Riverside & Great Northern Railway in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin

Oct 19

Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesWeekends, roughly April to October

The Riverside & Great Northern Railway is a living museum of 15-inch gauge steam railroading in Wisconsin Dells, where volunteers run Sandley-built locomotives on a two-mile line through rock cuts and woods along the Wisconsin River.

15-inch gauge steam railway
First passengers June 6, 1949
Dells line opened August 9, 1953
Two-mile ride, 30 to 45 minutes
Hand-operated turntable
Wheelchair car on request

Riverside & Great Northern Railway at a glance

Hours: Saturdays and Sundays, 9:30 am to 4 pm in season (about early April to late October)
Admission: Fares are posted on the online ticket page; a third-party listing gives adult fares from $20
Train rides: Two-mile, 30 to 45 minute 15-inch gauge steam train ride along the Wisconsin River
Seasonal events: Pumpkin Express, Bunny Train, Mother's Day Weekend, Father's Day Weekend
Plan for: About 1.5 to 2 hours with the ride, picnic and play area
Best for: Families with young kids and steam fans
Best ages: Toddlers to age 12
Accessibility: Grounds and restrooms are generally accessible; one wheelchair per train can ride in a special car, so call ahead.

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

Contact and directions

AddressN115 County Road N, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965(opens in a new tab)
Phone(608) 254-6367
Websitedellstrain.com(opens in a new tab)

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Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Riverside & Great Northern 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 Wisconsin Dells.

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.

A father, a son and a railroad big enough for everyone

The Riverside & Great Northern began in Janesville in the late 1940s, when Elmer Sandley promised his son Norman that together they would build a 15-inch gauge railroad big enough for everyone to enjoy. The city leased them a two-mile right-of-way along the Rock River, neighborhood hobbyists turned out to lay track, and in 1947 and 1948 the Sandleys built locomotives 4001, 128 and Tom Thumb plus several coaches. At 11 am on June 6, 1949, with lines of people stretching down the block, Elmer took the throttle of No. 128 for the first paying trip.

The Sandleys chose 15-inch gauge after Sir Arthur Heywood's idea of minimum gauge railways, and founded the Sandley Light Railway Equipment Works to build trains of that size for small communities and parks. The Riverside line was their demonstration railway. After neighbor complaints and an unrenewed lease, they moved it to Wisconsin Dells between 1952 and 1955, buying an abandoned Milwaukee Road roadbed first graded in 1857 by the La Crosse and Milwaukee Railroad. A golden spike ceremony opened the Dells railway on August 9, 1953.

The Sandley Works built locomotives for other railways, including the Milwaukee County Zoo, and when the business struggled in the late 1970s and early 1980s, equipment scattered. Members of the R&GN Preservation Society have spent decades bringing Sandley engines home, returning No. 82 from the zoo in 1989, No. 128 from Knoxville in 1990 and No. 98 in 2002. Today members donate thousands of hours a year so the museum can live on as, in their words, a railroad lifted out of time.

Rock cuts, a turntable and steam at Hyde Park Station

The train ride covers about two miles through woods, canyons and rock cuts that line the Wisconsin River, and riders often spot deer, turkeys and sometimes a fox. Plan on 30 to 45 minutes. Along the way, crews turn the locomotive on a hand-operated turntable at Western Springs, and turn it again at Hyde Park Station, where you can watch the steam engines up close as they puff and hiss.

Back at the station there is a snack shop, a picnic pavilion, a gift shop with railroad memorabilia, a play area and yard games, and restrooms with changing stations. Groups with two weeks' notice can arrange evening tours and visit the workshops, which are not open to the general public, with volunteer steam engineers as guides.

Don’t miss

Locomotive No. 128Built by the Sandleys in Janesville in 1948 and inspired by Chicago and North Western Atlantic passenger engines, it pulled the very first paying train in 1949 and came home to the R&GN in 1990.
Locomotive No. 82A coal-fired 4-4-0 modeled on the Civil War era General, built for the Milwaukee County Zoo's railway opening in 1958 and returned to the R&GN in 1989.
Locomotive No. 98Built for the Hoot-Toot and Whistle Railway near Elgin, Illinois in 1957, it traveled to Knoxville and Indiana before coming back to the Dells for good in 2002.
The Western Springs turntableWatch the crew turn a steam locomotive by hand, a job few visitors ever get to see.
Hyde Park StationThe last stop on the line, where the engine is turned again and you can take in the sights and sounds of live steam.

Real steam, sized just right

A 15-inch gauge train puts kids right next to a working, coal-fired steam engine without the towering scale of a mainline locomotive, and a 30 to 45 minute ride is a good fit for small attention spans. Little ones can watch for deer and turkeys in the woods, then see the engine spun around on the turntable.

The station grounds are built for families, with a play area, yard games, picnic pavilion and snack shop, and restrooms have changing stations. Seasonal events add to the fun: the Bunny Train with an Easter egg hunt, and the Pumpkin Express in October, when every child 12 and under gets a free pumpkin or gourd.

Plan your visit: tips for Riverside & Great Northern Railway

Arrive 20 minutes before your train.
Call (608) 254-6367 in advance to schedule the wheelchair car.
Groups of 10 or more should use the group inquiry form.
Bring lunch or buy snacks and eat at the picnic pavilion.
Evening group tours need two weeks' notice.

Every Saturday and Sunday in October, the Pumpkin Express gives each child 12 and under a free pumpkin or gourd on their train trip, one of the railway's most popular events. Spring brings the Bunny Train to the Easter egg patch, and moms and dads ride at half price on Mother's Day and Father's Day weekends. For more fall ideas, browse our list of Halloween and pumpkin train rides in Wisconsin.

Volunteers who brought the Sandley engines home

The R&GN is run by volunteers, and its members donate thousands of hours every year to run trains, maintain the steam locomotives and keep the shops going. Visitors can help by riding, shopping in the gift store, becoming a member or donating through the railway's website, and groups can book tours led by the volunteer engineers.

Two railways and a big museum near the Dells

The Wisconsin Dells Scenic Railway historical collection is part of the same story told on this page. The Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom is about 13 miles south and runs full-size trains, and Little Amerricka's Whiskey River Railway is about 49 miles. See all the train museums in Wisconsin for more.

Every train museum in Wisconsin

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.

The R&GN started with a dad telling his son they would build a railroad big enough for everyone. That's the spirit of Mr. Conductor in our book, the man in the blue uniform who holds out a hand so Rally knows he belongs on the train. My mom wanted every reader to feel that welcome. You can read how her story found its way into a book on our story page.

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 Wisconsin: every museum by town, with a map
Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
Christmas train rides in Wisconsin
Halloween train rides in Wisconsin
Every Amtrak route with kids

Work or volunteer at Riverside & Great Northern 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

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

Riverside & Great Northern Railway: 20 questions families ask

How much are Riverside & Great Northern Railway tickets?

The railway posts current train times and prices on its online Get Tickets page at dellstrain.com rather than on its main pages. A third-party listing, ScenicRailroadUSA, gives adult fares starting at $20 as of October 2026. Check the ticket page for child fares and event pricing, or call (608) 254-6367.

What are the Riverside & Great Northern Railway hours?

As of October 2026, the railway is open Saturdays and Sundays from 9:30 am to 4 pm. A third-party listing says trains run from early April through late October. Arrive 20 minutes before your train, and check the ticket page for exact departure times.

Where is the Riverside & Great Northern Railway?

The railway is at N115 County Road N, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965. Its route runs on an old railroad roadbed off Stand Rock Road, about a mile north of downtown Wisconsin Dells, through woods and rock cuts along the Wisconsin River. Call (608) 254-6367 if you need directions.

Is there a Riverside & Great Northern Railway map?

The railway's website does not post a route map. The line runs about two miles beside the Dells of the Wisconsin River, with a hand-operated turntable at Western Springs and a final stop at Hyde Park Station, where the locomotive is turned again. Ask staff at the station for a lay of the land.

How long is the Riverside & Great Northern train ride?

The ride lasts 30 to 45 minutes and covers about two miles of 15-inch gauge track through woods, canyons and rock cuts. Riders often see deer, turkeys and sometimes a fox. Allow extra time to watch the engine turned at Hyde Park Station and to enjoy the picnic grounds.

Are the Riverside & Great Northern trains real steam engines?

Yes. The railway runs authentic steam locomotives built to 15-inch gauge, several of them coal fired, including Sandley-built Nos. 82, 98 and 128. Visitors can watch them puff and hiss up close at Hyde Park Station, and groups can arrange tours with the volunteer steam engineers.

What is on the Riverside & Great Northern Railway roster?

The roster includes No. 82, a 4-4-0 modeled on the General and built for the Milwaukee County Zoo in 1958; No. 98, a 4-4-0 built for an Illinois railway in 1957; and No. 128, a 4-4-2 built in Janesville in 1948. The full roster with histories is on the Equipment page of dellstrain.com.

What upcoming events does the Riverside & Great Northern Railway have?

The railway's yearly events include the Bunny Train with an Easter egg hunt in April, half-price rides for moms on Mother's Day weekend and for dads on Father's Day weekend, and the Pumpkin Express every October weekend. Check the Special Events page or the railway's Facebook page for this year's dates.

What is the Pumpkin Express at the Riverside & Great Northern Railway?

The Pumpkin Express runs every Saturday and Sunday in October and is one of the railway's most popular events. Each child 12 and under gets a free pumpkin or gourd on their train trip. Weekend trains can be busy, so buy tickets online and arrive early.

Is the Riverside & Great Northern Railway on Facebook?

Yes. The railway's Facebook page is facebook.com/wisdellstrain, and it is a good place to check for event news, schedule updates and weather-related changes. The website at dellstrain.com also has a gallery, cams and an FAQ page.

Does the Riverside & Great Northern Railway run in the rain?

The railway does not post a weather policy on its main pages. It is an outdoor ride with open grounds, so check the forecast for Wisconsin Dells and call (608) 254-6367 or check the railway's Facebook page if the weather looks doubtful on the day of your visit.

Is the Riverside & Great Northern Railway good for toddlers?

Yes. The railway calls itself a family-friendly museum, and the short, small-scale steam ride suits young children. The grounds have a play area, yard games, a snack shop and a picnic pavilion, and the restrooms have changing stations. The October Pumpkin Express is a favorite with little ones.

Is the Riverside & Great Northern Railway wheelchair accessible?

Partly. The grounds, restrooms and public areas are generally accessible to visitors using wheelchairs and walkers, and the railway can carry one wheelchair per train in a specially built car. Let the railway know ahead of time by calling (608) 254-6367 so it can add the wheelchair car to your train.

Can I host a birthday party at the Riverside & Great Northern Railway?

Yes. The railway welcomes birthday parties and school, church and other groups of 10 or more, and it will work with you to plan the visit. Groups can request evening tours with two weeks' notice and workshop tours with volunteers. Use the group inquiry form on dellstrain.com or call (608) 254-6367.

When did the Riverside & Great Northern Railway start?

The railway carried its first paying passengers in Janesville on June 6, 1949, with Elmer Sandley at the throttle of No. 128. It moved to Wisconsin Dells between 1952 and 1955, and a golden spike ceremony opened the Dells line on August 9, 1953.

Who built the Riverside & Great Northern Railway?

Elmer Sandley and his son Norman built it, with help from neighborhood hobbyists who laid track in Janesville. They founded the Sandley Light Railway Equipment Works to build 15-inch gauge trains and used the R&GN as their demonstration railway. Today volunteers and members of the R&GN keep it running.

Why is the Riverside & Great Northern 15-inch gauge?

The Sandleys followed Sir Arthur Heywood, who coined the term minimum gauge in 1874 for his railway in England. Fifteen inches was considered the smallest gauge for a commercially useful railroad carrying people and goods, and the Sandleys hoped to sell such railways to small communities.

Is there food at the Riverside & Great Northern Railway?

Yes. There is a snack shop on the grounds and a picnic pavilion where families can eat lunch while watching the trains. You can also bring your own picnic. The gift shop sells train memorabilia and railroad-themed merchandise.

How can I volunteer or become a member at the Riverside & Great Northern?

The railway depends on its members, who donate thousands of hours each year running trains and maintaining equipment. The website at dellstrain.com has Membership and Donate pages, and you can call (608) 254-6367 to ask about volunteering.

What train attractions are near the Riverside & Great Northern Railway?

The Wisconsin Dells Scenic Railway historical collection is about 3 miles away, and the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom, with its full-size train rides, is about 13 miles. The Wisconsin Historical Society railroad collection in Madison is about 44 miles, and Little Amerricka in Marshall about 49 miles.

Keep exploring

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Kelsey Cecil