Toledo, Lake Erie & Western Railway and Museum in Grand Rapids, Ohio

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Grand Rapids, Ohio · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Heritage railroad with a museumRegular passenger trains paused since 2009; watch for event days such as Applebutter Fest

Since 1965, the volunteers of the Toledo, Lake Erie & Western Railway and Museum have preserved Northwest Ohio's railroading story, from the Bluebird Special excursions to 10 miles of the historic Clover Leaf route and its 901-foot Maumee River bridge.

  • Founded in 1965
  • 10 miles of historic track
  • 901-foot Maumee River bridge, 1916
  • Baldwin 0-6-0 switcher #202
  • Alco S4 #5109 in C&O colors
  • 19 cataloged collection pieces

Toledo, Lake Erie & Western Railway and Museum at a glance

Hours
No regular hours posted; open on event days, check tlew.org or Facebook
Admission
Not posted online; check the event listing or call
Train rides
Regular passenger trains paused since 2009; motorcar hayrides have been offered on fall event days
Seasonal events
Applebutter Fest, Pumpkin Patch Motorcar Hayrides
Best for
Rail fans and families who follow local event days

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

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Toledo, Lake Erie & Western Railway and 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 Grand Rapids.

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.

From the Bluebird Special to the Clover Leaf line

The Toledo, Lake Erie & Western began in 1965, when a group of railroad enthusiasts came together to save a piece of Northwest Ohio's history. They incorporated as a nonprofit in 1969 and started out with the Bluebird Special passenger train. Those first trips left from Toledo behind a rented steam locomotive with borrowed cars, and before long donated Wabash coaches took their place. From the start, the goal was to share the fun of riding a train and the part railroads played in tying Northwest Ohio's communities together.

Today the railway owns 10 miles of historic track between Waterville and Grand Rapids. The line was built as the Toledo, St. Louis & Western, better known as the Clover Leaf, and later became part of the Nickel Plate Road and then the Norfolk & Western. Its best-known feature is the 901-foot Maumee River bridge, built in 1916, which the railway describes as the largest bridge owned by any tourist railroad east of the Mississippi.

Passenger trips stopped in 2009 because of needed track repairs and other challenges, but the volunteers kept working. In 2014 the group acquired the former Waterfront Electric Railway Museum site in Grand Rapids, gaining room for displays, a shop and historic cars. Volunteers have since returned Alco S4 #5109 to its classic Chesapeake & Ohio colors, and a new Youth Maintenance of Way Gang is teaching younger members to work on the real railroad.

An outdoor yard of locomotives, cabooses and freight cars

The museum in Grand Rapids displays vintage locomotives, railcars and artifacts that tell the story of railroading in the area, with a special focus on the Clover Leaf Route during its busiest years. The online collection lists 19 assets so far, spread between outdoor and indoor locations and covering locomotives, cabooses, passenger cars and freight cars, including refrigerator cars, flatcars and boxcars from the 1920s through the 1970s.

Two locomotives stand out: the Baldwin 0-6-0 switcher #202 from 1920 and the Alco S4 #5109, restored in Chesapeake & Ohio paint. The museum also publishes an interactive map of its outdoor grounds, which is a handy way to plan a walk among the equipment before you arrive. Collection profiles are still being added, so check back as more pieces are written up.

Don’t miss

  1. The Maumee River bridgeBuilt in 1916 and 901 feet long, it is the signature structure of the line and, the railway says, the largest bridge owned by a tourist railroad east of the Mississippi.
  2. Baldwin 0-6-0 switcher #202A 1920 steam-era switcher, one of the oldest locomotives in the collection.
  3. Alco S4 #5109A diesel switcher volunteers restored to its classic Chesapeake & Ohio colors.
  4. The 4-Phase Bluebird restorationAn ongoing project the museum invites the public to ask about, tied to the Bluebird name that launched the railway's first excursions.
  5. The outdoor museum mapAn interactive map on the museum's website shows where each locomotive and car sits on the grounds.

Motorcar hayrides and a youth track gang

On fall event days, members of the youth maintenance-of-way program have run Pumpkin Patch Motorcar Hayrides, a small-scale ride aimed at families. The outdoor collection of cabooses, boxcars and locomotives gives kids plenty to look at, though the museum does not post climb-aboard details online.

Older kids and teens who love trains can join the Youth Maintenance of Way Gang, which teaches young members to work on real track and equipment. For event dates and ages, contact the museum before you go.

Plan your visit: tips for Toledo, Lake Erie & Western Railway and Museum

  • Follow the museum's Facebook page and News section for event dates before driving out.
  • Use the interactive map on the museum's website to preview the outdoor collection.
  • Use the contact form at tlew.org for membership, donations or artifact questions.
  • Call (419) 878-2177 to confirm when the grounds are open.

The railway's biggest public day in recent seasons has been Applebutter Fest, held on a Sunday in the fall, when volunteers get the railroad ready for crowds. Members of the youth program have also run Pumpkin Patch Motorcar Hayrides for the season. For more autumn ideas, see our guide to Halloween train rides in Ohio.

A volunteer railroad, from track gang to restoration crew

The Toledo, Lake Erie & Western is a volunteer-powered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and its members keep the track, the bridge and the collection going. You can help by becoming a member, volunteering, making a financial donation, or donating or selling historic railroad artifacts to the collection. The contact form also takes questions about the 4-Phase Bluebird restoration and even scrap ties.

Other rail stops within an hour or so of Grand Rapids

The Fostoria Rail Preservation Society and Iron Triangle Railpark is about 29 miles away, where three main lines meet. Across the state line, the Southern Michigan Railroad Society is about 46 miles off, and the Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum in Bellevue is about 54 miles. See our list of Ohio train museums for more.

Every train museum in Ohio

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi looking out an arched train window at the ocean and a white bird
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

I keep thinking about riders crossing that long bridge over the Maumee River, looking down at the water. In our book, Rally presses his nose to an arched window, sees the ocean and says hello to a white bird. Kids notice water from a train every single time. My mom loved that moment, and you can read about her 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
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 Toledo, Lake Erie & Western Railway and 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.

Toledo, Lake Erie & Western: 20 questions about the railway and museum

What is the Toledo, Lake Erie & Western Railway and Museum?

It is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit heritage railroad and railroad museum in Grand Rapids, Ohio, often called the TLE&W. It owns 10 miles of historic track between Waterville and Grand Rapids and displays vintage locomotives, railcars and artifacts that tell the story of railroading in Northwest Ohio.

Where is the Toledo, Lake Erie & Western Railway and Museum located?

The museum is in Grand Rapids, Ohio. A business directory lists the address as 17475 Saylor Ln, Grand Rapids, OH 43522, and the phone as (419) 878-2177. The museum's own site does not print a street address, so call ahead or use the interactive map on tlew.org to confirm where to park.

Does the Toledo, Lake Erie & Western Railway run along Lake Erie?

No. Despite the name, its line runs 10 miles between Waterville and Grand Rapids, Ohio, on the former Toledo, St. Louis & Western route, crossing the Maumee River on a 901-foot bridge. The museum itself is in Grand Rapids. The early Bluebird Special excursions in the 1960s left from Toledo.

Can you ride a train at the Toledo, Lake Erie & Western Railway?

Regular passenger trains are not running right now. The railway paused passenger operations in 2009 for needed track repairs and other challenges. Volunteers have offered smaller rides on event days, such as Pumpkin Patch Motorcar Hayrides in the fall. Check tlew.org and the museum's Facebook page for current ride news.

What are the Toledo, Lake Erie & Western Railway and Museum hours?

The museum does not post regular public hours online. It opens for special events, such as Applebutter Fest, and posts announcements in the News section of tlew.org and on Facebook. Call (419) 878-2177 or email info@tlew.org before you visit to confirm the grounds will be open.

How much does it cost to visit the Toledo, Lake Erie & Western Museum?

Admission prices are not posted on the museum's website. Event days like Applebutter Fest and the motorcar hayrides are announced with their own details. Check the latest news post at tlew.org, message the museum on Facebook, or call (419) 878-2177 to ask about any fees for your visit.

Where can I see photos of the Toledo, Lake Erie & Western Railway and Museum?

The museum's Facebook page posts frequent photos of volunteers, equipment and event days, and the collections section of tlew.org has profiles of individual locomotives and cars. The website also features photos of the Bluebird Special and the line itself, plus an interactive map of the outdoor museum.

When was the Toledo, Lake Erie & Western Railway founded?

The group began in 1965 when railroad enthusiasts banded together to preserve local history, and it was incorporated as a nonprofit in 1969. It launched operations with the Bluebird Special, first using a rented steam locomotive and borrowed cars from Toledo, then donated Wabash coaches.

What was the Bluebird Special?

The Bluebird Special was the passenger train that launched the TLE&W. Early trips ran from Toledo using a rented steam locomotive and borrowed equipment, and soon donated Wabash coaches were added. The name still matters to the museum, which lists a 4-Phase Bluebird Restoration among the topics visitors can ask about.

What is the Maumee River bridge on the Toledo, Lake Erie & Western?

It is a 901-foot bridge over the Maumee River built in 1916 on the former Clover Leaf route. The railway calls it the highlight of its line and says it is the largest bridge owned by any tourist railroad east of the Mississippi. It lies on the 10 miles of track between Waterville and Grand Rapids.

Which railroad originally built the Toledo, Lake Erie & Western line?

The track was part of the Toledo, St. Louis & Western Railway, nicknamed the Clover Leaf Route. It later became part of the Nickel Plate Road and then the Norfolk & Western. The museum places special emphasis on artifacts connected to the Clover Leaf during its most active years.

What locomotives are at the Toledo, Lake Erie & Western Museum?

Highlights include a Baldwin 0-6-0 switcher, #202, built in 1920, and Alco S4 #5109, which volunteers restored to its classic Chesapeake & Ohio colors. The online collection lists 19 assets so far, including locomotives, cabooses, passenger cars and freight cars, with more profiles being added.

What is the Waterfront Electric Railway Museum site?

In 2014 the Toledo, Lake Erie & Western acquired the former Waterfront Electric Railway Museum site in Grand Rapids. The added property gave the group more room for displays, a shop and historic cars, and it is part of the museum grounds visitors see today.

Does the Toledo, Lake Erie & Western have Halloween or fall events?

Yes. The museum has announced Pumpkin Patch Motorcar Hayrides, run by members of its youth maintenance-of-way program, and Applebutter Fest, a Sunday fall event that brings volunteers out in force to ready the railroad. Dates change each year, so watch tlew.org and Facebook for the current schedule.

Is the Toledo, Lake Erie & Western Museum good for kids?

Kids who like big equipment can see locomotives, cabooses and freight cars on the outdoor grounds, and fall event days have included motorcar hayrides. The museum does not post detailed kids' programming or climb-aboard rules online, so contact info@tlew.org to ask what is open on the day you plan to visit.

What is the Youth Maintenance of Way Gang?

It is the museum's program for young people who love trains and want to learn to work on a real railroad. Members help care for track and equipment alongside adult volunteers, and they have even run their own fall motorcar hayride. Contact the museum through tlew.org for age limits and how to sign up.

How can I volunteer or become a member of the Toledo, Lake Erie & Western?

The museum is powered by volunteers and welcomes new members. Use the contact form at tlew.org and choose membership, or email info@tlew.org. Members can log in to member resources on the website, and the about page lists membership and volunteer opportunities among the ways to get involved.

Can I donate railroad artifacts to the Toledo, Lake Erie & Western Museum?

Yes. The museum calls entrusting historic railroad artifacts to its care one of the most valuable ways to help, and it accepts donations or purchases of equipment, artifacts, photos and documents. Its collection has grown this way, including Baldwin #202 and Alco S4 #5109. Choose Collections and Acquisitions on the contact form.

Does the Toledo, Lake Erie & Western Museum accept financial donations?

Yes. The museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and thanks its partners and donors on its website for investing in its future. Select Financial Donations on the contact form at tlew.org, or email info@tlew.org, to give money toward track repairs, restorations like the Bluebird project, and museum operations.

What train museums are near the Toledo, Lake Erie & Western?

The Fostoria Rail Preservation Society and Iron Triangle Railpark is about 29 miles away. The Southern Michigan Railroad Society in Clinton is about 46 miles, the Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum in Bellevue about 54 miles, and the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society in New Haven, Indiana, about 60 miles.

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Kelsey Cecil
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