Train Museums in Virginia: Every Railroad Museum by Town
- 16 museums
- 11 towns
- 5 with train rides
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Norfolk & Western built the streamlined J Class 611 at its own Roanoke shops in 1950, and today the engine lives a few blocks away in the railroad's old freight station. That is a good place to start a family guide to train museums across the country, and Virginia gives you 16 museums and rail sites in 11 towns and areas on this page. Type your town into the finder below to see what is closest.
The list runs from big collections with locomotives you can step into, to restored depots with model railroads, to working stations where Amtrak and commuter trains still stop. A few places are seasonal or open only on certain days, so each card shows current hours.
Western Virginia holds the heavy steel, with Roanoke and Clifton Forge about 38 miles apart. Richmond, Suffolk and Northern Virginia have smaller depot museums that fit into an hour or two, which works well with young kids.
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Every train museum in Virginia, town by town
16 museums in 11 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.
Alexandria
Historic rail site
Alexandria Union Station
A 1905 Colonial Revival station on the National Register, still used by Amtrak and VRE, where visitors can stop in for interpretive exhibits. The waiting room is open daily, 6 am to 8:45 pm.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsClifton Forge: 2 train museums
The C&O Railway Heritage Center and the restored 1895 C&O freight depot share one site, with steam locomotive 614 outside and an O-scale layout inside.
Railroad museum
C&O Railway Heritage Center
The C&O Historical Society's museum in Clifton Forge, with steam locomotive 614, restored diesels, a 1932 dining car, a Pullman sleeper and cabooses you can see inside and out. Seasonal, Friday to Sunday in fall.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsDepot museum
Historic C&O Depot
The restored 1895 C&O freight depot in Clifton Forge holds railroad exhibits and an O-scale layout, with steam locomotive 614, diesels, cabooses and passenger cars outside. Open weekends through December 20, 2026, then closed until mid-March.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsDillwyn: 2 train museums
Dillwyn is home base for the Buckingham Branch Railroad, a freight short line with occasional vintage diesel trips. Its older volunteer Buckingham Division excursions have ended.
Rail preservation group
Buckingham Branch Railroad
A family-owned freight short line based in Dillwyn's former C&O station, not a museum. Its historic side shows in periodic vintage diesel excursions run with the Old Dominion Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsHeritage railroad with a museumClosed
Buckingham Branch Railroad Excursions (Buckingham Division)
The 17-mile Bremo to Dillwyn line where the Buckingham Branch Railroad began, once home to volunteer-run spring, fall and Santa excursions. The Old Dominion Chapter says those trips have ended, so check before planning a ride.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsManassas
Depot museum
Manassas Railroad Depot
A 1914 depot in Old Town Manassas that still serves VRE and Amtrak trains and holds the Historic Manassas Visitor Center and the Payne Railroad Heritage Gallery. Open daily, 9 am to 5 pm, except a few holidays.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsNorthern Virginia
Rail preservation group
Virginia Railway Express historic collections
Virginia's one commuter railroad, linking Northern Virginia with Washington Union Station. No public museum collection is posted, so the best way to see its history is to ride the Manassas or Fredericksburg line through historic stations.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsParksley
Depot museum
Eastern Shore Railway Museum
A small nonprofit museum in Parksley with a restored station, coal stoves, vintage rail cars and Eastern Shore railroad memorabilia. Listed as seasonal, March to October, so check its Facebook page before you drive.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsRichmond
Depot museum
Richmond Railroad Museum
A volunteer-run museum in Richmond's restored Hull Street Southern Railway station, just south of the James River. Climb into a 1924 Porter steam engine's cab, watch Richmond's largest HO layout and take a guided tour. Open weekends.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsRoanoke: 3 train museums
Three rail stops sit together downtown: the Virginia Museum of Transportation, the O. Winston Link Museum and the N&W Historical Society Archives, so one parking spot can cover a full train day.
Rail preservation group
Norfolk & Western Historical Society Archives
A research archive in Roanoke holding N&W and Virginian Railway drawings, photographs and records, with more than 200,000 items cataloged and 177,000 digitized. Open Mondays and Thursdays, 10 am to 3 pm.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsMuseum with a major rail exhibit
O. Winston Link Museum
A museum devoted to O. Winston Link's black-and-white photographs of 1950s Norfolk & Western steam and the small-town life around it, set in Roanoke's restored N&W passenger station, with interactive exhibits and train viewing.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsMuseum with a major rail exhibit
Virginia Museum of Transportation
Roanoke's official state transportation museum, set in a 1918 N&W freight station, with a railyard of big locomotives, a cab kids can step into, an O-gauge layout and galleries of cars and aircraft. Closed Mondays.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsStaunton: 2 train museums
The Virginia Scenic Railway boards in the Wharf Historic District, close to the 1902 Staunton station where Amtrak's Cardinal still stops.
Historic rail site
Staunton Historic Train Station
A 1902 C&O station in Staunton's Wharf Area Historic District where Amtrak's Cardinal still stops. Waiting passengers use a small unstaffed room in a former C&O signal house from about 1886.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsHeritage railroad with a museum
Virginia Scenic Railway
Scenic excursion trains from downtown Staunton and Louisa, with dining cars, a restored 1948 Vista-Dome, themed rides like Murder on the Menu, and the holiday Santa Express. Book ahead: classes and seats are reserved.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsSuffolk
Depot museum
Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad Museum
An 1885 Victorian depot in downtown Suffolk with a walnut spiral staircase, railroad memorabilia and a two-room HO model of the city in 1907. Reopened in June 2026 after flood repairs and open seven days a week.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsWinchester
Rail preservation group
Winchester & Western Railroad historic collections
A working short line with roots in 1916 rather than a museum. The easiest piece of its history to see is a 1914 Winchester & Western caboose on display downtown beside the Timbrook Public Safety Center.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsCompare every Virginia 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 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria Union StationAlexandria | Historic site | No | No admission is posted for the exhibits | Waiting room open daily, 6 am to 8:45 pm | Architecture lovers and kids who like watching trains |
| C&O Railway Heritage CenterClifton Forge | Railroad museum | Yes | Adults $8, children under 12 $5, under 3 and COHS members free (confirm before visiting) | Fall 2026: Friday to Sunday 11 am to 4 pm through December 20; closed December 21, 2026 to March 11, 2027 | Rail fans and families with young kids |
| Historic C&O DepotClifton Forge | Depot museum | No | Not posted online; call 540-862-8653. Group discounts available | Friday to Sunday, 11 am to 4 pm, through December 20, 2026; closed December 21, 2026 to March 11, 2027 | Rail fans and families with school-age kids |
| Buckingham Branch RailroadDillwyn | Preservation group | Yes | Excursion fares are set per trip; none are posted here | No public hours; excursions on posted dates only | Families and rail fans on excursion days |
| Manassas Railroad DepotManassas | Depot museum | No | No admission fee posted; call 703-361-6599 to confirm | Daily, 9 am to 5 pm; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day | Families pairing a train-watching stop with a day in Old Town Manassas |
| Virginia Railway Express historic collectionsNorthern Virginia | Preservation group | Yes | Ride fares set by VRE; no museum admission | Commuter schedule; trains run mainly in morning and evening peaks | Families who want a real commuter train ride into DC |
| Eastern Shore Railway MuseumParksley | Depot museum | No | Not posted online; check the museum's Facebook page | Listed as noon to 4 pm, Wednesday to Saturday, March to October; confirm on Facebook | Rail fans and families exploring the Eastern Shore |
| Richmond Railroad MuseumRichmond | Depot museum | No | Adults (14 to 64) $10, seniors $8, ages 6 to 13 $5, under 6 free | Saturday 11 am to 4 pm, Sunday 1 pm to 4 pm | Families with young kids and Virginia rail history fans |
| Norfolk & Western Historical Society ArchivesRoanoke | Preservation group | No | Not posted; call (540) 342-5506 | Mondays and Thursdays, 10 am to 3 pm, plus monthly archives sessions | Researchers, modelers, writers and serious rail fans |
| O. Winston Link MuseumRoanoke | Rail gallery | No | Not posted online; call to confirm ticket prices | Not posted online; call (540) 982-5465 before you go | Photography lovers, rail fans and older kids |
| Virginia Museum of TransportationRoanoke | Rail gallery | No | Adults (18 to 59) $14.77, seniors, students and youth (13 to 17) $12.66, ages 3 to 12 $10.55, 2 and under free, tax included | Tuesday to Saturday 10 am to 5 pm, Sunday 1 pm to 5 pm, closed Monday | Families and rail fans of all ages |
| Staunton Historic Train StationStaunton | Historic site | Yes | No admission; it is a working station | Not posted as a museum; check Amtrak for station access and train times | Architecture fans and kids who want to see a real passenger train |
| Virginia Scenic RailwayStaunton | Heritage railroad | Yes | Dining Class $136 (all ages); Adults Only Dining $141; Dome Lower Lounge $103 and Upper Level $119 (21+) | Scheduled departures only; see the online calendar | Couples, grandparents and families with school-age kids |
| Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad MuseumSuffolk | Depot museum | No | Not posted online; call (757) 514-4135 | Sunday to Wednesday 1 pm to 5 pm, Thursday to Saturday 11 am to 5 pm; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day | Young kids, model railroad fans and history lovers |
| Winchester & Western Railroad historic collectionsWinchester | Preservation group | No | Outdoor display downtown; no admission is posted | Outdoor display; no posted hours | A quick stop for young train fans in Winchester |
| Buckingham Branch Railroad Excursions (Buckingham Division)Dillwyn | Heritage railroad | No | No current fares; excursions have ended | No public excursions currently listed | Rail history fans and train watchers |
No museum on this page matches every filter you picked.
Quick picks: where to start in Virginia
Biggest collection
Virginia Museum of Transportation
Roanoke
More than 50 pieces of rolling stock, including N&W 611 and the last 2-6-6-4 anywhere, plus a locomotive cab kids can step into.
Best first visit with a toddler
Richmond
A one-hour visit with a 1924 Porter steam engine cab to climb into, a large HO layout, air conditioning and free entry for kids under 6.
Best train ride
Staunton
Excursions roll west from downtown Staunton through Shenandoah Valley farmland, with a rebuilt 1948 Vista-Dome car on the train.
Rainy day pick
Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad Museum
Suffolk
An indoor 1885 depot with a two-room HO model of Suffolk in 1907 and a walnut spiral staircase in its tower.
For rail fans and photo lovers
Roanoke
O. Winston Link's 1950s photographs of N&W steam fill the restored Roanoke passenger station, and there is a spot to watch trains.
Live trains and a short stop
Manassas
VRE and Amtrak trains stop daily at this 1914 depot, which also holds a railroad heritage gallery and is open every day.
Map of every train museum in Virginia
How railroads shaped Virginia
Virginia railroading grew from small beginnings. The Louisa Railroad started in Louisa County in 1836, became the Virginia Central, reached Staunton in 1854 and pushed on to a spot at the foot of Alleghany Mountain in 1856. That spot became Clifton Forge, a Chesapeake & Ohio town where locomotives were serviced before climbing west over the Alleghanies or heading east over the Blue Ridge. In Roanoke, the Norfolk & Western built its own engines, including the 1218 in 1943 and the 611 in 1950.
Richmond became a crossroads where the Southern, the N&W, the RF&P, the Seaboard Air Line and the C&O all met. On the coast, Suffolk's 1885 station was shared by the Seaboard and the Virginian Railway after 1907, and on the Eastern Shore, Parksley once saw 14 passenger trains stop in a single day. In Northern Virginia, stations from 1905 and 1914 still serve Amtrak and VRE riders.
For the N&W story, start at the Virginia Museum of Transportation and the O. Winston Link Museum in Roanoke. The C&O comes alive at the C&O Railway Heritage Center in Clifton Forge. Richmond's many railroads fill the Richmond Railroad Museum, the Seaboard and Virginian share the Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad Museum, and the Alexandria Union Station and Manassas Railroad Depot show stations still at work.
Day trips that pair Virginia rail stops
Trip 1
A Roanoke rail day
- Virginia Museum of TransportationRoanoke
- O. Winston Link MuseumRoanoke
- Norfolk & Western Historical Society ArchivesRoanoke
All three sit within walking distance downtown. Spend the morning in the railyard and galleries at the transportation museum, then see Link's steam photographs in the old passenger station. The archives are open only Mondays and Thursdays, and the transportation museum is closed Mondays, so Thursday is the day to fit in all three.
Trip 2
Clifton Forge and Roanoke
- C&O Railway Heritage CenterClifton Forge
- Historic C&O DepotClifton Forge
- Virginia Museum of TransportationRoanoke
Start at the C&O Railway Heritage Center, where steam engine 614, a Pullman sleeper and cabooses sit beside the 1895 depot. Roanoke is about 38 miles away, so finish at the transportation museum after lunch. The Clifton Forge site is open Friday to Sunday through December 20, 2026, then closes until March.
Trip 3
Northern Virginia stations
- Alexandria Union StationAlexandria
- Manassas Railroad DepotManassas
- Virginia Railway Express historic collectionsNorthern Virginia
Watch Amtrak and VRE trains at the 1905 Alexandria station, then head about 22 miles west to the 1914 Manassas depot and its railroad heritage gallery. If the VRE schedule fits your day, riding the Manassas line between them turns the trip into a train ride too. VRE runs mainly in the morning and evening peaks.
How far is it? Drive times from Virginia's big cities
Times are approximate, without traffic, and based on distance as the crow flies, so add time for mountain roads and weekend traffic.
| Museum | From Arlington | From Richmond | From Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria Union StationAlexandria | 10 min | ||
| Manassas Railroad DepotManassas | 30 min | ||
| Virginia Scenic RailwayStaunton | 2 hr 40 min | 2 hr 15 min | |
| Virginia Museum of TransportationRoanoke | 4 hr 20 min | 3 hr 10 min | |
| Richmond Railroad MuseumRichmond | 5 min | 1 hr 45 min | |
| Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad MuseumSuffolk | 1 hr 40 min | 25 min | |
| C&O Railway Heritage CenterClifton Forge | 3 hr | ||
| Eastern Shore Railway MuseumParksley | 1 hr 40 min |
Good to know before you go
- The Virginia Museum of Transportation is closed Mondays and opens at 1 pm on Sundays. Engine 611 travels for excursions, so check the museum's Facebook page if seeing it is the goal.
- The Richmond Railroad Museum is open weekends only, sells no food or drinks, and a visit takes about an hour.
- On the Virginia Scenic Railway, Dining Class welcomes all ages, but dome seats and Adults Only Dining are for guests 21 and over. Regular trips run about three hours, which is long for toddlers.
- The C&O Railway Heritage Center closes December 21, 2026 to March 11, 2027. Download its grade-level scavenger hunt before you go.
- The O. Winston Link Museum and the Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad Museum do not post prices online, so call ahead.
- The Eastern Shore Railway Museum is listed as open March to October; confirm on its Facebook page before driving out.
- Alexandria and Manassas are active stations, so hold hands near the platforms.
Holiday trains and seasonal days at Virginia museums
Virginia's rail museums keep busy in fall and winter. The Virginia Museum of Transportation hosts Spooky Sweets & Treats, the Roanoke Railway Expo and a Candy Cane Celebration, and the Virginia Scenic Railway runs the Santa Express plus an October Autumn Special from Goshen. The Richmond Railroad Museum decorates for the holidays from Thanksgiving, though it no longer runs Santa trains, and Manassas holds a Fall Jubilee and a Holiday Market around its depot. For more holiday options, see our guide to Christmas train rides in Virginia, and for October outings, read about Halloween and pumpkin train rides in Virginia.
Train museums in nearby states
From Arlington, it is about 50 minutes to Baltimore, where the Maryland train museums include the National Museum of Railroad History & Innovation, the former B&O Railroad Museum, with its giant 1884 roundhouse. From Roanoke, it is about 1 hour 45 minutes to Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, where geared Shay steam engines climb the mountains, one of the standouts among West Virginia train museums. Roanoke families can also reach the N.C. Transportation Museum in Spencer in about 2 hours 35 minutes; see all the North Carolina train museums.
A note from Rally's family
My kids are learning to read, and the page they ask for again and again is the one where Mr. Conductor, all in blue, holds out a hand to help Rally aboard. My mom dreamed up that moment before she died in 2021, and our real corgi has been riding along in it ever since. Virginia has so many conductors and cabooses to look for that I think Rally would want a seat on every train. If your little one wants to draw their own conductor, our train coloring pages are free to print, and you can read how Rally's story began.
A train book for the drive
Amtrak's Cardinal still stops at the 1902 station in Staunton, near the Virginia Scenic Railway; our guide to riding the Cardinal with kids explains what a family trip on that route is like.
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 Virginia: Santa trains and holiday rides
- Halloween train rides in Virginia: pumpkin trains for next October
- The Cardinal 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
Virginia train museum questions
What is the biggest train museum in Virginia?
The Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke has the largest collection on this list. It holds more than 50 pieces of rolling stock in its outdoor railyard, including steam, electric and diesel locomotives, freight cars and cabooses. It is also the official transportation museum of Virginia, a title the General Assembly gave it in 1983. Indoor galleries add cars and aircraft.
Are there free train museums in Virginia?
Yes, a few Virginia rail stops post no admission fee. Alexandria Union Station lists no admission for its interpretive exhibits, and the Manassas Railroad Depot posts no fee for its heritage gallery, though calling 703-361-6599 to confirm is wise. The Winchester & Western caboose downtown is an outdoor display with no admission posted. The Staunton station is a working Amtrak stop with no charge to look around.
Where can kids ride a train at a Virginia museum?
The Virginia Scenic Railway in Staunton is the main excursion train in Virginia. It runs scheduled trips from Staunton and Louisa, with dining cars and a restored 1948 Vista-Dome, plus an October Autumn Special from Goshen. At the C&O Railway Heritage Center in Clifton Forge, younger kids can ride the Little C&O, a small train, so ask on arrival whether it is running.
Which Virginia train museum is best for toddlers?
The Richmond Railroad Museum is a strong first stop for toddlers. A full visit takes about an hour, the station is air conditioned, and children under 6 get in free. Kids can climb into the cab of a 1924 Porter steam engine and watch Richmond's largest HO model railroad. The Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke also has a playroom for younger children.
Is there a train museum in Roanoke?
Yes, Roanoke has three rail stops downtown. The Virginia Museum of Transportation fills the 1918 N&W freight station with locomotives and galleries, the O. Winston Link Museum shows 1950s steam photographs in the restored N&W passenger station, and the Norfolk & Western Historical Society Archives hold more than 200,000 cataloged items for researchers. They sit close enough to visit in one day.
Is there a train museum in Richmond, Virginia?
Yes, the Richmond Railroad Museum sits in the restored Hull Street Southern Railway station, just south of the James River. Volunteers from the Old Dominion Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society run it, with guided tours, a large HO layout and a steam engine cab to climb into. As of October 2026 it is open Saturdays 11 am to 4 pm and Sundays 1 pm to 4 pm.
Train museums near Virginia Beach and Norfolk?
The closest is the Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad Museum, about 25 minutes from Norfolk without traffic. It fills an 1885 Victorian depot with railroad memorabilia and a two-room HO model of Suffolk in 1907. Farther out, the Eastern Shore Railway Museum in Parksley is roughly 1 hour 40 minutes away and is listed as open March to October.
Are there train museums near Washington, DC in Northern Virginia?
Yes, two working stations in Northern Virginia double as rail history stops. Alexandria Union Station, opened in 1905, has interpretive exhibits in a waiting room open daily from 6 am to 8:45 pm. The 1914 Manassas Railroad Depot holds the James and Marion Payne Railroad Heritage Gallery and is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm, except a few holidays.
Is there a train museum in Clifton Forge?
Yes, the C&O Railway Heritage Center in Clifton Forge is run by the Chesapeake and Ohio Historical Society around a restored 1895 freight depot. Outside are steam locomotive 614, restored diesels, a 1932 dining car, a Pullman sleeper and cabooses that visitors can see inside and out. Inside are C&O exhibits and an operating O-scale model railroad.
Is the Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad Museum open again?
Yes, the Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad Museum reopened on June 20, 2026, after repairs from an August 2023 pipe burst that flooded the building. As of October 2026 it is open seven days a week, Sunday to Wednesday 1 pm to 5 pm and Thursday to Saturday 11 am to 5 pm. Admission is not posted online, so call (757) 514-4135.
What is at the O. Winston Link Museum in Roanoke?
The O. Winston Link Museum shows Link's black-and-white photographs of Norfolk & Western steam and the small towns along the line in the 1950s. It also covers his sound and film work, adds interactive exhibits and offers a spot for train viewing. Link chose the restored N&W passenger station as its home, and it opened there in 2004. Hours are not posted online.
How long is the Virginia Scenic Railway ride from Staunton?
The Alleghany Special from Staunton runs about three hours with narration. It heads west past farms, wooded hills and mountain views toward the national forests. Riders pick a class of service when booking, and Dining Class is open to all ages. Because three hours is long for toddlers, the Santa Express is often a better fit for very young riders.
Where is the 611 steam locomotive in Virginia?
Norfolk & Western J Class 611 is based at the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke. It was built in 1950 at the N&W's own Roanoke shops and has run again since May 2015. Because it travels for excursions, it is not always home, so check the museum's Facebook page before a visit if seeing the 611 is the main goal.
What is C&O locomotive 614 in Clifton Forge?
C&O 614 is a 4-8-4 Greenbrier-type steam locomotive built by Lima Locomotive Works in June 1948. It pulled Chesapeake & Ohio passenger trains until 1952 and later ran in excursion service. Today it is restored and displayed at the C&O Railway Heritage Center in Clifton Forge, where visitors can see it alongside diesels, a Pullman sleeper and cabooses.
Are there Santa trains in Virginia?
Yes, the Virginia Scenic Railway in Staunton runs the Santa Express, its best-known family train, and it books up, so reserve early. The Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke holds a Candy Cane Celebration. The Richmond Railroad Museum decorates for the holidays from Thanksgiving but no longer runs Santa trains, and the older Buckingham Division Santa excursions have ended.
Are there fall or Halloween train events in Virginia?
Yes, a few Virginia rail sites mark the season. The Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke hosts Spooky Sweets & Treats, and the Virginia Scenic Railway runs the Autumn Special from Victoria Station in Goshen on four October weekends with limited seats. Manassas holds its Fall Jubilee around the historic depot downtown.
Why was Roanoke such an important railroad town?
Roanoke was home to the Norfolk & Western, which built many of its own locomotives in the city's shops. The 611 came out of those shops in 1950 and the 1218 in 1943. The railroad's 1918 freight station held offices for its Shenandoah and Radford divisions and now houses the Virginia Museum of Transportation, while its passenger station holds the O. Winston Link Museum.
When is the C&O Railway Heritage Center open?
As of October 2026, the C&O Railway Heritage Center in Clifton Forge is open Friday to Sunday, 11 am to 4 pm, through December 20. It then closes for winter from December 21, 2026 to March 11, 2027. Admission is listed as $8 for adults and $5 for children under 12, with kids under 3 free, so confirm before visiting.
Is the Eastern Shore Railway Museum in Parksley worth a stop?
It makes a good short stop on a day on Virginia's Eastern Shore. The Parksley museum keeps a restored station with coal stoves and railroad memorabilia, plus vintage rail cars outside, in a town whose tracks run right into the square. It is listed as open Wednesday to Saturday, noon to 4 pm, from March to October, so check Facebook first.
Can you still ride the Buckingham Branch Railroad in Dillwyn?
Only on occasional dates. The volunteer spring, fall and Santa excursions on the Buckingham Division have ended, according to the Old Dominion Chapter. The Buckingham Branch Railroad itself is a freight short line based in Dillwyn's former C&O station, and it runs periodic vintage diesel excursions with that chapter on posted dates only, so check before planning a trip.
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.