Thunder Mountain Line in Horseshoe Bend, Idaho
Heritage railroad with a museumReported permanently closed as of 2026
The Thunder Mountain Line ran excursion trains along the Payette River from Horseshoe Bend on track first laid by the Idaho Northern, a railroad incorporated in 1897 to reach the gold camps of the Thunder Mountain Mining District.
- Idaho Northern incorporated 1897
- Tracks reached Emmett in 1902
- Excursions along the Payette River
- Reported permanently closed in 2026
Thunder Mountain Line at a glance
- Hours
- Reported permanently closed as of 2026
- Admission
- No current fares; the railroad is reported closed
- Best for
- Rail history readers and anyone researching Idaho excursion trains
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
- Address120 Mill Road, Horseshoe Bend, ID 83629(opens in a new tab)
- Websitethundermountainline.com/Routes.html(opens in a new tab)
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A gold rush railroad that became a river excursion
The line's story begins with gold. In the late 1890s prospectors were pouring into Long Valley and the Thunder Mountain Mining District, and the wagon roads could not handle the freight. An entrepreneur named Colonel W. Dewey formed a railroad syndicate, and on December 18, 1897 he incorporated the Idaho Northern. It was a time when James J. Hill, Edward Harriman and Jay Gould were fighting for routes into the Pacific Northwest, and the Idaho Northern was thought to belong to the Union Pacific camp. Its charter imagined lines reaching Nevada, Spokane, Butte and Oregon's Willamette Valley. In practice, the tracks reached Emmett on March 29, 1902.
Nearly a century later, the old line found a new purpose. A company called IHR marketed and operated the Thunder Mountain Line as a passenger excursion from 1998 to 2000. For the 2001 season the Idaho Northern and Pacific Railroad took over full operations, extended service to Horseshoe Bend and added more themed trains. The railroad's parent company was Rio Grande Pacific, and a small staff ran reservations from an Eagle area sales office and weekend operations from the Horseshoe Bend depot on Mill Road.
For years the railroad billed itself as Idaho's only scenic train ride, carrying families, couples and tour groups along the river through the Boise National Forest. In August 2026, rail travel guides reported that the Thunder Mountain Line had permanently closed, leaving Idaho without a conventional heritage scenic railroad. Anyone hoping to ride should treat the line as closed unless the railroad announces otherwise.
What a trip to Banks used to look like
The main Horseshoe Bend Route ran April through December, following the Payette River through the Boise National Forest with views of kayakers and rafters on the South Fork's whitewater. Trains stopped for 30 to 45 minutes at Banks, where riders could visit a gold mining exhibit, pose on a stagecoach and look over exhibits in the station house. A shorter Montour Route ran west from October to December, about 1.5 hours round trip, and carried the holiday and pumpkin trains.
The consist offered three classes: an Executive Class parlor car with lounge booths and an open air platform for adults, a First Class car with padded booths and a private bar, and Standard Class seating spread across a table car, bar car, coach and open air cars. Groups could also rent the INPR 047 caboose for parties of ten, or the TEXAN, a private car with a viewing platform, lounge, four rooms and a dining room.
Don’t miss
- The Payette River corridorThe Horseshoe Bend Route followed the river through the Boise National Forest, the reason the line called itself a scenic railroad.
- Banks station stopRiders had time to see a gold mining exhibit and a stagecoach, a nod to the Thunder Mountain gold rush that inspired the railroad.
- INPR 047 cabooseThe railroad rented this caboose to families for birthday parties of up to ten guests.
- The TEXAN private carThe railroad described it as the most luxurious private rail car in Idaho, with a viewing platform and its own dining room.
Pumpkin Liners and Santa trains on the Montour Route
When it ran, the Montour Route was the family line. In October the Pumpkin Liner Train traveled to a pumpkin patch with children's activities, and in December families could ride the Santa Express (also called the North Pole Express) to Santa's Village for pictures, or sit down to a spaghetti Dinner with Santa. Standard Class was open to all ages, and the open air cars were a favorite for watching the river.
Plan your visit: tips for Thunder Mountain Line
- Do not book travel around the Thunder Mountain Line without confirming it is running.
- For a train ride in Idaho, look at the Silverwood Theme Park steam engine train in Athol.
- The Boise Depot, about 7 miles away, is a good rail history stop in the area.
In its operating years the Thunder Mountain Line ran a full holiday calendar: Pumpkin Liner trains to a pumpkin patch in October, adult Haunted Dinner Express rides, and Santa Express, Dinner with Santa and Holiday Dinner trains in December. With the line reported closed, families looking for a seasonal ride should see our guides to Christmas train rides in Idaho and Halloween train rides in Idaho.
The short line that ran the excursions
The Idaho Northern and Pacific Railroad, a Rio Grande Pacific company, ran the Thunder Mountain Line from 2001, with a depot team in Horseshoe Bend and a reservations office near Eagle. For years that staff handled everything from mystery dinner trains to birthday caboose rentals, and they kept passenger trains running on a line built for a gold rush.
Rail history still open near Horseshoe Bend
The restored Boise Depot is about 7 miles away and makes a good stop for families. Background on the railroad that ran these trains is on our page about the Idaho Northern and Pacific Railroad. For an operating steam railroad, the Sumpter Valley Railroad in Oregon is about 119 miles off. See all of Idaho's train museums for more.
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
Trains along a river always make me think of window seats. In our book, Rally presses up to an arched window, watches the ocean roll by and says hello to a white bird. On the Payette, I imagine kids spotting rafters instead of waves. My mom, who dreamed up Rally's trip before she died in 2021, loved that kind of slow looking. Her story is 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 Idaho: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Idaho
- Halloween train rides in Idaho
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Thunder Mountain Line?
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
- Thunder Mountain Line official website(opens in a new tab)
- Thunder Mountain Line on Facebook(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.
Thunder Mountain Line: 20 questions about the Idaho train
Is the Thunder Mountain Line closed?
Yes, by current reports. In August 2026 rail travel guides updated their Idaho listings to reflect the permanent closure of the Thunder Mountain Line. The railroad's old website remains online, but its schedules date from earlier seasons. Do not plan a trip around it unless the railroad announces a return.
What was the Thunder Mountain Line in Idaho?
The Thunder Mountain Line was a passenger excursion train based in Horseshoe Bend, Idaho, that ran along the Payette River through the Boise National Forest. It billed itself as Idaho's only scenic train ride and offered regular trips to Banks plus themed dinner, pumpkin and Santa trains.
Where was the Thunder Mountain Line in Horseshoe Bend?
Trains boarded at the Horseshoe Bend Depot, 120 Mill Road, Horseshoe Bend, Idaho 83629. The railroad also kept a sales office at 7660 N Horseshoe Bend Road, Suite D, in the Boise and Eagle area for reservations and group bookings.
What was the Thunder Mountain Line route?
The main Horseshoe Bend Route ran April to December along the Payette River to Banks, with a 30 to 45 minute stop there. The Montour Route ran westbound to the old ranching and shipping town of Montour from October to December, about 1.5 hours round trip, and carried the family holiday trains.
Is there a Thunder Mountain Line map?
The railroad's old website includes Routes and Maps pages showing the Horseshoe Bend to Banks run along the Payette River and the shorter Montour Route. Since the line is reported closed, those maps are best read as a record of where the trains used to go.
What tours did the Thunder Mountain Line offer?
Over the years the line ran scenic river trips, Mystery Dinner Trains from May to October, Haunted Dinner Express and Octoberfest rides in October, Holiday Dinner Trains, Pumpkin Liners, Dinner with Santa and Santa Express trips. It also sold Raft and Rails and Stay and Train packages.
How much did the Thunder Mountain Line cost?
Fares varied by class and event: Executive Class in the parlor car, First Class with a private bar, and Standard Class open to all ages, with senior, child and infant rates. Because the railroad is reported closed, no current prices apply.
Where can I find Thunder Mountain Line photos and reviews?
The railroad's old website has Photos and Videos pages, and riders shared pictures on its Facebook page. Travel writers also described Sunday morning trips rumbling along the Payette between Horseshoe Bend and Banks. Those collections now serve as a record of the line.
Who operated the Thunder Mountain Line railroad?
From the 2001 season the Idaho Northern and Pacific Railroad ran it, part of the Rio Grande Pacific family. Before that, a company called IHR marketed and operated the excursion from 1998 to 2000. When INPR took over, it expanded service to Horseshoe Bend and added more themed rides.
Why is it called the Thunder Mountain Line?
The name comes from the Thunder Mountain Mining District, a gold region the original railroad was meant to serve. As prospectors flooded Long Valley in the 1890s, Colonel W. Dewey formed a syndicate and incorporated the Idaho Northern on December 18, 1897 to carry freight the roads could not handle.
When was the Thunder Mountain Line track built?
The Idaho Northern was incorporated in December 1897 and completed track into Emmett on March 29, 1902. Its founders imagined lines reaching Nevada, Spokane, Butte and Oregon, during the era when Hill, Harriman and Gould were battling for routes into the Pacific Northwest.
What was at the Banks stop on the Thunder Mountain Line?
Banks was the turnaround on the Horseshoe Bend Route. During the 30 to 45 minute layover riders could visit a gold mining exhibit, take photos on a stagecoach and see exhibits in the station house. A covered pavilion there also hosted group meals.
Did the Thunder Mountain Line have a Christmas train?
Yes, when it operated. December brought the Santa Express, sometimes called the North Pole Express, to Santa's Village on the Montour Route, plus a spaghetti Dinner with Santa, a Holiday Train with hot apple cider and an adults' Holiday Dinner Train. None are currently scheduled.
Did the Thunder Mountain Line run a pumpkin train?
Yes. The Pumpkin Liner Train ran in October on the Montour Route to a pumpkin patch with children's activities. October also brought adult events such as the Haunted Dinner Express. With the line reported closed, families should look for other fall train rides.
Could you rent a caboose on the Thunder Mountain Line?
Yes. The INPR 047 caboose was available for birthday parties and family outings for up to ten people. Larger groups could rent individual cars or the whole train, which held up to 400 guests in summer and 275 in winter.
What was the TEXAN car on the Thunder Mountain Line?
The TEXAN was a private rail car the railroad called the most luxurious in Idaho. It had a viewing platform, an end car lounge, four rooms and a dining room, and could be added to a train or rented for a day or overnight.
Is the Thunder Mountain Line the same as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad?
No. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a theme park attraction with a similar name. The Thunder Mountain Line was a real excursion railroad in Horseshoe Bend, Idaho, running full size passenger cars along the Payette River on a historic branch line.
Was the Thunder Mountain Line good for kids?
It was a family favorite. Standard Class was open to all ages, the open air cars let kids watch rafters on the river, and the October Pumpkin Liner and December Santa trains were built around children. Some dinner trains were limited to teens and adults.
Where can I ride a train in Idaho now that the Thunder Mountain Line is closed?
With no conventional heritage scenic railroad currently running in Idaho, families can ride the Silverwood Theme Park steam engine train in Athol in north Idaho. For a longer historic steam ride, the Sumpter Valley Railroad in eastern Oregon is about 119 miles from Horseshoe Bend.
What railroad sites are near Horseshoe Bend, Idaho?
The restored Boise Depot is about 7 miles away and is a good rail history stop for families. The Idaho Northern and Pacific Railroad, which ran the Thunder Mountain Line, still owns branch lines in southwestern Idaho, and the Sumpter Valley Railroad is about 119 miles west in Oregon.
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