Paducah Railroad Museum, Kentucky

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Paducah, Kentucky · Updated October 19, 2026 · 11 min read

Railroad museumOpen Wednesday to Saturday, and when riverboats are docked

The Paducah Railroad Museum, a project of the Paducah Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, keeps western Kentucky's railroad story in downtown Paducah, a half block from the 1925 NC&StL freight house, with artifacts, model trains and a locomotive simulator.

  • Run by the NRHS Paducah Chapter
  • Locomotive cab simulator
  • HO model railroad layout
  • Half block from 1925 freight house
  • Adults $6, children $3
  • Open when riverboats dock

Paducah Railroad Museum at a glance

Hours
Wednesday to Friday noon to 4 pm, Saturday 10 am to 4 pm; also open when riverboats are docked
Admission
Adults $6, children $3
Plan for
About 1 hour
Best for
Rail fans, families and riverboat visitors
Best ages
Ages 4 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 Paducah 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 Paducah.

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.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

A river town's freight house and the railroads that met there

The museum sits at 2nd and Washington, a half block from the old freight house that the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway built in 1925. The NC&StL line from Bruceton, Tennessee began as the Paducah, Tennessee and Alabama Railway, which the Louisville & Nashville acquired in 1895 and leased back to the NC&StL. In 1917 the NC&StL and the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy built a line and a double-track bridge between Paducah and Metropolis, linking southern rails with the Burlington Route to the north and west. The Illinois Central later bought a third interest in the bridge.

Railroaders expected even more connections, so the freight house was built big, with a division superintendent's office upstairs. Those links never came, but a great deal of freight still moved between the Burlington and the NC&StL. From the 1930s into the early 1970s, brokers unloaded thousands of refrigerator cars of fruit and vegetables on the team track behind the building, because favorable freight rates made Paducah a handy place for produce dealers to truck their goods out.

Passenger trains to Bruceton and Hickman ended in 1951, the NC&StL merged into the L&N in 1957, and by 1974 the freight office had moved to the yards. In November 1975 the freight house and its tracks passed to private owners. Today the Paducah Chapter of the NRHS runs the museum with volunteers who host the gallery, guide groups and share the history of the people who built, rode and repaired these trains.

Artifacts, a model layout and a seat in the cab

This is a compact museum, and the volunteers make the most of the space. Exhibits tell the story of western Kentucky's railroads through photographs, tools and memorabilia, showing the trains along with the people who ran, rode and repaired them. A large HO model railroad layout, kept up by a local club, runs through the museum.

The highlight for many visitors is the railroad simulator, which gives the feeling of riding in a locomotive cab. Step outside and walk the half block to see the 1925 NC&StL freight house across the parking lot, the building at the heart of Paducah's freight railroad history. A gift shop stocks books on local rail history.

Don’t miss

  1. The locomotive simulatorA chance for kids and adults to sit in the driver's seat and feel what running a locomotive is like.
  2. The HO model railroadA large layout maintained by a local club, and a favorite with younger visitors.
  3. The 1925 NC&StL freight houseBuilt big for connections that never came, it once held a division superintendent's office and saw thousands of produce cars unloaded behind it.
  4. Western Kentucky rail artifactsPhotos, tools and memorabilia from the railroads that met in Paducah, including the NC&StL, L&N, Burlington and Illinois Central.

Drive the train, then watch the models run

The simulator lets children of all ages imagine themselves running a locomotive, and the HO layout gives smaller kids something to watch. Because the museum is compact, it suits a shorter outing, about an hour, and pairs well with a walk along the downtown riverfront. Children's admission is $3.

Plan your visit: tips for Paducah Railroad Museum

  • Call (270) 908-6451 before you go, since the museum is volunteer staffed.
  • Group tours are welcome Wednesday to Saturday; call ahead to schedule.
  • Check the museum's Facebook page for current events.
  • Walk over to see the 1925 freight house across the parking lot.

Gallery hosts and the NRHS Paducah Chapter

The Paducah Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society operates the museum, and volunteers keep it open. Gallery hosts are needed March to December during open hours, and tour guides help with groups as needed; training is provided. The museum also accepts donations of any amount online, and the gift shop helps support it.

Rail museums within a day trip

Across the Mississippi in Missouri, the Iron Mountain Railway is about 62 miles away. The Beech Creek Railroad Depot Museum is about 81 miles east, and the Casey Jones Home and Railroad Museum is about 99 miles south. See more train museums in Kentucky.

Every train museum in Kentucky

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.

A museum where kids can sit at the controls of a locomotive makes me think about who is in charge on a train. In our book it is Mr. Conductor, kind and calm in his blue uniform, holding out a hand to help Rally on board. A little corgi needs someone like that. My kids are learning to read, and we talk about the crew on every page. Print a scene from our coloring pages for the drive.

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 Paducah 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

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Paducah Railroad Museum: 20 questions before you visit

Where is the Paducah Railroad Museum?

The Paducah Railroad Museum is at 200 Washington Street in downtown Paducah, Kentucky, at the corner of 2nd and Washington. It is a half block from the former NC&StL freight depot. The mailing address is P.O. Box 1194, Paducah, KY 42002, and the phone is (270) 908-6451.

What are the Paducah Railroad Museum hours?

As of October 2026, the museum is open Wednesday through Friday from noon to 4 pm and Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm. It also opens when riverboats are docked in Paducah. Because volunteers staff the galleries, call (270) 908-6451 before you go to confirm.

How much are Paducah Railroad Museum tickets?

As of October 2026, admission is $6 for adults and $3 for children. Tickets are bought at the museum, and there is no need to book ahead for individual visits. Groups are welcome and should call (270) 908-6451 to set up a tour.

What is there to see at the Paducah Railroad Museum?

The museum displays railroad artifacts, photographs, tools and memorabilia that tell the story of western Kentucky's railroads and the people who ran, rode and repaired the trains. There is a large HO model railroad and a simulator that gives the feeling of riding in a locomotive cab.

Does the Paducah Railroad Museum have a train simulator?

Yes. The railroad simulator is one of the museum's most popular features. It gives visitors the sensation of riding in a locomotive cab, and children of all ages can imagine themselves in the driver's seat. Ask a gallery host to help you get started.

Is there a model train at the Paducah Railroad Museum?

Yes. The museum has a large HO scale model railroad layout maintained by a local club. It is a good stop for younger children who enjoy watching trains run, and it pairs well with the simulator for a hands-on visit.

Is the Paducah Railroad Museum good for kids?

Yes, especially for a short outing. Kids can try the locomotive simulator and watch the model trains, and admission for children is only $3. The museum is compact, so most families spend about an hour, then explore downtown Paducah and the riverfront nearby.

Who runs the Paducah Railroad Museum?

The museum is a project of the Paducah Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society and is run by volunteers. They host the galleries, lead group tours, maintain the exhibits and share the history of railroading in western Kentucky.

What is the Paducah freight house?

The freight house, across the parking lot from the museum, was built in 1925 by the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway. It was built large, with a division superintendent's office upstairs, and from the 1930s to the early 1970s thousands of produce cars were unloaded on the track behind it.

Which railroads served Paducah?

The NC&StL, which grew from the Paducah, Tennessee and Alabama Railway, served Paducah along with the Louisville & Nashville and the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy. The Illinois Central, now Canadian National, bought into the Paducah to Metropolis bridge, and the Gulf, Mobile and Northern ran in over NC&StL rails until 1936.

Can you ride a train at the Paducah Railroad Museum?

No. The museum does not offer train rides. The closest ride experience is the locomotive simulator, which gives the feel of a cab ride. For a real excursion train, the Iron Mountain Railway in Jackson, Missouri, is about 62 miles away.

Does the Paducah Railroad Museum offer group tours?

Yes. Group tours are welcome and are available Wednesday through Saturday. Volunteer tour guides are scheduled as needed, so call (270) 908-6451 ahead of time to book a date for a school, scout troop, senior group or riverboat party.

Is the Paducah Railroad Museum open when riverboats are in town?

Yes. The museum says it opens when riverboats are docked in Paducah, in addition to its regular Wednesday through Saturday hours. That makes it an easy stop for cruise passengers exploring downtown. Call ahead if you want to confirm for a specific docking day.

What do reviews say about the Paducah Railroad Museum?

Visitors describe it as a compact, volunteer-run museum with friendly hosts, historic artifacts and a large HO layout. Many mention the simulator as a highlight for kids. Tripadvisor and Yelp carry recent reviews, and Yelp has visitor photos of the exhibits.

Where can I see photos of the Paducah Railroad Museum?

The museum's own website has a photos page, and its Facebook page posts current pictures and events. Yelp also has more than 20 visitor photos of the exhibits, model railroad and simulator, which give a good preview of the space.

Is there a gift shop at the Paducah Railroad Museum?

Yes. The museum has a gift shop that carries railroad items and books, including titles on local rail history that make good souvenirs for young fans. Purchases help support the volunteer-run museum. The shop is open during regular museum hours, Wednesday through Saturday.

How can I volunteer at the Paducah Railroad Museum?

The museum needs gallery hosts from March through December during open hours, Wednesday to Friday from noon to 4 pm and Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm, plus tour guides for groups as needed. Training is provided and time commitments vary. Call (270) 908-6451 to get started.

How can I donate to the Paducah Railroad Museum?

The museum accepts donations of any amount through a PayPal button on its website, paducahrr.org. Donations help keep the museum operating. You can also mail a gift to Paducah Railroad Museum, P.O. Box 1194, Paducah, KY 42002.

Does the Paducah Railroad Museum hold events?

Yes. The museum keeps an events calendar on its website and posts updates on its Facebook page, which is the best place to check for current happenings. It also publishes newsletters, with past issues on its website.

What train museums are near the Paducah Railroad Museum?

The Iron Mountain Railway in Jackson, Missouri is about 62 miles away, the Beech Creek Railroad Depot Museum in Muhlenberg County about 81 miles, and the Casey Jones Home and Railroad Museum in Jackson, Tennessee about 99 miles. The Historic Illinois Central Depot Museum in Centralia is about 104 miles.

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Kelsey Cecil
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