Train Museums in Massachusetts: Every Railroad Museum by Town
- 9 museums
- 8 towns
- 5 with train rides
- 1 free
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Massachusetts is home to Chester, where the Western Railroad climbed what volunteers call the oldest main line mountain grade in the world and where pusher engines first helped trains up a hill. This page is part of our state by state train museum guide, and it gathers 9 Massachusetts museums, depots, trolley lines and rail rides in 8 places, from the Berkshires to Cape Cod. Type your town into the finder to see what is closest to you.
The mix here leans toward trolleys and seasonal rides. You can ride an 1896 trolley that once crossed what is now the Bridge of Flowers, learn about streetcars in Lowell, take a vintage train through the Hoosac Valley, or roll across the Cape Cod Canal. Several stops are open only on summer weekends, select dates or holiday evenings, so check the museum page before you go.
A few listings are historical societies rather than walk-in museums, and we say so on each card so you know what to expect.
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Every train museum in Massachusetts, town by town
9 museums in 8 towns, A to Z by town. Tap any museum for its own page: the full story, what to see, what kids can do, hours, tickets, contact details and 20 answers to the questions families ask.
Boston
Rail preservation group
Boston Street Railway Association
A long-running nonprofit for Boston and New England transit history rather than a walk-in museum. Its monthly Zoom meetings welcome guests, and the group is restoring an ex-Boston Type 5 streetcar.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsCarver
Outdoor rail park
Edaville
A holiday festival in Carver built on the Edaville Railroad, a two-foot gauge line that first carried cranberries in 1947. General admission includes a Holiday Express train ride, and popular dates sell out every year.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsChester
Depot museum
Chester Railway Station & Museum
A restored 1862 depot and National Historic Landmark with a steam engine, boxcar exhibits, a Baker's Chocolate tank car and a 1919 caboose you can camp in. Admission is free; open summer weekends and by appointment, so call ahead.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsFall River
Railroad museum
Old Colony & Fall River Railroad Museum
An all-volunteer railroad museum in Fall River, best known today for a model railroad with over 240 feet of track that kids explore like a game of I Spy. It opens only on select dates, posted on its Facebook page.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsHyannis
Heritage railroad with a museum
Cape Cod Central Railroad
A heritage railroad running narrated excursions, brunch, lunch and dinner trains from Hyannis and Buzzards Bay, Easter through October, then THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride in November and December. Trains run rain or shine; book ahead online.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsLenox
Heritage railroad with a museum
Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum
Two sites, one volunteer-built museum: the restored 1903 Lenox Station with diesels and a yard jitney ride on summer Saturdays, and the Hoosac Valley Train Ride from Adams Station. Book train seats online, since some trips sell out.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsLowell: 2 train museums
Lowell has two rail stops a short walk apart: the National Streetcar Museum across from the national park Visitor Center, and the Boston and Maine Railroad Historical Society's steam locomotive No. 410 and combine on Dutton Street. In season, the park's open trolleys add a free ride between them.
Rail preservation group
Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society
A volunteer historical society, not a walk-in museum, but its B&M 0-6-0 steam locomotive No. 410 and combine No. 1244 sit on Dutton Street in downtown Lowell, with an exhibit inside staffed by members in summer.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsTrolley and streetcar museum
National Streetcar Museum at Lowell
A small, volunteer-staffed streetcar museum in the Mack Building across from the national park Visitor Center, open weekends year-round for $3 or less. In season, pair it with a free ride on Lowell National Historical Park's replica open trolleys.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsShelburne Falls
Trolley and streetcar museum
Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum
Ride an 1896 trolley that once crossed what is now the Bridge of Flowers, then pump a hand car and play with toy trains. Open weekends and holidays late May to October; grounds are free and an all-day ride pass is $5 for adults.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsCompare every Massachusetts train museum side by side
Type, train rides, admission, hours and who each one suits, in one table. Tap a column to sort it, or a museum to open its page.
| Hours | Best for | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Street Railway AssociationBoston | Preservation group | No | Meetings are open to members and guests; ask about membership by email | No public hours; monthly meetings on Zoom, usually the first weekend of the month | Boston transit buffs and history researchers |
| EdavilleCarver | Rail park | Yes | $36 general admission with Holiday Express ride; $65 First-Class Pajama Express; ages 3 and under free | Evening holiday festival on scheduled dates; times are posted with tickets on edaville.com | Families making a December tradition |
| Chester Railway Station & MuseumChester | Depot museum | No | Free; donations encouraged; fee to rent the facility | July to September, weekends 11 am to 3 pm; by appointment anytime at (413) 354-7878 | Rail history fans and hikers |
| Old Colony & Fall River Railroad MuseumFall River | Railroad museum | No | Not posted online; check Facebook or ask on arrival | Select dates only; check the museum's Facebook page | Young model train fans |
| Cape Cod Central RailroadHyannis | Heritage railroad | Yes | Excursions from $29.99; Canal Excursion from $39.99; lunch and brunch from $74.99; dinner from $99.99 | Train times vary by ride and date; reservations office 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday | Families, couples and anyone touring Cape Cod |
| Berkshire Scenic Railway MuseumLenox | Heritage railroad | Yes | Train fares vary by trip and event; book on the museum's tickets page | Lenox museum: select Saturdays, Memorial Day to Labor Day (closed for 2026 as of September 5). Train rides on scheduled days from Adams. | Families wanting a short vintage train ride in the Berkshires |
| Boston & Maine Railroad Historical SocietyLowell | Preservation group | No | Locomotive viewable from the street; no admission listed | Combine exhibit staffed by volunteers in summer months; hours not posted | Rail fans, researchers and families exploring downtown Lowell |
| National Streetcar Museum at LowellLowell | Trolley museum | Yes | $3 adults; $2 seniors and ages 3 to 12; under 3 and Seashore members free | Saturdays and Sundays, 11 am to 4 pm, year-round | Families visiting Lowell National Historical Park |
| Shelburne Falls Trolley MuseumShelburne Falls | Trolley museum | Yes | Grounds, Visitors Center and gift shop free; all-day ride pass $5 adults, $3 ages 6 to 17, free 5 and under | Saturdays, Sundays and federal holidays, 11 am to 5 pm, May 23 to October 31 (2026 season) | Young families and anyone visiting the Bridge of Flowers |
No museum on this page matches every filter you picked.
Quick picks: where to start in Massachusetts
Best first visit with a toddler
Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum
Shelburne Falls
Kids 5 and under ride the 1896 trolley free, and the Kids Corner has wooden and electric trains out for play.
Best train ride
Hyannis
The narrated Cape Cod Excursion runs about two hours past salt marshes and cranberry bogs, with fares from $29.99.
Free stop for rail history
Chester Railway Station & Museum
Chester
Admission to the 1862 depot, a National Historic Landmark, is free, and families can book a night in the 1919 caboose.
Rainy day pick
National Streetcar Museum at Lowell
Lowell
An indoor streetcar museum open weekends year-round, with hands-on pieces and admission of $3 or less.
Biggest collection
Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum
Lenox
Diesels, Budd cars and the Hoosac Valley Train Ride, a one-hour round trip from Adams Station.
December family tradition
Carver
Every general admission ticket includes a Holiday Express train ride through the lights, and kids 3 and under get in free.
Model trains for little eyes
Old Colony & Fall River Railroad Museum
Fall River
A model railroad with more than 240 feet of track that kids explore like a game of I Spy, on select open dates.
Map of every train museum in Massachusetts
Massachusetts rail day trips
Trip 1
Lowell: streetcars and a steam engine
These two stops sit about a mile apart in downtown Lowell. Spend under an hour at the National Streetcar Museum on a weekend, ride a park trolley if it is running, then walk over to see B&M steam locomotive No. 410 on Dutton Street. Visit during the Lowell Folk Festival in July to find volunteers at the 410.
Trip 2
Berkshire hills: Chester to the Hoosac Valley
Chester's free 1862 depot and the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum are about 14 miles apart. Start with the steam engine, boxcars and caboose in Chester on a summer weekend, then catch a scheduled Hoosac Valley Train Ride from Adams. Book train seats online, since walk-up seats are not guaranteed.
Trip 3
Hill towns: Shelburne Falls and Chester
- Shelburne Falls Trolley MuseumShelburne Falls
- Chester Railway Station & MuseumChester
Ride trolley No. 10 and the pump car in Shelburne Falls, walk the Bridge of Flowers it once crossed, then drive about 26 miles to Chester. This pairing works best on a summer weekend, when both are open.
Mountain grades, mill cities and boat trains
When the Western Railroad pushed west from Boston toward Albany around 1841, it had to cross the Berkshire hills. About 3,000 Irish immigrant laborers built it, and Major George Washington Whistler's plan carried it over the Westfield River on hand-chiseled stone arches. Chester, at the foot of the grade, got a roundhouse for pusher engines, and at one time about 150 Chester families had someone working for the railroad.
Rails reached Cape Cod in 1848, first to haul freight for the Boston and Sandwich Glass Company, and by 1887 the line served 14 of the Cape's 15 towns. In the mill city of Lowell, street railways shaped where people lived and worked, and in Fall River the Old Colony's boat trains linked Boston with steamers to New York. Western Massachusetts had its own electric lines, like the Shelburne Falls and Colrain Street Railway, which built a trolley bridge over the Deerfield River in 1908.
Today the Chester Railway Station and Museum tells the mountain railroad story, the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum and the National Streetcar Museum at Lowell cover the trolley era, the Cape Cod Central Railroad rides the old Cape main line, and the Old Colony and Fall River Railroad Museum remembers the boat trains.
Drive times from Boston, Worcester and Springfield
Times are approximate, without traffic, and estimated from straight-line distance.
| Museum | From Boston | From Worcester | From Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Streetcar Museum at LowellLowell | 30 min | ||
| EdavilleCarver | 1 hr | ||
| Old Colony & Fall River Railroad MuseumFall River | 1 hr | ||
| Cape Cod Central RailroadHyannis | 1 hr 30 min | ||
| Boston & Maine Railroad Historical SocietyLowell | 45 min | ||
| Shelburne Falls Trolley MuseumShelburne Falls | 1 hr 15 min | 45 min | |
| Chester Railway Station & MuseumChester | 1 hr 15 min | 30 min | |
| Berkshire Scenic Railway MuseumLenox | 45 min |
Holiday trains and seasonal days at Massachusetts museums
Fall and the holidays bring the most family trains in Massachusetts. The Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum runs Pumpkin Patch Rides, a Children's Ghost Stories and Pumpkin Patch Excursion and Halloween Rides, then the Tinseliner after Thanksgiving. The Cape Cod Central Railroad offers its Myths and Legends of Cape Cod Halloween train and THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride in November and December. Edaville's holiday festival includes a Holiday Express ride through the lights and a First-Class Pajama Express, and Fall River families have mentioned a haunted train exhibit near Halloween. See our Massachusetts Christmas train ride guide and Massachusetts Halloween train rides for dates and booking tips.
Good to know before you go
- The Hoosac Valley train has no restrooms on board, so use the Adams Station building first.
- At Shelburne Falls, set your GPS to Depot Street, not Depot Road in Buckland; the museum warns mapping apps get this wrong.
- The Shelburne Falls pump car is not suitable for small children, but the trolley, caboose and Kids Corner are.
- On the Cape Cod Central, buy all tickets in one class, or your party will be seated in different cars.
- Edaville's holiday festival is outdoors at night in December, so dress small children warmly and arrive 30 to 45 minutes early on busy weekends.
- The National Streetcar Museum takes cash or checks at the door; card payment goes through its Eventbrite page.
- Chester and Fall River are volunteer run with limited open days, so call or check Facebook before you drive.
Rally's note on Massachusetts
I love that one of these trolleys spent decades as a chicken coop and came back to carry kids again. It reminds me why my mom's idea for Rally mattered so much to her. She dreamed up the story and died in 2021 before she could write it, so we finished it. In the book, Rally rides the Pacific Surfliner with Mom and Dad, and Mr. Conductor in his blue uniform holds out a hand to welcome everyone aboard. You can print our free train coloring pages for the car ride, or read the story behind the book.
Train museums in nearby states
From Springfield, the Connecticut train museums start close: the Connecticut Trolley Museum in East Windsor, with a 3-mile round-trip trolley ride, is about 15 minutes away. From Boston, the Rhode Island train museums include the Newport and Narragansett Bay Railroad on Aquidneck Island, about 1 hr 15 min away, and the New Hampshire train museums include the Conway Scenic Railroad, whose trains leave the 1874 North Conway station, about 2 hr 45 min to the north.
A train book for the drive
If your family wants to ride a real Amtrak train after a museum day, our Downeaster with kids guide covers the route between Boston and Maine.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. They fit in a folder with a few crayons for the drive to the museum or the wait for the next train ride.
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 every state: search all 50 by town
- Christmas train rides in Massachusetts: Santa trains and holiday rides
- Halloween train rides in Massachusetts: pumpkin trains for next October
- The Downeaster with kids: ride a real Amtrak train
- Every Amtrak route with kids: find a train by city or station
- Train books for toddlers for the drive home
Massachusetts train museum questions
What is the best train museum in Massachusetts for families?
The Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum is a strong first choice for families. You can ride the 1896 trolley No. 10, pump a hand car, climb into a red caboose and play with toy trains in the Kids Corner. It opens weekends and holidays from late May to October, and an all-day ride pass is $5 for adults.
Are there free train museums in Massachusetts?
Yes, the Chester Railway Station and Museum is free, with donations encouraged. It is open summer weekends from July to September and by appointment. The Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum also has free grounds, Visitors Center and gift shop, though trolley rides need a pass. In Lowell, B&M locomotive No. 410 can be seen from the street at no charge.
Where can you ride a train in Massachusetts?
Train rides run at the Cape Cod Central Railroad in Hyannis, the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum in Adams, and Edaville in Carver during its holiday festival. The Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum offers trolley rides, and Lowell National Historical Park runs free seasonal trolley rides. Most of these run seasonally or on scheduled days, so check before you go.
Which Massachusetts train museum is best for toddlers?
The Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum suits toddlers best. Children 5 and under ride the trolley free, rides run on demand with no reservations, and the Kids Corner has wooden and electric trains. The Visitors Center, restrooms and trolley are wheelchair accessible, which helps with strollers too. Skip the pump car with little ones, since the museum says it is not suitable for small children.
Is there a train museum in Boston?
Boston itself does not have a walk-in train museum on this list. The Boston Street Railway Association preserves Boston transit history through monthly Zoom meetings and is restoring an ex-Boston Type 5 streetcar, but it has no public hours. The closest walk-in option is the National Streetcar Museum in Lowell, about 30 minutes from Boston.
Are there train museums in Lowell, MA?
Yes, Lowell has two rail stops. The National Streetcar Museum, a satellite of the Seashore Trolley Museum, is open Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 4 pm year-round. Nearby on Dutton Street, the Boston and Maine Railroad Historical Society displays steam locomotive No. 410 and a combine with a summer exhibit staffed by volunteers.
Train museums near Springfield, Massachusetts?
The Chester Railway Station and Museum is about 30 minutes from Springfield, and the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum and the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum are each about 45 minutes away. Chester is free and open summer weekends. Shelburne Falls runs trolley rides on weekends and holidays from late May through October.
Is there a train ride on Cape Cod?
Yes, the Cape Cod Central Railroad runs trains from Hyannis and Buzzards Bay. Narrated excursions, brunch, lunch and dinner trains run from Easter through October, and THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride runs in November and December. Excursions start at $29.99, and trains run rain or shine. Booking ahead online is recommended.
Is there a train museum in Fall River, MA?
Yes, the Old Colony and Fall River Railroad Museum is an all-volunteer group in Fall River. Its best-known feature today is a model railroad with more than 240 feet of track. It opens only on select dates, and recent listings place the display at 441 North Main Street with the Greater Fall River Children's Museum, so confirm on Facebook first.
How much does the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum cost?
As of October 2026, the grounds, Visitors Center and gift shop are free. An all-day ride pass is $5 for adults, $3 for ages 6 to 17, and free for children 5 and under. The pass covers unlimited trolley and pump car rides for the rest of the day, and members always ride free.
What is the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum's Hoosac Valley Train Ride?
It is a one-hour round trip from Adams Station on restored vintage cars. The rides began in 2016 after volunteers helped rebuild 4 miles of branch line and lay a new mile of track. Trains run on scheduled weekends, holidays and event days, and there are no restrooms on board. The ride does not go through the Hoosac Tunnel.
Can you sleep in a caboose in Chester, Massachusetts?
Yes, the Chester Railway Station and Museum has renovated a 1919 wooden caboose for overnight camping. Families can book a stay at the 1862 depot, which is a National Historic Landmark. The museum also has a steam engine, a Baker's Chocolate tank car and a Children's Boxcar with a hands-on room. Call ahead to arrange a booking.
What is the trolley at the Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls?
It is Shelburne Falls and Colrain Street Railway car No. 10, built in 1896. For about twenty years it crossed the Deerfield River on a bridge the railway built in 1908, which is now the Bridge of Flowers. After decades as a chicken coop on a local farm, it was restored and returned to service in 1999.
Where is B&M steam locomotive 410 in Massachusetts?
Boston and Maine 0-6-0 steam locomotive No. 410 sits on Dutton Street in downtown Lowell. The Boston and Maine Railroad Historical Society cares for it along with combine No. 1244, which holds a summer exhibit of B&M history. Volunteers welcome visitors there during the Lowell Folk Festival each July.
Where is The Polar Express train ride in Massachusetts?
The Cape Cod Central Railroad runs THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride from late November through December. A cast leads a round trip to the North Pole set to the film's soundtrack, and dome cars host premium tables. Child tickets cover ages 3 to 12. Buy all tickets in one class so your party sits together.
Is Edaville in Carver open for Christmas?
Yes, Edaville's holiday festival in Carver runs on scheduled evenings each season. As of October 2026, general admission is $36 and includes a Holiday Express train ride through the lights, and the First-Class Pajama Express is $65 with a steam train ride. Children 3 and under get in free. Popular dates sell out every year.
Which Massachusetts train rides run at Halloween?
The Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum runs Pumpkin Patch Rides, a Children's Ghost Stories and Pumpkin Patch Excursion, and Halloween Rides from Adams. The Cape Cod Central Railroad runs its Myths and Legends of Cape Cod Halloween train with folklore and ghost stories for all ages. Families have also mentioned a haunted train exhibit at the Fall River museum.
Why is Chester important in railroad history?
Chester sat at the foot of the Western Railroad's climb through the Berkshires, built around 1841. Volunteers call it the oldest main line mountain railroad in the world, and Chester was the first place where pusher engines helped trains up a grade. In 2021 its 1862 station and two Keystone Arches were named National Historic Landmarks.
How did Edaville Railroad in Massachusetts start?
Edaville began with South Carver cranberry grower Ellis D. Atwood, who bought two-foot gauge equipment from Maine's Bridgton and Saco River Railroad in 1941. He laid track around his bogs and held a golden spike ceremony in April 1947. The name comes from his initials, and Christmas became its busiest season.
Can you visit the Boston Street Railway Association?
Not in person on a regular schedule. The Boston Street Railway Association has no public museum building or hours. It holds monthly meetings on Zoom, usually the first weekend of the month, and guests are welcome. Anyone curious about its ex-Boston Type 5 streetcar restoration can email the group to ask.
Keep exploring
More family train guides from Rally
- DirectoryRailway Museum Directory650 train museums in all 50 states, with hours, tickets and train rides.
- HolidayChristmas Train RidesSanta trains and holiday light rides, sorted by state and town.
- OctoberHalloween Train RidesPumpkin trains and not-too-spooky rides for little ones, by state.
- NovemberThanksgiving Train RidesHoliday weekend train trips the whole family can share.
- AmtrakAmtrak With KidsWhich Amtrak routes work best with babies, toddlers and big kids.
- Plan a tripTrain Trips With KidsEvery Amtrak route, stop by stop, planned for families.