoration shop. There is also a large-screen showing of the film THE TROLLEY, the Discovery Track for kids and a gift shop in a boxcar.

Are there guided tours at the Northern Ohio Railway Museum?

Yes. On open Saturdays, trained volunteer docents lead walking tours every hour on the half hour, starting at 10:30 am with the last at 3:30 pm. The guides know the collection and the history of trolleys in northern Ohio well. Self-guided touring of the carbarns is also available on open days.

What do reviews say about the Northern Ohio Railway Museum?

The museum itself describes a hands-on visit where you can step inside cars and meet volunteers restoring 100-year-old equipment, and that is the experience families tend to talk about. For current visitor reviews and photos, look at the museum's Google listing or its Facebook page, where it also posts updates on operating days.

Where can I see photos of the Northern Ohio Railway Museum?

The museum shares photos of its cars, restoration work and operating days on its Facebook and Instagram accounts, and video on its YouTube channel. The website also has pictures of the collection and the Discovery Track. If you plan to take your own photos for publication, check the museum's posted photo policy first.

Is the Northern Ohio Railway Museum good for toddlers?

Yes, especially on operating days. The Discovery Track is a shaded outdoor play space with classic wooden train tables, a coloring station and a working vintage trolley farebox, and Story Time at NORM reads books among the streetcars. Kids 5 and under ride free with an adult. Discovery Track is open only on operating days.

Is the Northern Ohio Railway Museum wheelchair accessible?

The museum offers a wheelchair lift for riders with mobility issues on Car 109, a 1954 rapid transit car built for the Cleveland Transit System, so wheelchair users can take a ride. For details on getting around the carbarns and grounds, call (330) 769-5501 or email asknorm@northernohiorailwaymuseum.org before your visit.

When was the Northern Ohio Railway Museum founded?

The museum was established in 1965, received 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in 1966 and was incorporated in Ohio in 1976. It was founded by electric railway enthusiasts who wanted to save the streetcars and interurbans of northern Ohio and eventually run them again for the public on an operating museum railway.

What railroad did the Northern Ohio Railway Museum track belong to?

The museum owns two miles of the former Cleveland and Southwestern interurban right-of-way, an electric line that once connected communities in this part of Ohio. Its demonstration railroad is being built along that route. When finished, the plan calls for more than three miles of track and a five-mile round trip, and over a mile is already built.

How long should I spend at the Northern Ohio Railway Museum?

Plan about two to three hours on an operating Saturday, which gives time for a trolley ride, a guided carbarn tour, the 46-minute film THE TROLLEY and the Discovery Track. The museum recommends arriving by 3 pm to enjoy everything, since the grounds close at 4 pm and the last ride leaves at 3:30.

What is THE TROLLEY film at the Northern Ohio Railway Museum?

THE TROLLEY is a 46-minute film originally produced for IMAX screens, shown at the museum every hour in large-screen HD video. The museum says it is the only place in Ohio where you can see it. It makes a good indoor break during a summer visit, especially for older kids and adults.

Does the Northern Ohio Railway Museum have a gift shop?

Yes. The Boxcar Store is set inside an authentic Pennsylvania Railroad boxcar and sells railway books, toys and local history gifts. It is also where you buy ride tickets on operating days. The museum likes to say your visit is not finished until you have stepped inside the boxcar.

Does the Northern Ohio Railway Museum offer school field trips?

Yes. Schools, homeschool groups, daycares and other groups can book a private guided visit with activities matched to the age of the students. The education department also brings off-site presentations, story time, rail safety and STEM programs and artifact displays to venues within 30 miles of Medina. Request a program through the museum's website.

Does the Northern Ohio Railway Museum have a Christmas train?

The museum does not list a Christmas or Halloween train ride in its 2026 calendar. Its regular season runs Saturdays from late May to late September. It does hold Media Morning history programs, open to the public, on the first Saturday of several months including November and December at the Hinckley Township Administration Building.

How can I volunteer at the Northern Ohio Railway Museum?

The museum says it is always looking for volunteers to guide tours, staff the museum store and join the trolley operations team, and members also help restore cars and build track. You can sign up through the volunteer, membership and donate links on its website, or email asknorm@northernohiorailwaymuseum.org to ask where help is needed.

What train museums are near the Northern Ohio Railway Museum?

The Orrville Railroad Heritage Society is about 15 miles away, and both the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad and the Lorain & West Virginia Railway in Wellington are about 19 miles off. The Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum in Sugarcreek is around 41 miles away, and the Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum in Bellevue about 52 miles.

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Kelsey Cecil