Old Colony & Fall River Railroad Museum, Massachusetts
Railroad museumVolunteer run and open only on select dates; check the museum's Facebook page before visiting
The Old Colony & Fall River Railroad Museum is a not-for-profit, all-volunteer group that keeps the story of Fall River's railroads alive, most recently through a detailed model train display with more than 240 feet of track.
- All-volunteer nonprofit
- Over 240 feet of model track
- Old Colony Railroad history
- Open on select dates only
Old Colony & Fall River Railroad Museum at a glance
- Hours
- Select dates only; check the museum's Facebook page
- Admission
- Not posted online; check Facebook or ask on arrival
- Seasonal events
- Halloween haunted train exhibit
- Plan for
- About 30 to 60 minutes
- Best for
- Young model train fans
- Best ages
- Ages 3 to 10
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
Follow Old Colony & Fall River Railroad Museum
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Old Colony & Fall River 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 Fall River.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $13.99 on Amazon.
See the full bookPage 1 of 8
Like it so far? See the full book
25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.
Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
Remembering the boat train city
The museum takes its name from the Old Colony and Fall River Railroad, which operated from 1854 to 1863 before becoming part of the far larger Old Colony Railroad system. Fall River's railroads were tied to the water: the city was the transfer point for the Old Colony's boat train service between Boston and New York, and for years the museum stood directly across from the former Fall River Line terminal.
The not-for-profit, all-volunteer organization traces its roots to April 1986. A Fall River tourism listing gives its founding as 2002, and Wikipedia describes the original museum in the past tense, so the group's history has had more than one chapter. More recently, Fall River's tourism office has described its model railroad display in the same building as the Greater Fall River Children's Museum at 441 North Main Street, with dates set by the volunteers. Confirm the current location on the museum's Facebook page before you go.
Miniature towns and more than 240 feet of track
The highlight now is a model railroad with more than 240 feet of track, where trains wind through carefully detailed miniature towns and buildings. Fall River's tourism office compares it to a moving game of I Spy. Listings also mention restored train cars, vintage locomotives and artifacts about the Old Colony Railroad and its role in the city; ask the volunteers what is on display when you visit.
Don’t miss
- The model railroadOver 240 feet of track running through detailed miniature towns, built and run by volunteers.
- Old Colony Railroad artifactsPhotographs, documents and memorabilia about the railroad that linked Fall River to Boston and the boat trains to New York.
- The Halloween haunted train exhibitA seasonal display that families on Tripadvisor mention visiting near Halloween.
An I Spy game on rails
Model trains running through tiny towns hold small children's attention, and the I Spy style of looking for details works for preschoolers and grade schoolers alike. Families have also mentioned a haunted train exhibit near Halloween. Because the museum opens only on select dates, check Facebook before promising a visit.
Plan your visit: tips for Old Colony & Fall River Railroad Museum
- Check the museum's Facebook page for open dates before you go.
- Recent listings place the model display at 441 North Main Street with the Greater Fall River Children's Museum; confirm before driving.
- Ask about the Halloween haunted train exhibit in October.
Near Halloween, the volunteers have set up a haunted train exhibit that families pair with other October outings in Fall River. For more ideas, see our list of Halloween train rides in Massachusetts.
Run entirely by volunteers
The museum is a not-for-profit, all-volunteer educational and historical organization. Every open day depends on members who build and run the layout, so the best way to help is to visit when it is open and send the group a message on Facebook to ask about volunteering or membership.
More rail stops around Fall River
The Newport Railway runs about 9 miles away in Rhode Island, and the Slater Mill and Blackstone Valley railway exhibits are about 17 miles. Edaville in Carver is about 22 miles off. See every train museum in Massachusetts.
- Newport Railway / Newport & Narragansett Bay RailroadPortsmouth / Newport, RI · about 9 mi
- Slater Mill / Blackstone Valley railway-history exhibitsPawtucket, RI · about 17 mi
- Edaville Family Theme Park historic railroad collectionCarver, MA · about 22 mi
- Rhode Island Railroad MuseumWoonsocket area, RI · about 26 mi
- Woonsocket Depot historic railway siteWoonsocket, RI · about 28 mi
- Boston Street Railway Association historic collectionBoston area, MA · about 45 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
A haunted train exhibit near Halloween sounds like the dark part of a tunnel to me, the moment when little hands reach for a grown-up's sleeve. In our book, Rally rides into a dark tunnel with Mom and Dad, and then a big bright light bursts in and everyone cheers. The dark never lasts. Our train books for toddlers list has more gentle adventures.
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 Massachusetts: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Massachusetts
- Halloween train rides in Massachusetts
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Old Colony & Fall River 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
- Old Colony & Fall River Railroad Museum on Facebook(opens in a new tab)
- Old Colony & Fall River Railroad Museum on Tripadvisor(opens in a new tab)
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Old Colony & Fall River Railroad Museum: 20 questions answered
Is the Old Colony & Fall River Railroad Museum still open?
The museum still exists as an all-volunteer group, but it is open only on select dates. Wikipedia describes its original museum in the past tense, while a 2024 Fall River tourism listing describes its model railroad as open on select dates. Check the museum's Facebook page for upcoming hours before you visit.
Where is the Old Colony & Fall River Railroad Museum?
Fall River's tourism office lists the museum in the same building as the Greater Fall River Children's Museum at 441 North Main Street in Fall River. The original museum stood across from the former Fall River Line terminal. Confirm the current location on the museum's Facebook page before you drive.
What are the Old Colony & Fall River Railroad Museum hours?
The museum does not keep regular weekly hours. Because it is volunteer run, it opens only on select dates, which it posts on its Facebook page along with upcoming events. Check there shortly before your visit, since dates can change.
How much does the Old Colony & Fall River Railroad Museum cost?
The museum does not post admission prices online. Message the museum through its Facebook page to ask about fees, or bring a little cash in case there is a small admission or donation box on the day you visit.
What can you see at the Old Colony & Fall River Railroad Museum?
The main attraction is a model railroad with more than 240 feet of track, running through detailed miniature towns and buildings. Listings also mention artifacts, photographs and documents about the Old Colony Railroad and Fall River. Ask the volunteers what is on display during your visit.
How big is the model railroad at the Old Colony & Fall River Railroad Museum?
The layout has more than 240 feet of track. Fall River's tourism office describes it as a moving game of I Spy, with trains passing through detailed miniature towns where visitors can spend a long time spotting small scenes and buildings.
Is the Old Colony & Fall River Railroad Museum good for kids?
Yes, especially for young model train fans. The detailed layout invites kids to hunt for small scenes, and the museum's listing describes it as a good stop for all ages. Families on Tripadvisor also mention a haunted train exhibit near Halloween.
Does the Old Colony & Fall River Railroad Museum do a Halloween exhibit?
Families on Tripadvisor describe visiting a haunted train exhibit near Halloween and pairing it with other October outings in Fall River. The museum does not post a fixed schedule online, so check its Facebook page in early fall for this year's plans.
What was the Old Colony and Fall River Railroad?
The Old Colony and Fall River Railroad operated from 1854 to 1863 and then became part of the extensive Old Colony Railroad system. Fall River was the transfer point for the Old Colony's boat train service, which connected Boston with steamers to New York.
What were the Old Colony Railroad stations around Fall River?
The museum does not publish a station list online. The most famous Fall River connection was the Fall River Line terminal, where boat trains from Boston met steamers to New York; the original museum stood across from it. Ask the volunteers for station history when the museum is open.
When was the Old Colony & Fall River Railroad Museum founded?
The museum's own Facebook description says the organization dates back to April 1986. A Fall River tourism listing gives 2002 as its founding date, which may refer to a later stage in the museum's history. Either way, it has been run by volunteers throughout.
Who runs the Old Colony & Fall River Railroad Museum?
The museum is a not-for-profit, all-volunteer educational and historical organization. Its volunteers build and run the model railroad and decide the open dates, which is why hours are limited. Reach them through the museum's Facebook page.
How do I contact the Old Colony & Fall River Railroad Museum?
The museum does not list a phone number or email address online. The best way to reach the volunteers is to send a message through the museum's Facebook page, which is also where it announces open dates and events.
Can I volunteer at the Old Colony & Fall River Railroad Museum?
The museum is run entirely by volunteers, so help with the layout and open days is likely welcome. It does not post a volunteer form online; message the museum's Facebook page to ask about joining or becoming a member.
Is the Old Colony & Fall River Railroad Museum near the Children's Museum?
Yes. Fall River's tourism office says the museum is in the same building as the Greater Fall River Children's Museum at 441 North Main Street. That makes it easy to combine the two on a family outing, as long as the railroad museum is open that day.
How long should I plan at the Old Colony & Fall River Railroad Museum?
Most visitors need about 30 minutes to an hour to watch the trains and look for details on the layout. Families with very curious kids may stay longer playing the I Spy game the display invites.
Is there parking at the Old Colony & Fall River Railroad Museum?
The museum does not post parking details online. If you are visiting the North Main Street building, ask the museum on Facebook or check with the Greater Fall River Children's Museum about where to park.
Is the Old Colony & Fall River Railroad Museum wheelchair accessible?
The museum does not list accessibility information online. Because its location and setup have changed over the years, message the museum on Facebook before you go to ask about entrances, steps and space around the layout.
Does the Old Colony & Fall River Railroad Museum have train rides?
No. The museum focuses on a model railroad and historical displays rather than rides. For a train ride nearby, the Newport Railway in Rhode Island is about 9 miles away, and Edaville in Carver runs holiday trains about 22 miles away.
What train museums are near the Old Colony & Fall River Railroad Museum?
The Newport Railway is about 9 miles away, the Slater Mill and Blackstone Valley railway exhibits in Pawtucket about 17 miles, and Edaville in Carver about 22 miles. The Rhode Island Railroad Museum is roughly 26 miles away.
Keep exploring
More family train guides from Rally
- DirectoryRailway Museum Directory650 train museums in all 50 states, with hours, tickets and train rides.
- HolidayChristmas Train RidesSanta trains and holiday light rides, sorted by state and town.
- OctoberHalloween Train RidesPumpkin trains and not-too-spooky rides for little ones, by state.
- NovemberThanksgiving Train RidesHoliday weekend train trips the whole family can share.
- AmtrakAmtrak With KidsWhich Amtrak routes work best with babies, toddlers and big kids.
- Plan a tripTrain Trips With KidsEvery Amtrak route, stop by stop, planned for families.