Orrville Railroad Heritage Society, Ohio

Written By Kelsey Cecil

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

Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesTrain and speeder rides April to December; depot museum by arrangement during nearby park construction

Since 1978, the all-volunteer Orrville Railroad Heritage Society has saved the town's 1868 Pennsylvania Railroad Union Depot and signal tower, run more than 130 mainline excursions, and today offers train and speeder rides at its own rail yard.

  • Founded in 1978
  • 1868 PRR Union Depot
  • Train and speeder rides
  • GP7u #471 and ALCO RSD1 #805
  • Ride in a locomotive cab
  • All-volunteer, about 200 members

Orrville Railroad Heritage Society at a glance

Hours
Rides on scheduled dates April to December; depot museum by appointment, call (330) 683-2426
Admission
Open-air car $15; coach or caboose $20; locomotive jump seat $25 (plus online fees); lap children 2 and under free
Train rides
Train rides of about 40 to 45 minutes and speeder rides of about 30 minutes, April to December, rain or shine
Seasonal events
Orrville Railroad Day, Pumpkin Hayride, Riding with Santa, Throttle Time, Wooster Train
Plan for
About 1 to 2 hours for a ride and the gift shop
Best for
Families wanting a short train ride and rail fans who want cab time
Best ages
Ages 2 and up

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

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Orrville Railroad Heritage Society? 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 Orrville.

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

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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 a railroad town saved its depot and kept the trains running

Orrville owes its very existence to the railroad. In 1868 the Pennsylvania Railroad built a union depot here where its Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago line met the Cleveland, Akron & Columbus. A century later, in 1978, a small group of enthusiasts formed the Orrville Railroad Heritage Committee to protect that story. They incorporated as a nonprofit on December 30, 1980, opened membership to the public in 1981, and held the first Depot Days that same year, the start of today's Orrville Railroad Day.

In 1982 the committee bought and restored the depot and also bought the PRR signal tower, moving it across the tracks to stand beside the station. A PRR class N5C caboose joined them in 1989 to complete a heritage cluster. To pay for restoration, the group ran mainline excursions behind famous steam locomotives such as Nickel Plate 765, Chesapeake & Ohio 2765 and Norfolk & Western 611 and 1218, plus diesels from several railroads. More than 130 trips carried over 90,000 passengers.

The group bought its own F-units in 1984, refurbished passenger cars, and took its current name in 1992. In 2000 it replaced the aging F-units with GP7u #471, and it restored the Fairmont motor car known as Millie. Today the society has about 200 members, every one a volunteer, and runs its rides from a rail yard on South Crown Hill Road.

Two stops: the rail yard and the Union Depot

All train and speeder rides leave from the ORHS rail yard at 2174 South Crown Hill Road, between Scotts Miracle-Gro and Catrone Trucking. Riders choose open-air car #501, the 66-seat open-window coach #208 nicknamed Phanton, or caboose #21032, and the train rolls through the rail facility and down to the bridge over North Fork Sugar Creek. Train rides last about 40 to 45 minutes and speeder rides about 30. Guests 16 and older can book the jump seat in the locomotive cab, and the Caboose Gift Shop is open at every public event.

Downtown, the 1868 Orrville Union Depot at 145 Depot Street holds railroad displays in the main waiting room, artifact cases in the old freight office, a ticket office restored as the PRR ran it and a gift shop in the Station Master's office. The signal tower and N5C caboose stand next to it. Depot hours are limited during construction of a new park next door, so call to arrange a time.

Don’t miss

  1. GP7u #471Built by EMD in 1950 for the Maine Central, it later ran commuter trains in Connecticut and was rebuilt by Amtrak before arriving in Orrville in 2000.
  2. ALCO RSD1 #805Built in 1943 for the U.S. Army for use on the Trans-Iranian Railway in World War II; the society is raising money for its restoration.
  3. Caboose #21032Newly available for rides, with room for up to 10 guests.
  4. The Orrville signal towerThe former PRR tower that controlled the junction, moved beside the depot in 1982.
  5. Throttle TimeSpecial events where guests get time at the controls of #471 or the speeders.
  6. The restored ticket officeSet up inside the 1868 depot much as it looked when the Pennsylvania Railroad sold tickets there.

Open-air cars, speeders and Santa

Kids can ride in the open-air car, look out the windows of the coach or squeeze into the caboose, and lap children 2 and under ride free. Speeder rides are shorter, about 30 minutes, which works well for younger children. Seasonal events like the Pumpkin Hayride and Riding with Santa are built for families.

Trains and speeders run rain or shine, so dress for the weather, especially in the open-air car. Older kids and teens 16 and up can book the locomotive jump seat to see how the engineer runs the train.

Plan your visit: tips for Orrville Railroad Heritage Society

  • Rides leave from the rail yard at 2174 S Crown Hill Rd, not the downtown depot.
  • Book online through etix; some events sell tickets on site only.
  • Boarding starts 10 minutes before departure, and tickets are non-refundable.
  • Call to arrange a depot visit while the new park next door is under construction.
  • Ask about group rates for a day not on the schedule.

The society's holiday rides include the Pumpkin Hayride in the fall and Riding with Santa in December, both at the rail yard, along with the long-running Orrville Railroad Day. Check the downloadable schedule for dates and special pricing. For more ideas, see our lists of Christmas train rides in Ohio and Halloween train rides in Ohio.

About 200 volunteers and an open door

Everyone in the Orrville Railroad Heritage Society is a volunteer, from the board to the train crews. The society welcomes help of every kind: office work, hosting, and maintenance and restoration of buildings and rolling stock. Anyone can join, and monthly meetings on the last Thursday at 6 pm at the depot are open to the public. You can also give to the GoFundMe for the #805 restoration or support the Operation Lifesaver rail safety program.

More trains within an easy drive of Orrville

The Northern Ohio Railway Museum and its streetcars are about 15 miles north. The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad is about 21 miles away, and the Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum about 26 miles south. Our guide to Ohio train museums has the rest.

Every train museum in Ohio

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi looking out an arched train window at the ocean and a white bird
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

The open-window coach here rolls down to a bridge over North Fork Sugar Creek, and I can picture little ones leaning toward the glass to see the water below. In our book, Rally does the same thing from an arched window, spotting the ocean and saying hello to a white bird. Water from a train window feels like magic to kids. Our train books for toddlers list has more.

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 Orrville Railroad Heritage Society?

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.

Orrville Railroad Heritage Society: 20 questions about rides and the depot

Does the Orrville Railroad Heritage Society offer train rides?

Yes. As of October 2026, the society runs train and speeder rides from April through December at its rail yard, 2174 South Crown Hill Road, Orrville. Train rides last about 40 to 45 minutes and go through the rail facility to the bridge over North Fork Sugar Creek. Speeder rides are about 30 minutes. Rides run rain or shine.

How much are Orrville Railroad Heritage Society train ride tickets?

As of October 2026, standard pricing is $15 per seat in open-air car #501 and $20 per seat in coach #208 or caboose #21032, plus online ticketing fees. The locomotive jump seat is $25. Lap children 2 and under ride free. Some events have special pricing, and tickets are non-refundable.

Where do Orrville train rides leave from?

All train and speeder rides leave from the ORHS rail yard at 2174 South Crown Hill Road in Orrville, between Scotts Miracle-Gro and Catrone Trucking. This is a different location from the Orrville Union Depot Museum downtown at 145 Depot Street. Maps to both are on the society's contact page.

How do I book an Orrville Railroad Heritage Society ride?

Most rides can be booked online through etix, linked from the society's events page, where you can also download the season schedule. Tickets for some events are sold only on site, so read each listing carefully. Boarding begins 10 minutes before departure. For a group on a date not on the schedule, call (330) 683-2426.

Can you ride in the locomotive at Orrville?

Yes. Guests 16 and older can book the jump seat in the locomotive cab to see how the train is run, for $25 plus online fees as of October 2026. The society also holds Throttle Time events featuring GP7u #471 and its speeders. Check the events page for dates.

What is the Orrville Union Depot Museum?

It is the 1868 Pennsylvania Railroad Union Depot at 145 Depot Street, bought and restored by the society in 1982. The main waiting room holds railroad displays, the old freight office has artifact cases, the ticket office is restored as the PRR ran it, and the Station Master's office is the Depot Gift Shop.

When is the Orrville Union Depot Museum open?

As of October 2026, depot hours are restricted while a new park is built next door, so the society asks visitors to call (330) 683-2426 to arrange a time. Group tours can also be set up by phone. The rail yard's Caboose Gift Shop is open during all public ride events.

Where can I see photos of the Orrville Railroad Heritage Society?

The society's Facebook page, with more than 7,700 followers, posts photos of rides, events and restoration work. Its website equipment page shows the locomotives and cars, including historic photos of GP7u #471 in its Maine Central, Guilford and Connecticut DOT paint. The society also posts on X.

What do reviews say about the Orrville Railroad Heritage Society?

Travel writers point to the chance to tour historic train cars and engines and the interlocking tower that controlled the junction. For recent visitor reviews of the rides, check the society's Facebook page or Google listing. Volunteers run everything, and proceeds go toward the depot, rail yard and equipment.

Is the Orrville Railroad Heritage Society the same as the Orrville railroad historical society?

Yes, the Orrville Railroad Heritage Society is the railroad history group in Orrville. It began in 1978 as the Orrville Railroad Heritage Committee and adopted its current name in 1992 to reflect how much it had grown. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization run entirely by volunteers.

When was the Orrville Railroad Heritage Society founded?

A small group of railroad enthusiasts founded the Orrville Railroad Heritage Committee in 1978. It was incorporated as a nonprofit on December 30, 1980, opened membership to the public in 1981 and took the name Orrville Railroad Heritage Society in 1992. It now has about 200 paid members.

What locomotives does the Orrville Railroad Heritage Society own?

The main locomotive is GP7u #471, built by EMD in 1950 for the Maine Central and acquired in 2000. The society also owns ALCO RSD1 #805, built in 1943 for the U.S. Army for the Trans-Iranian Railway in World War II, and is raising money for its restoration. Fairmont motor car Millie is in the fleet too.

What famous steam locomotives have run Orrville excursions?

The society's more than 130 mainline excursions, carrying over 90,000 passengers, were pulled by engines such as Nickel Plate 765, Chesapeake & Ohio 2765, Norfolk & Western 611 and 1218, and Ohio Central 1551, 1293 and 6325, plus diesels of Conrail, Norfolk Southern, Ohio Central and Wheeling & Lake Erie.

Does the Orrville Railroad Heritage Society have a Christmas train?

Yes. Riding with Santa is one of the society's holiday events at its rail yard, and the fall schedule includes a Pumpkin Hayride. Dates, times and any special pricing are posted on the events page and in the downloadable season schedule. Book early online through etix where tickets are offered.

Is the Orrville train ride good for toddlers?

It can be. Lap children 2 and under ride free, speeder rides last only about 30 minutes, and the 40 to 45 minute train ride is a manageable length. Rides run rain or shine, and car #501 is open air, so dress small children for the weather. Holiday events like Riding with Santa are aimed at families.

What is Orrville Railroad Day?

Orrville Railroad Day is the society's annual celebration, which began as Depot Days in 1981. During the event the depot's baggage room is used for work projects and craft displays. Check the society's events page or call (330) 683-2426 for this year's date and activities.

Does the Orrville Railroad Heritage Society offer school programs?

Yes. The depot museum hosts Orrville city schools third graders for an annual spring outing, and each year the society gives railroad grade crossing safety sessions to Orrville fourth and eleventh graders through Operation Lifesaver. Other group tours of the depot can be arranged by calling (330) 683-2426.

How can I volunteer with the Orrville Railroad Heritage Society?

The society needs volunteers with all kinds of skills, from office work and hosting to maintenance and restoration of buildings and rolling stock. Monthly meetings, open to anyone, are held on the last Thursday of the month at 6 pm at the Orrville Union Depot. See the volunteer and membership pages for details.

How can I donate to the Orrville Railroad Heritage Society?

The society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and ride ticket prices, less fees, are tax deductible to the extent the law allows. You can give to its GoFundMe for the restoration of ALCO RSD1 #805, become a member, or donate to its Operation Lifesaver rail safety work. Use the contact page or call (330) 683-2426.

What train museums are near Orrville, Ohio?

The Northern Ohio Railway Museum is about 15 miles away, the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad about 21 miles, and the Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum in Sugarcreek about 26 miles. The Lorain & West Virginia Railway is about 33 miles off, and the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum about 39 miles.

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Kelsey Cecil
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