Rutland Railway Museum in Center Rutland, Vermont
Railroad museumOpen house Saturdays, 11 am to 3 pm
The Rutland Railway Museum is a volunteer-run museum in the historic Center Rutland railroad station, caring for a collection of local railroad artifacts begun by Henry Carris and running two model train layouts for visitors every Saturday.
- Historic Center Rutland depot
- N scale and HO scale layouts
- Open Saturdays, 11 am to 3 pm
- Run by volunteer rail enthusiasts
Rutland Railway Museum at a glance
- Hours
- Saturdays, 11 am to 3 pm
- Admission
- Not posted online; donations support the museum
- Plan for
- About an hour
- Best for
- Model train fans and families with young kids
- Best ages
- Preschool 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 Rutland Railway 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 Center Rutland.
Rally Takes the Train
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Turn the page
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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.
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Henry Carris's collection, kept in Center Rutland's old depot
The Rutland Railway Museum is a nonprofit group of railfans, train spotters, railroad historians and model railroaders who share one home: the historic Center Rutland railroad station on Depot Lane, near Carris Reels. Their museum is small by design and focuses on the local rail lines that once carried freight and passengers through the Rutland area.
At the center of the collection are railroad artifacts first gathered by Henry Carris, which the members now curate and display. Alongside the exhibits, the group built and maintains two operating model railroads, and it opens the depot every Saturday so visitors can see both. Members say they enjoy talking with guests, and the website promises more programs and events as the group grows.
Artifacts, two layouts and a trackside view
Inside the depot you will find museum displays on the region's railroads and two running model layouts, one in N scale and one in HO scale. Members are on hand to answer questions. The station sits beside the tracks, and the museum's own invitation is to stay a while and watch the trains go by.
Don’t miss
- The HO scale layoutHO trains are the bigger of the two scales here, so they are easy for small kids to follow as they run.
- The N scale layoutN scale trains are much smaller than HO, and seeing both side by side shows kids how modelers work in different sizes.
- The Henry Carris collectionThe artifacts that started the museum, focused on the local lines that served Rutland.
Running trains and people who love to explain them
Two operating layouts are the main draw for children, and the members encourage questions, so curious kids can ask how the trains work. The museum is compact, which makes it an easy hour with younger children, and the chance to see a real train roll past the depot adds to the fun.
Plan your visit: tips for Rutland Railway Museum
- Visit on a Saturday between 11 am and 3 pm, the only regular open hours.
- Look for the station on Depot Lane near Carris Reels.
- Check the museum's News and Updates page for programs and events.
- Email ahead if you are bringing a group.
Railfans running their own museum
The museum is a nonprofit made up entirely of railroad enthusiasts, led by president Jerry Lewis, who staff the Saturday open houses, run the layouts and look after the collection. The website has a Donations and Support page, and the simplest ways to help are to visit, give through the Donations and Support page, and ask how to join the group.
More rail stops within an hour of Rutland
The Green Mountain Railroad runs its Flyer out of Chester and Bellows Falls, about 31 miles away, and the Bellows Falls Railroad Station is about 43 miles southeast. In New York, the Saratoga Corinth and Hudson Railway is about 48 miles away. See all of Vermont's train museums for more.
- Green Mountain RailroadChester / Bellows Falls, VT · about 31 mi
- Bellows Falls Railroad Station historic siteBellows Falls, VT · about 43 mi
- Saratoga Corinth & Hudson RailwayCorinth, NY · about 48 mi
- Montpelier & Wells River Railroad historic exhibitscentral Vermont, VT · about 48 mi
- North Creek Depot MuseumNorth Creek, NY · about 49 mi
- Vermont Railway Museum / Shelburne Museum railroad collectionShelburne, VT · about 55 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
Model trains at a child's eye level are such a gift for little ones, because real trains are so big. In our book, Rally's short corgi legs cannot climb the tall train steps, and Dad has to give him a boost. A tiny HO train running past a depot window feels just right for small people. If your kids want more Rally after a visit, here are some train books for toddlers we love.
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 Vermont: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Vermont
- Halloween train rides in Vermont
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Rutland Railway 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.
Rutland Railway Museum: 20 questions before you visit
What is the Rutland Railroad Museum?
The museum calls itself the Rutland Railway Museum. It is a nonprofit run by railfans, train spotters, historians and model railroaders in the historic Center Rutland railroad station. It focuses on the local rail lines that carried freight and passengers around Rutland and runs two model train layouts.
Where is the Rutland Railway Museum?
The museum is in the historic Center Rutland railroad station at 79 Depot Lane, Center Rutland, Vermont 05736, near Carris Reels. If you are using GPS, enter the Depot Lane address, and look for the old station building beside the tracks.
When is the Rutland Railway Museum open?
As of October 2026, the museum holds an open house every Saturday from 11 am to 3 pm. Those are its only regular public hours. For a visit on another day or with a group, email info.rutlandrailwaymuseum@gmail.com to ask whether members can arrange it.
How much does the Rutland Railway Museum cost?
The museum does not post an admission price online. It has a Donations and Support page on its website, so plan to leave a donation to help the volunteers. Email info.rutlandrailwaymuseum@gmail.com if you want to confirm before your visit.
Does the Rutland Railway Museum have model trains?
Yes. The museum runs two operating model train layouts, one in N scale and one in HO scale, inside the Center Rutland station. They are usually running during the Saturday open house, and members are glad to explain how they were built and how they operate.
What is in the Rutland Railway Museum collection?
The collection focuses on the local railroads that served the Rutland area with freight and passenger trains. It grew from railroad artifacts first collected by Henry Carris, which the museum's members now curate and display in the depot.
Who was Henry Carris?
Henry Carris started the collection of railroad artifacts that the Rutland Railway Museum now cares for. The museum curates his collection in the Center Rutland station, which stands near Carris Reels. Ask a member during the Saturday open house to hear more about him.
Can you watch real trains at the Rutland Railway Museum?
Yes, that is part of the fun. The station sits beside an active line, and the museum invites visitors to stay a while and watch the trains go by. The website also has a Train Spotting page. Stay well back from the tracks and keep children close.
Is the Rutland Railway Museum good for toddlers?
It can be a good short outing for young children who love trains. The running model layouts hold their attention, the museum is small, and members welcome questions. Because it is compact, an hour is usually plenty, which suits short attention spans.
How long should I spend at the Rutland Railway Museum?
Most visitors will need about an hour to see the displays, watch both layouts and chat with members. Rail fans may stay longer to talk history or wait for a real train to pass the station. Arrive well before 3 pm to have enough time.
Can you ride a train at the Rutland Railway Museum?
No train rides are listed. The museum offers exhibits, model layouts and a trackside view of passing trains. For a ride, the Green Mountain Railroad runs excursions from Chester and Bellows Falls, about 31 miles away; check its passenger schedule before you go.
Is the Rutland Railway Museum the same as the Rutland Railroad Historical Society?
No, they are separate. The Rutland Railway Museum runs the Center Rutland depot museum and layouts. The Rutland Railroad Historical Society is a nonprofit that preserves the memory of the Rutland Railroad and publishes a quarterly magazine, The Rutland Newsliner.
Is the Rutland Railway Museum wheelchair accessible?
The museum does not post accessibility details online. Because it is in a historic station building, ask about steps and doorways before you go by emailing info.rutlandrailwaymuseum@gmail.com or calling the number on its contact page.
Is there parking at the Rutland Railway Museum?
The museum does not list parking details online. It is at 79 Depot Lane in Center Rutland near Carris Reels. Contact the museum by email before your visit if you need help finding where to leave the car.
Can I bring a group to the Rutland Railway Museum?
The museum does not list group tour packages, but members enjoy having visitors. For a scout troop, school group or club, email info.rutlandrailwaymuseum@gmail.com or call president Jerry Lewis at (802) 345-6551 to arrange a time.
Does the Rutland Railway Museum host events?
The museum says to watch its website for news of future developments, programs and events. Its News and Updates page is the place to check. The regular Saturday open house is the most reliable time to visit.
How do I contact the Rutland Railway Museum?
Email info.rutlandrailwaymuseum@gmail.com for general questions. The contact page also lists president Jerry Lewis at (802) 345-6551. The mailing location is 79 Depot Lane, Center Rutland, Vermont 05736, and the museum is open on Saturdays from 11 am to 3 pm.
How can I support the Rutland Railway Museum?
The museum has a Donations and Support page on its website. You can also help by visiting on a Saturday, telling friends, and asking members about joining. As a volunteer nonprofit, every gift helps keep the depot, collection and layouts going.
Can I join the Rutland Railway Museum as a member?
The group is made up of railfans, historians, train spotters and model railroaders, and members are encouraged to interact with guests. To ask about joining or helping with the layouts, stop by during a Saturday open house or email info.rutlandrailwaymuseum@gmail.com.
What train attractions are near the Rutland Railway Museum?
The Green Mountain Railroad runs excursions from Chester and Bellows Falls, about 31 miles away, and the Bellows Falls Railroad Station is about 43 miles southeast. The Saratoga Corinth and Hudson Railway in New York is about 48 miles away, and the Shelburne Museum's 1890 station is about 55 miles north.
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