Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway in Osceola, Wisconsin, Minnesota
Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesExcursions run May through October from the Osceola depot
The Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway is the Minnesota Transportation Museum's excursion line, carrying riders in restored vintage cars from the Osceola depot through the bluffs and woods of the St. Croix River Valley.
- Run by the Minnesota Transportation Museum
- Departs 114 Depot Rd, Osceola
- Crosses the St. Croix into Minnesota
- Former Soo Line track
- Excursions May through October
Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway at a glance
- Hours
- Seasonal, May through October; check trainride.org for departure times
- Admission
- Fall Colors Train: adults 16+ $42.80, seniors 62+ and military $39.59, ages 6 to 15 $26.75, ages 3 to 5 $17.12, lap infants up to 3; family of four $133.75
- Train rides
- Fall Colors Train (90 minutes), Pumpkin Express (50 minutes to Dresser), plus themed trains and charters, May through October
- Seasonal events
- Fall Colors Train, Pumpkin Express, Ice Cream Train, Wine and Beer Train
- Plan for
- About 1.5 to 3 hours
- Best for
- Families and fall color seekers
- Best ages
- All ages
- Accessibility
- A lift reaches specific doors; doorways between cars are narrow and uneven, so wheelchair riders may need to stay in the car they board.
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
- Address114 Depot Rd, Osceola, WI 54020(opens in a new tab)
- Phone(651) 228-0263
- Emailoffice@trainride.org
- Websitetrainride.org/all-rides(opens in a new tab)
Follow Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Osceola & St. Croix Valley 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 Osceola, Wisconsin.
Rally Takes the Train
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A museum railroad on old Soo Line rails
The Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway is owned and operated by the Minnesota Transportation Museum, the St. Paul nonprofit headquartered at the Jackson Street Roundhouse. The museum runs its trains on track built by the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad, better known as the Soo Line, and now owned by the Canadian National Railway.
Trips begin at the depot in Osceola, Wisconsin. Northbound trains head to Dresser, Wisconsin, while the longer southbound run follows the sandstone bluffs of the St. Croix River, crosses into Minnesota on the Cedar Bend Draw Bridge and reaches Marine on St. Croix before returning. Travel Wisconsin describes that river trip as a 20-mile journey.
Like the rest of the Minnesota Transportation Museum, the railroad depends on people who give their time. The museum says its trains may run on diesel, but the organization runs on volunteers, interns and trade students who maintain locomotives, greet passengers and help with events. Ticket sales, charters and donations all go toward preserving history and upgrading the vintage train cars riders sit in.
Bluffs, river views and restored coaches
You check in at the Osceola depot, where tickets are will call: give your name at the window and collect boarding passes that get punched once you are seated and make a nice keepsake. From there the train rolls into the St. Croix River Valley, past rolling bluffs, forests and river views that change with each season.
The Fall Colors Train is a 90-minute round trip timed for peak autumn foliage, with snacks and drinks for sale aboard, including local craft beer. The Pumpkin Express is a 50-minute round trip to Dresser that includes all-day admission to a fall festival, with trains running back and forth about every hour. Through the season the railroad also runs themed trips such as the Ice Cream Train and a Wine and Beer Train, and private cars or whole trains can be chartered.
Don’t miss
- Cedar Bend Draw BridgeThe southbound route crosses the St. Croix River into Minnesota on this bridge, a highlight of the trip to Marine on St. Croix.
- The Fall Colors TrainA 90-minute round trip through the valley at peak foliage, and the railroad's most requested fall ride.
- Pumpkin Express to DresserA short 50-minute round trip that includes a day at the fall festival, with trains about every hour so families can come and go.
- Your punched boarding passTickets are collected at the window and punched once you are seated, a small souvenir kids like to keep.
Pick the Pumpkin Express for small riders
The 50-minute Pumpkin Express is the easiest fit for toddlers and preschoolers, and the festival at Dresser gives them a place to run around between trains. The 90-minute Fall Colors Train suits kids who can sit and look out the window a little longer. Infants up to age 3 ride on a lap.
Arrive 30 minutes early, because trains leave on time. The vintage cars were built before ADA rules; a lift reaches specific doors, but the passages between cars are narrow and uneven. Tell the ticket agent if anyone in your group needs help boarding.
Plan your visit: tips for Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway
- Arrive 30 minutes before departure; trains leave promptly.
- Tickets are will call at the depot window, and all sales are non-refundable.
- Fall trains sell fast, so book early.
- Bring a camera for the river and the fall color.
- Snacks and drinks, including local craft beer, are sold on board.
Autumn is the railroad's big season. The Pumpkin Express carries families to the festival at Dresser, with all-day festival admission included, and the Fall Colors Train runs through the valley as the leaves turn. For more fall ideas on both sides of the river, see our guides to Halloween train rides in Minnesota and Halloween train rides in Wisconsin.
The museum volunteers behind the trains
The Minnesota Transportation Museum runs the railroad with volunteers, interns and trade students, and it welcomes new helpers whether or not they know trains. You can support the line by riding, chartering a car, buying a gift card or membership, or donating toward upgrading the train cars. To volunteer, call (651) 228-0263.
The rest of the museum, and more nearby
The railroad's parent, the Minnesota Transportation Museum, welcomes visitors to the Jackson Street Roundhouse in St. Paul. The Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum in Chisago City is about 30 miles from the museum's home base, and the Twin City Model Railroad Museum is in St. Paul too. Browse Minnesota's train museums for more.
- Minnesota Transportation MuseumSt. Paul, MN · same town
- Twin City Model Railroad MuseumSt. Paul, MN · about 4 mi
- Minnesota Streetcar MuseumMinneapolis / Excelsior, MN · about 11 mi
- Ironhorse Central Railroad MuseumChisago City, MN · about 30 mi
- Gopher State Railway MuseumNew Prague, MN · about 36 mi
- Wisconsin Great Northern RailroadTrego, WI · about 88 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
On this railroad your boarding pass gets punched once you sit down, and I love that little ritual. In our book, Mr. Conductor comes down the aisle in his blue uniform and holds out a hand to Rally, who is very proud to be on board with Mom and Dad. My kids save every ticket stub they get. If yours do too, our coloring pages make a nice companion to the souvenir.
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 Minnesota: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Minnesota
- Halloween train rides in Minnesota
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Osceola & St. Croix Valley 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
- Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway official website(opens in a new tab)
- Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway on Facebook(opens in a new tab)
- Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway on Instagram(opens in a new tab)
- Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway on YouTube(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.
Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway: 20 rider questions
How much are Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway tickets?
As of October 2026, Fall Colors Train tickets are $42.80 for adults 16 and up, $39.59 for seniors 62 and up and for military and veterans with ID, $26.75 for ages 6 to 15, and $17.12 for ages 3 to 5. Infants up to 3 ride on a lap. A family bundle of two adults and two children is $133.75.
How much is the Pumpkin Express on the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway?
As of October 2026, Pumpkin Express tickets start at $42.80. The fare covers a 50-minute round trip from Osceola to Dresser plus all-day admission to the festival there. Trains run back and forth about every hour, so you can choose when to return. Tickets sell quickly in fall.
Is there a map of the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway route?
The railroad does not post a detailed route map on its ride pages. Trains leave the depot at 114 Depot Rd in Osceola, Wisconsin. Northbound trips go to Dresser, Wisconsin, and the longer southbound trip follows the St. Croix River bluffs and crosses the Cedar Bend Draw Bridge to Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota.
Do Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway trains run in bad weather?
The railroad does not post a weather policy on its ride pages, and all ticket sales are non-refundable. The coaches are enclosed vintage cars, so a gray fall day still makes for a fine ride. If a storm is coming, call (651) 228-0263 before you drive to Osceola to ask whether trains are running.
Where does the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway depart from?
All trips leave from the depot at 114 Depot Rd, Osceola, Wisconsin 54020. The railroad belongs to the Minnesota Transportation Museum, whose office is in St. Paul, but you board in Osceola. Arrive 30 minutes before departure to pick up your will call tickets.
Who runs the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway?
The Minnesota Transportation Museum owns and operates the railroad. The museum is based at the Jackson Street Roundhouse in St. Paul, and it runs the Osceola trains with help from volunteers, interns and trade students. Tickets are sold on the museum's website, trainride.org.
When does the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway run?
Excursions run May through October, with the busiest stretch in fall for the Fall Colors Train and Pumpkin Express. Departure dates and times change each year, so check the ride listings on trainride.org before you plan your trip.
How long is the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway ride?
The Fall Colors Train is a 90-minute round trip, and the Pumpkin Express to Dresser is a 50-minute round trip. Travel Wisconsin describes the river trip to Marine on St. Croix as a 20-mile journey. Plan extra time for the festival at Dresser on Pumpkin Express days.
What is the Fall Colors Train on the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway?
It is a 90-minute round trip through the St. Croix River Valley in a restored vintage train, timed for peak autumn foliage. Snacks and drinks, including local craft beer, are sold aboard. As of October 2026, adult tickets are $42.80, and seats sell quickly once the leaves start to turn.
Is the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway good for kids?
Yes. All ages can ride, and the 50-minute Pumpkin Express is a good length for small children, with a festival at the far end. Infants up to 3 ride on a lap. Bring a camera, arrive early so no one feels rushed, and expect older kids to enjoy keeping their punched boarding pass.
Is the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway wheelchair accessible?
Partly. The passenger cars were all built before ADA rules. A lift reaches specific doors, and once aboard, riders who can walk may move between cars, but the doorways are narrow and the passages uneven, so wheelchair and scooter users may need to stay in the car they board. Tell the ticket agent if you need help.
How do tickets work at the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway?
Buy tickets online at trainride.org. All tickets are will call: give your name at the depot ticket window to get your boarding passes, which are punched once you are seated. Arrive 30 minutes before departure, since trains leave promptly, and remember that all sales are non-refundable.
Are there discounts on Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway tickets?
Yes. As of October 2026, seniors 62 and up and military members and veterans with valid ID pay $39.59 instead of $42.80 on the Fall Colors Train, and a family bundle for two adults and two children is $133.75. Gift cards in any amount are also sold online.
Is there food on the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway?
Snacks and beverages are sold on board the Fall Colors Train, including local craft beer. The railroad also runs themed trips like the Ice Cream Train and a Wine and Beer Train during the season. Check the ride listing for what is served on the trip you book.
Can you charter the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway?
Yes. You can reserve a single private car while sharing the train with other riders, or charter the whole train for weddings, company events, reunions or school groups. Charters can include narration, seasonal themes and custom trip lengths when available. Use the charter request form on trainride.org.
Do school groups ride the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway?
Yes. The Minnesota Transportation Museum offers field trips and community group experiences, and schools can charter cars on the Osceola line for scenic, hands-on history outings. Fill out the charter and field trip form on trainride.org or call (651) 228-0263 to plan a date.
Does the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway cross into Minnesota?
Yes. The southbound trip from Osceola follows the sandstone bluffs of the St. Croix River and crosses into Minnesota on the Cedar Bend Draw Bridge, stopping at Marine on St. Croix before returning to Osceola, Wisconsin.
What track does the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway use?
The railroad runs on track built by the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad, the Soo Line, which is now owned by the Canadian National Railway. The Minnesota Transportation Museum operates its excursion trains over that line.
How can I support the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway?
Ride the train, buy a Minnesota Transportation Museum membership, which starts at $26.75, or donate online to help preserve history and upgrade the train cars. The museum also welcomes volunteers of all skill levels; call (651) 228-0263 or email office@trainride.org.
What other train museums are near the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway?
The Minnesota Transportation Museum's Jackson Street Roundhouse in St. Paul has more than 50 vintage train cars and Saturday rides. The Twin City Model Railroad Museum and the Minnesota Streetcar Museum are in the Twin Cities, and the Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum is in Chisago City, Minnesota.
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