Train Museums in Wisconsin: Every Railroad Museum by Town
- 15 museums
- 15 towns
- 8 with train rides
- 1 free
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Green Bay is home to the Dwight D. Eisenhower, which the National Railroad Museum says is the only A4 class locomotive in the United States, parked under the same roof as its wartime command cars. Use this page alongside our state-by-state train museum guide: Wisconsin has 15 museums, rides and rail sites here, spread across 14 towns plus one statewide historical group. Type your town into the finder below to see what is closest.
The mix leans toward riding. Families can roll behind diesels in North Freedom, ride 1907-era electric interurbans in East Troy, watch coal-fired miniature steam in Wisconsin Dells, or eat pizza on a Northwoods train near Spooner. Indoor collections in Green Bay and Hartford cover the colder months.
Many rides are seasonal, roughly spring through October with holiday trains after that, so check each card for current hours before you drive.
Look inside the book
Big engines, little legs. Bring Rally along.
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Quick picks: where to start in Wisconsin
Biggest collection
Green Bay
More than 70 pieces of rolling stock, including Big Boy No. 4017 and the Eisenhower locomotive, with many cars open to walk through.
Easy first ride for a toddler
North Shore Bank Safari Train at the Milwaukee County Zoo
Milwaukee
The zoo's oldest ride gives little legs a seated loop through the parkland behind a real 15-inch gauge locomotive.
Best train ride with a meal
Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad
Trego
The two-hour Family Pizza Train bakes pizza on board and stops on the Bean Creek Trestle above the Northwoods.
Rainy day pick
Hartford
Everything is indoors and fully accessible, with a 250-ton 1913 Soo Line steam locomotive among more than 125 vehicles.
Ride a real city streetcar
Kenosha
Restored 1948 and 1951 PCC streetcars run a two-mile loop past the Lake Michigan shore as everyday transit.
Free stop for older kids and researchers
Madison
The Library and Archives in Madison are free and hold the photographs, maps and records rail historians use.
Every train museum in Wisconsin, town by town
15 museums in 15 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.
Ashland
Historic rail site
Soo Line Depot
A handsome brownstone depot from about 1890, used by the Wisconsin Central and the Soo Line until passenger trains ended in 1959. It is a National Register landmark rather than a staffed museum, so treat it as a photo stop.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsBrodhead
Depot museum
Brodhead Historical Society Depot Museum
An 1881 Milwaukee Road depot in downtown Brodhead, run by volunteers, with a 1950 Fairbanks-Morse locomotive and a 1941 caboose out back plus cheese-making displays inside. Open Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, 1 to 4 pm, Memorial Day through September.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsEast Troy
Trolley and streetcar museum
East Troy Railroad Museum
Ride restored electric trolleys and interurban cars on a 1907 line between East Troy and Mukwonago, with a stop at The Elegant Farmer. Tickets are all-day passes, the depot museum is free to browse, and trains run rain or shine.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsGreen Bay
Railroad museum
National Railroad Museum
One of the country's oldest and largest rail museums, home to Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4017 and Eisenhower's wartime train. Open year-round, with 25-minute diesel train rides from May through October weekends.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsHartford
Museum with a major rail exhibit
Wisconsin Automotive Museum
Wisconsin's largest auto museum, in the town where Kissel cars were built, also houses 1913 Soo Line steam locomotive No. 1003 and railroad artifacts. Open Wednesday to Saturday, with one hour the recommended minimum.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsKenosha
Trolley and streetcar museum
Kenosha Electric Streetcar
Real city transit on vintage wheels: restored 1948 and 1951 PCC streetcars run a two-mile loop past the lakefront, HarborPark and downtown Kenosha. Ride from marked stops; check Kenosha Area Transit for the current schedule and fare.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsLa Crosse
Outdoor rail park
La Crosse Short Line Railroad Heritage Museum
A 1930 Burlington Route Hudson steam locomotive and the Grand Crossing Tower, displayed in La Crosse's Copeland Park and cared for by the nonprofit 4000 Foundation. Guided tours open during the foundation's Rail Fair and Tri-State Rail Sale.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsMadison
Rail preservation group
Wisconsin Historical Society
Not a train museum with locomotives, but a research collection: the Society's free Library and Archives in Madison hold photographs, maps and records used by rail historians. Best for older kids, researchers and serious rail fans.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsMarshall
Outdoor rail park
Little Amerricka / Whiskey River Railway
A family amusement park near Madison whose 16-inch gauge Whiskey River Railway runs two miles through the countryside. Steam locomotives come out for special railroad days, and the October Pumpkin Train includes a ride and a pumpkin from $10.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsMilwaukee
Outdoor rail park
North Shore Bank Safari Train at the Milwaukee County Zoo
The Milwaukee County Zoo's Safari Train is the zoo's oldest ride, running on 15-inch gauge track behind diesel locomotives. Its two steam engines moved to Wisconsin Dells in 2024, and a new engine, No. 2025, joined the fleet.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsNorth Freedom
Heritage railroad with a museum
Mid-Continent Railway Museum
An operating railroad and outdoor museum near Baraboo with a 55-minute, seven-mile ride from an 1894 depot and award-winning wooden car restorations. Open weekends and summer days from May to October, plus Santa Express in late fall.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsRhinelander
Depot museum
Soo Line Depot and Railroad Museum
A restored Soo Line depot that now serves as Rhinelander's railroad museum, part of the Pioneer Park Historical Complex with its logging museum, one-room school and Hodag displays. Call ahead, since hours are not posted online.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsTrego
Heritage railroad with a museum
Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad
A family-run Northwoods railroad near Spooner offering two-hour pizza and sightseeing trains, dinner trains and an overnight bed and breakfast train along the Namekagon River. The restored 1935 Mark Twain Zephyr is due to carry riders in 2027.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsWisconsin Dells
Heritage railroad with a museum
Riverside & Great Northern Railway
Ride behind real coal-fired steam locomotives built to 15-inch gauge on a two-mile Wisconsin Dells line through rock cuts and woods. Open weekends 9:30 am to 4 pm in season, with picnic grounds, yard games and a fall Pumpkin Express.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsStatewide and regional groups
Rail preservation group
Milwaukee Road Historical Association
A Wisconsin-chartered nonprofit devoted to the Milwaukee Road railroad, founded in 1972. It publishes The Milwaukee Railroader, sells history books, keeps archives with a volunteer curator and holds an annual convention, rather than running a public museum.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsCompare every Wisconsin 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 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soo Line DepotAshland | Historic site | No | No admission posted | No public hours posted; view the building from outside | Railroad architecture fans and road-trippers |
| Brodhead Historical Society Depot MuseumBrodhead | Depot museum | No | No admission price posted; the society runs on donations | Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, 1 to 4 pm, Memorial Day to the end of September; large groups by appointment | Milwaukee Road fans and families with school-age kids |
| East Troy Railroad MuseumEast Troy | Trolley museum | Yes | All-day ride pass: adults 15 to 64 $17, seniors 65+ and military $14.50, ages 3 to 14 $11, 2 and under free, members free (plus tax) | 2026 regular trains: Saturdays April 18 to August 29, Fridays June 5 to August 28, Sundays May 31 to August 30; departures from 10 am. Harvest Fest weekends September 12 to October 25 | Families with young kids, trolley fans and dinner train couples |
| National Railroad MuseumGreen Bay | Railroad museum | Yes | Ages 13 and up $15, seniors 62+ and college students $12, ages 2 to 12 $10, under 2 free; members free | Open year-round. April to December: Mon 9 am to 5 pm, Tue 9 am to 8 pm, Wed to Sat 9 am to 5 pm, Sun 11 am to 5 pm. January to March: closed Mon, Tue 9 am to 8 pm, Wed to Sat 9 am to 4 pm, Sun 11 am to 4 pm | Families, rail fans and history lovers |
| Wisconsin Automotive MuseumHartford | Rail gallery | No | Adults $15, seniors 65+ $14, ages 6 to 16 $7, 5 and under free; $1 off each ticket paid in cash | Wednesday to Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm; no admittance after 4:30 pm | Car and train lovers, and rainy-day family outings |
| Kenosha Electric StreetcarKenosha | Trolley museum | Yes | Transit fare; check Kenosha Area Transit for the current price | Runs on a transit schedule; check Kenosha Area Transit before you go | Families with young kids and streetcar fans |
| La Crosse Short Line Railroad Heritage MuseumLa Crosse | Rail park | No | The foundation does not post an admission fee; members get free access to the display during fundraising events | Outdoor park display; guided tours during 4000 Foundation events | Steam fans and families already visiting Copeland Park |
| Wisconsin Historical SocietyMadison | Preservation group | No | Library and Archives free; members get free admission to 12 historic sites | Library and Archives open to the public; archival appointments Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, check current hours online | Researchers, rail historians and older students |
| Little Amerricka / Whiskey River RailwayMarshall | Rail park | Yes | Wristbands and single ride tickets; see the park's admission page for current prices | Seasonal, generally noon to 5, 6 or 7 pm in summer; check the operating calendar and call (608) 655-3181 to confirm | Young families and miniature steam fans |
| North Shore Bank Safari Train at the Milwaukee County ZooMilwaukee | Rail park | Yes | Zoo admission required, with separate ride fees; buying online is cheaper. Check milwaukeezoo.org for prices | Zoo open daily 9:30 am to 4:30 pm through October 31, 2026; November 1 to December 31, weekdays 9:30 am to 2:30 pm and weekends 9:30 am to 4:30 pm | Families with toddlers and young kids |
| Mid-Continent Railway MuseumNorth Freedom | Heritage railroad | Yes | Coach train fare: adults $24, seniors 62+ $22, ages 3 to 15 $13, 2 and under free with ticket; self-guided museum tour $5 | Grounds open 9:30 am to 5 pm on operating days (9 am on fall event weekends). 2026: weekends May 17 to June 16, daily except Mondays June 17 to Labor Day, weekends to Oct. 25, Santa Express weekends Nov. 28 to Dec. 6 | Families wanting a real train ride, and wooden car fans |
| Soo Line Depot and Railroad MuseumRhinelander | Depot museum | No | Not posted online; the railroad museum welcomes donations for upkeep | Not posted online; call (715) 369-5004 | Families exploring the Northwoods and Soo Line fans |
| Milwaukee Road Historical AssociationStatewide and regional groups | Preservation group | No | No admission; membership and convention registration are separate | No public museum hours; train show hours are generally 9 or 10 am to 4 pm | Rail historians, modelers and former Milwaukee Road employees |
| Wisconsin Great Northern RailroadTrego | Heritage railroad | Yes | Sightseeing train from $22; Family Pizza Train $42 ages 13+ and $34 ages 2 to 12; dinner train $105 per person; bed and breakfast $499 per couple | Trains run Tuesday to Saturday through Christmas; departure times vary by train, so book online | Families on the pizza train and couples on dinner or overnight trains |
| Riverside & Great Northern RailwayWisconsin Dells | Heritage railroad | Yes | Fares are posted on the online ticket page; a third-party listing gives adult fares from $20 | Saturdays and Sundays, 9:30 am to 4 pm in season (about early April to late October) | Families with young kids and steam fans |
No museum on this page matches every filter you picked.
Map of every train museum in Wisconsin
Drive times from Milwaukee, Madison and Green Bay
Times are approximate, without traffic, and worked out from straight-line distance, so allow extra time on rural roads.
| Museum | From Milwaukee | From Madison | From Green Bay |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Shore Bank Safari Train at the Milwaukee County ZooMilwaukee | 10 min | ||
| East Troy Railroad MuseumEast Troy | 40 min | ||
| Wisconsin Automotive MuseumHartford | 40 min | ||
| Kenosha Electric StreetcarKenosha | 45 min | ||
| National Railroad MuseumGreen Bay | 2 hr 15 min | 5 min | |
| Little Amerricka / Whiskey River RailwayMarshall | 25 min | ||
| Brodhead Historical Society Depot MuseumBrodhead | 45 min | ||
| Mid-Continent Railway MuseumNorth Freedom | 50 min | ||
| Riverside & Great Northern RailwayWisconsin Dells | 1 hr | ||
| La Crosse Short Line Railroad Heritage MuseumLa Crosse | 2 hr 25 min | ||
| Soo Line Depot and Railroad MuseumRhinelander | 2 hr 20 min |
How railroads built Wisconsin
Railroads tied Wisconsin's farms, mines, forests and lake towns together. The La Crosse and Milwaukee Railroad graded a roadbed near the Dells in 1857, the Milwaukee Road built a Cream City brick depot in Brodhead in 1881, and the Soo Line and Wisconsin Central reached north to Rhinelander and Ashland on Lake Superior. In 1903 the Chicago and North Western laid a branch to new iron mines south of North Freedom, and a quarry kept it busy until 1962.
Electric lines mattered too. In 1907 The Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company opened a 36-mile interurban from Milwaukee to East Troy, and when the rest was abandoned in 1939, the village kept seven miles running as a freight line. Kenosha ran its own streetcars from 1903 to 1932. Wisconsin also built rail equipment: Fairbanks-Morse turned out early diesels in Beloit, and the Sandley family built 15-inch gauge steam engines for parks and zoos.
For the national picture, start at the National Railroad Museum. The iron mine branch now carries riders at Mid-Continent Railway Museum, the interurban lives on at the East Troy Railroad Museum, and the Sandley engines run again at the Riverside & Great Northern Railway. The Milwaukee Road story fills the Brodhead depot museum, the Soo Line is remembered at the Rhinelander depot and the Wisconsin Automotive Museum, and the Burlington's Hudson No. 4000 stands in La Crosse.
Tips for families
- At the National Railroad Museum, food stays out of the exhibit areas, but there are picnic spots on the grounds. The train ride costs $6 with paid admission and runs daily May to September and on October weekends.
- Mid-Continent asks riders without a reservation to arrive 20 minutes early. Children 2 and under ride free but still need a ticket, and the Pumpkin Special and Santa Express often sell out.
- East Troy tickets are all-day passes, trains run rain or shine, and the depot has free restrooms, so start there.
- Riverside & Great Northern restrooms have changing stations; call (608) 254-6367 ahead to schedule the wheelchair car.
- Several Wisconsin Great Northern wine trains are for ages 21 and up, so check age rules before booking the family.
- The Milwaukee County Zoo charges a ride fee for the Safari Train on top of zoo admission, and buying online is cheaper.
- Pay cash at the Wisconsin Automotive Museum to save $1 per ticket.
Wisconsin rail day trips
Trip 1
Steam and diesel near Baraboo
- Mid-Continent Railway MuseumNorth Freedom
- Riverside & Great Northern RailwayWisconsin Dells
Ride the 55-minute diesel train through the Baraboo Hills at Mid-Continent, then drive about 13 miles to Wisconsin Dells for a short ride behind a coal-fired 15-inch gauge steam engine. Both run on weekends in season, and both add pumpkin trains in fall. The Dells station has a picnic pavilion and play area for a lunch break.
Trip 2
Trolleys of southeast Wisconsin
- East Troy Railroad MuseumEast Troy
- Kenosha Electric StreetcarKenosha
Spend the morning riding electric interurbans on the 1907 line out of East Troy, where a day pass covers every train and lets you hop off at The Elegant Farmer. Then head about 33 miles east to Kenosha for a loop on a PCC streetcar along the lakefront. Check Kenosha Area Transit for the day's schedule first.
Trip 3
Cars, a locomotive and a zoo train
- Wisconsin Automotive MuseumHartford
- North Shore Bank Safari Train at the Milwaukee County ZooMilwaukee
The Wisconsin Automotive Museum in Hartford pairs a 1913 Soo Line steam engine with rows of Kissel cars, and it is all indoors. The Milwaukee County Zoo is about 26 miles away, where the Safari Train makes a good break between animal buildings. The auto museum is open Wednesday to Saturday, with last entry at 4:30 pm.
Holiday trains and seasonal days at Wisconsin museums
Wisconsin goes big on holiday and harvest trains. The National Railroad Museum hosts The Polar Express Train Ride, the Festival of Trees and Holidays on the Rails, and Mid-Continent runs Santa Express weekends from November 28 to December 6, 2026, after its Pumpkin Special and Halloween Flyer. East Troy offers Trick or Treat Trains in October, then daytime Christmas trains and Santa's Special Evening Trains. In fall, the Riverside & Great Northern runs its Pumpkin Express and Little Amerricka switches to a Pumpkin Train, while the Wisconsin Great Northern adds a Santa Pizza Train. Browse more options in our Wisconsin Christmas train rides guide and our roundup of Halloween and pumpkin trains in Wisconsin.
From Rally's family to yours
In our book there is a moment when the train slips into a dark tunnel, everyone holds their breath, and then the big bright light comes and the whole car cheers. My kids are learning to read, and they still shout along at that page. My mom dreamed up Rally's story, using our real corgi, before she died in 2021, so every cheer feels a little like hers. If your family wants a quiet activity after a long train day, our free train coloring pages are waiting, and you can read the story behind the book.
Keep going: train museums next door
From Milwaukee, the Illinois Railway Museum in Union is about 1 hour 30 minutes away, billed as the largest railway museum in the country, with unlimited rides on one ticket; see more Illinois train museums. From Madison, plan about 5 hours to reach the Minnesota Transportation Museum in a real Great Northern roundhouse in St. Paul, one of the Minnesota train museums. Madison families heading west can reach the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad in about 5 hours 25 minutes, a standout among Iowa train museums.
A train book for the drive
If your family wants a full-size passenger train after the museums, our guide to riding the Hiawatha with kids is a good place to start planning.
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
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- Christmas train rides in Wisconsin: Santa trains and holiday rides
- Halloween train rides in Wisconsin: pumpkin trains for next October
- The Hiawatha 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
Wisconsin train museum questions
What is the biggest train museum in Wisconsin?
The National Railroad Museum in Green Bay is the largest on this list. It counts more than 70 pieces of rolling stock and more than 100,000 artifacts, from Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4017 to the General Motors Aerotrain. It traces its roots to 1956 and welcomes more than 100,000 visitors a year, with indoor galleries and outdoor display tracks.
Are there free train museums in Wisconsin?
A few Wisconsin rail stops cost nothing to see. The Wisconsin Historical Society's Library and Archives in Madison are free, the East Troy Railroad Museum's depot museum is free to browse, and the Brodhead Historical Society Depot Museum posts no admission price and runs on donations. The Ashland Soo Line Depot is an outdoor photo stop with no admission posted.
Where can you ride a train at a museum in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has several museum train rides. Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom runs a seven-mile, 55-minute trip, the East Troy Railroad Museum runs electric trolleys and interurbans on seven miles of track, and the Riverside & Great Northern in Wisconsin Dells runs 15-inch gauge steam. The National Railroad Museum adds a 25-minute loop ride in season.
What is the best train museum in Wisconsin for toddlers?
The Riverside & Great Northern Railway in Wisconsin Dells suits toddlers well. Its 30 to 45 minute steam ride is short, the engines are sized at 15-inch gauge, and the station has a play area, picnic pavilion and restrooms with changing stations. For a year-round option, the Safari Train at the Milwaukee County Zoo gives little ones a seated break.
Train museums near Milwaukee?
Milwaukee families have several close options. The North Shore Bank Safari Train runs inside the Milwaukee County Zoo, the East Troy Railroad Museum is about 40 minutes away, and the Wisconsin Automotive Museum in Hartford, home of Soo Line steam locomotive No. 1003, is about the same distance. Kenosha's PCC streetcars are roughly 45 minutes south.
Train museums near Madison, Wisconsin?
Madison is close to some of Wisconsin's best rides. Little Amerricka's Whiskey River Railway in Marshall is about 25 minutes away, Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom is about 50 minutes, and the Riverside & Great Northern in Wisconsin Dells is about an hour. In town, the Wisconsin Historical Society keeps a free research collection used by rail historians.
Is there a train museum in Wisconsin Dells?
Yes, the Riverside & Great Northern Railway runs a two-mile, 15-inch gauge steam train through rock cuts and woods along the Wisconsin River. Crews turn the engine by hand on a turntable at Western Springs. It operates on Saturdays and Sundays from about early April to late October, 9:30 am to 4 pm, and Mid-Continent is only about 13 miles away.
Is there a train museum in La Crosse?
Yes, La Crosse has an outdoor rail display in Copeland Park, cared for by the nonprofit 4000 Foundation. It features Burlington Route Hudson No. 4000, built by Baldwin in 1930, and the Grand Crossing Tower. Guided tours are offered during the foundation's July Rail Fair, and the park also has a splash pad for summer visits.
What is there to see at the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay?
The National Railroad Museum mixes indoor galleries with outdoor display tracks, and many cars are open to walk through. Highlights include Big Boy No. 4017, the Eisenhower locomotive and its two command cars, the General Motors Aerotrain and a Pullman porters exhibit built around the Lake Mitchell car. Plan about 2 to 3 hours, more with the train ride.
How long is the train ride at Mid-Continent Railway Museum?
The Mid-Continent Railway Museum ride is a seven-mile round trip of about 55 minutes. It leaves an 1894 Chicago and North Western depot, runs through a valley in the Baraboo Hills past the old mining town of La Rue, and stops at a quarry while the locomotive moves to the other end. All trains are currently diesel powered.
When do trolleys run at the East Troy Railroad Museum?
As of October 2026, East Troy's regular season has ended, and Harvest Fest weekends run through October 25. In 2026 regular trains ran Saturdays from April 18 to August 29, Fridays from June 5 to August 28 and Sundays from May 31 to August 30, with departures from 10 am. Christmas trains follow later in the year.
What is the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad Pizza Train?
The Family Pizza Train is the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad's most popular family ride from Trego. It runs about two hours through fields and Northwoods forest along the Namekagon River, with a personal pizza baked in the dining car and a stop on the Bean Creek Trestle. Fares are $42 for ages 13 and up and $34 for ages 2 to 12.
Where is Big Boy No. 4017 in Wisconsin?
Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4017 is at the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay. It is one of the giant Big Boy steam locomotives and the headline exhibit on the museum's home page. The museum's theater shows a film called Last of the Giants about the Big Boy class, which helps kids understand how big these engines were.
Where did the Milwaukee County Zoo steam engines go?
The Milwaukee County Zoo's steam engines, No. 1916 and No. 1924, went to the Riverside & Great Northern Preservation Society in Wisconsin Dells in 2024. No. 1916 left on April 1 and No. 1924 followed on October 31. The zoo's Safari Train now runs behind diesels, including No. 2025, its first new engine in more than thirty years.
Is there a Polar Express train ride in Wisconsin?
Yes, the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay hosts The Polar Express Train Ride as part of its holiday season, along with the Festival of Trees and Holidays on the Rails. During that season the museum closes one hour before the day's first show, so plan a regular museum visit earlier in the day or on another date.
Where can kids ride a pumpkin train in Wisconsin?
Several Wisconsin rail sites run pumpkin trains in October. Mid-Continent runs the Pumpkin Special, the Riverside & Great Northern runs the Pumpkin Express with a free pumpkin or gourd for kids 12 and under, and Little Amerricka in Marshall runs a Pumpkin Train from $10 that includes a pumpkin. East Troy hands out pumpkins on its Trick or Treat Trains.
Why does East Troy have an electric railroad?
East Troy sits on what remains of a 1907 electric interurban that ran 36 miles to Milwaukee. When the rest of the line was abandoned in 1939, the Village of East Troy bought the last seven miles to Mukwonago and ran it as a municipally owned electric freight railway until 1985. Volunteers now run trolleys and interurbans on that track.
Is there a train museum in Rhinelander?
Yes, Rhinelander's restored Soo Line depot serves as the town's railroad museum inside the Pioneer Park Historical Complex. The same grounds hold a logging museum, a one-room school house and a large collection of Hodag re-creations. Hours and prices are not posted online, so call (715) 369-5004 before you go, and donations help with upkeep.
Can you see a steam locomotive at the Wisconsin Automotive Museum in Hartford?
Yes, the Wisconsin Automotive Museum in Hartford houses Soo Line No. 1003, a 250-ton steam locomotive built in 1913, in its Steam Locomotive Showcase with other railroad artifacts. The rest of the museum holds more than 125 vehicles, including over 25 Kissel cars built in Hartford. It is open Wednesday to Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm.
Is the Kenosha streetcar a museum ride?
Not exactly; the Kenosha Electric Streetcar is everyday public transit run by Kenosha Area Transit using restored 1948 and 1951 PCC cars. The cars once served Philadelphia and Toronto. They run a two-mile loop past the Lake Michigan shoreline, HarborPark and downtown, and riders pay a transit fare and board at marked stops such as the Metra station.
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.