Whitewater Valley Railroad in Connersville, Indiana

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Connersville, Indiana · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesExcursion trains suspended after the August 13, 2026 flood; check before you go

The Whitewater Valley Railroad is a volunteer-operated, not-for-profit operating railroad museum that has carried passengers along the old Whitewater Canal towpath between Connersville and Metamora since 1974, keeping 1950s branch line railroading alive in southeast Indiana.

  • Volunteer run since 1974
  • Line dates to 1867
  • Built on a canal towpath
  • Open-window coaches and cabooses
  • Connersville to Metamora route
  • Flood recovery underway in 2026

Whitewater Valley Railroad at a glance

Hours
Excursions suspended after the August 2026 flood; check the website for the restart
Admission
Train fares not currently posted; Phantoms of the Canal Road is $10 for ages 2 and up
Train rides
Diesel excursions between Connersville and Metamora, typically May to October (suspended for flood repairs); Halloween motorcar rides from Metamora
Seasonal events
Phantoms of the Canal Road
Plan for
Plan on half a day for a round trip with the Metamora layover
Best for
Families and rail fans who want a real ride on a historic line
Best ages
Ages 2 and up

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

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Whitewater Valley Railroad? 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 Connersville.

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.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

A branch line on a canal towpath, kept running by volunteers

Long before there were rails in the Whitewater Valley, there was a canal. The Whitewater Canal was dug in the 1830s, and when the railroad came through it was laid right on the old towpath. Trains have carried passengers and freight along that route since 1867, following the river past farm fields and woods between Connersville and the canal town of Metamora.

The Whitewater Valley Railroad has carried excursion passengers on the line since 1974. It describes itself as an operating railroad museum, and it is organized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to preservation, restoration and education. Its focus is the everyday branch line railroading of the 1950s.

Everything here is done by volunteers: running the trains, maintaining the track, and restoring the diesel locomotives, open-window passenger cars and cabooses in the collection. The railroad keeps three bases, the Connersville Grand Central Station on Market Street, a shop and yard in South Connersville, and a ticket office on Main Street in Metamora.

The summer of 2026 brought the railroad's hardest test. In the early hours of August 13, the West Fork of the Whitewater River crested at 21.78 feet at Alpine, Indiana, a record level. Because the line hugs the river along the old towpath, it took the full force of the water. Volunteers have started recovery work, and the railroad says a great deal of repair, time and support will be needed before trains can run again.

From Grand Central Station in Connersville to the canal town of Metamora

In a normal season, a trip starts at the Connersville Grand Central Station at 455 Market Street and rolls south through the valley to Metamora, with a layover in town before the return run. The route passes rolling farmland, thick stands of woods and long views of the river that you cannot see from any road. Trains have typically run from May through October.

The equipment is the point: vintage diesel locomotives up front, open-window passenger cars where the breeze comes straight in, and cabooses that rail fans love to ride. The South Connersville Shop and Yard at 300 S Eastern Avenue is where volunteers maintain and restore the fleet. In Metamora, the ticket office on Main Street is the base for the Halloween motorcar rides.

Don’t miss

  1. The open-window passenger carsThese coaches let you lean toward the window and feel the valley air, the way branch line passengers traveled decades ago.
  2. The Whitewater Canal towpathThe track sits on the towpath of a canal dug in the 1830s, so the ride follows a transportation corridor older than the railroad itself.
  3. Historic MetamoraThe line's far end is the old canal town of Metamora, where the railroad keeps its second ticket office.
  4. The caboosesThe collection includes cabooses alongside the diesels and coaches, a reminder of how freight crews once rode at the back of every train.
  5. Phantoms of the Canal RoadA 20-minute open-air motorcar ride through a gently haunted Metamora, built for families rather than for big scares.

Open windows, cabooses and a not-too-scary Halloween ride

For kids, the open-window coaches are the draw: the sound of the diesel, the river sliding past and the breeze on their faces. The layover in Metamora gives everyone a chance to stretch their legs before the ride back. Because regular trains are paused while the line is repaired after the August 2026 flood, check the railroad's website or Facebook page for the restart before promising a ride.

In October the railroad has posted Phantoms of the Canal Road, a 20-minute motorcar ride from Metamora with gentle spooks and fun surprises and no blood or gore. The motorcars are open-air and run rain or shine, so dress little ones for the weather. Every rider age two and up needs a ticket.

Plan your visit: tips for Whitewater Valley Railroad

  • Check the website or Facebook page for flood recovery news before you drive out.
  • Phantoms of the Canal Road leaves from Metamora, not Connersville.
  • Halloween motorcars are open-air and run rain or shine, so bring layers.
  • Online orders add a 6% service fee (minimum $1); phone orders go through (765) 825-2054.
  • Halloween seats are limited and sell out, so buy early.

Each October the railroad has offered Phantoms of the Canal Road, a family-friendly motorcar ride through the haunted village of Metamora. Rides last about 20 minutes and leave every half hour in the evening on select Fridays and Saturdays, and seats go fast. With the main line under repair after the 2026 flood, confirm the schedule with the railroad first, and see our roundup of Halloween train rides in Indiana for more October ideas.

A railroad that runs on volunteers

The Whitewater Valley Railroad is a volunteer-operated 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and every ticket goes toward restoring and running its historic equipment and track. After the August 2026 flood, the railroad says repairs will take time and resources, so donations, memberships and volunteer hours matter more than ever. Reach the railroad at info@whitewatervalleyrr.org or follow its Facebook page for ways to help.

More rail stops within an hour or so of Connersville

The Cincinnati Railway Museum is about 49 miles southeast, and the Carillon Historical Park railway collection in Dayton is about 50 miles east. Back in Indiana, the Nickel Plate Express in Noblesville is about 54 miles northwest. For more ideas, see every train museum in Indiana.

Every train museum in Indiana

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.

The Whitewater Valley Railroad runs open-window coaches along a river, and that is the kind of ride I picture when Rally presses his nose to the glass in our book. On his train it is an arched window and the ocean, and he says hello to a white bird. Here it would be farm fields and water and maybe a heron. I hope the volunteers get their line back soon. Our coloring pages can fill the wait.

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 Whitewater Valley Railroad?

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.

Whitewater Valley Railroad: 20 questions riders ask

Is the Whitewater Valley Railroad running after the flood?

Not yet, as of October 2026. On August 13, 2026 the West Fork of the Whitewater River crested at a record 21.78 feet at Alpine, Indiana, and the railroad's line along the old canal towpath took the full force of the water. Operations were suspended, and the railroad says significant repair work lies ahead. Watch whitewatervalleyrr.org and its Facebook page for updates.

How bad was the Whitewater Valley Railroad flood damage?

Serious enough to stop the trains indefinitely. Because the track follows the Whitewater Canal towpath right beside the river, it was hit hard when the West Fork crested at 21.78 feet in August 2026. The railroad says recovery is underway but that repairs will need time, resources and support from the community before excursions can resume.

How do I buy Whitewater Valley Railroad tickets?

Tickets are sold online through the railroad's website at whitewatervalleyrr.org or by phone at (765) 825-2054, and online orders carry a 6% service fee with a $1 minimum. With regular excursions paused for flood repairs as of October 2026, check the site for which trips and events are currently on sale before you plan a visit.

How much are Whitewater Valley Railroad tickets?

The railroad is not currently posting excursion fares while trains are suspended after the 2026 flood. A third-party guide has listed past adult round-trip fares starting around $27 to $30, but treat that as a rough guide only. For October 2026, the posted Phantoms of the Canal Road motorcar ride is $10 for everyone age two and up.

What is the Whitewater Valley Railroad schedule?

In a normal year, excursions have run from May through October between Connersville and Metamora with a layover in Metamora. As of October 2026 the regular schedule is suspended because of flood damage to the line. The railroad will post a new schedule on whitewatervalleyrr.org once repairs allow trains to run again.

Where is the Whitewater Valley Railroad?

The railroad runs between Connersville and Metamora in southeast Indiana's Whitewater Valley. Its Connersville Grand Central Station is at 455 Market St, Connersville, IN 47331, its shop and yard are at 300 S Eastern Ave in South Connersville, and its Metamora ticket office is at 19056 Main St, Metamora, IN 47030.

Where is the Whitewater Valley Railroad ticket office in Metamora?

The Metamora ticket office is at 19056 Main St, Metamora, IN 47030, and its phone number is (765) 647-2233. This is where the Phantoms of the Canal Road Halloween rides depart, so families coming for that event should go to Metamora rather than to the Connersville station.

What does the Whitewater Valley Railroad route look like?

The line follows the towpath of the old Whitewater Canal along the river between Connersville and Metamora. Riders pass rolling farmland, dense woods and river views that are only visible from the train. The railroad does not post a detailed route map online, so contact it at (765) 825-2054 if you need specifics.

Is the Whitewater Valley Railroad a museum?

Yes. It calls itself a volunteer-operated, not-for-profit operating railroad museum, which means the collection is meant to be ridden rather than just viewed. Its mission covers preserving the historic branch line, restoring vintage equipment and offering educational programs, with a focus on 1950s era branch line railroading.

What locomotives are on the Whitewater Valley Railroad roster?

The railroad says it runs a historic collection of diesel locomotives, open-window passenger cars and cabooses. It does not publish a full roster with numbers on its website, so rail fans looking for specific engines should ask the volunteers by email at info@whitewatervalleyrr.org or check the railroad's Facebook and YouTube pages.

Does the Whitewater Valley Railroad have a steam locomotive?

The railroad describes its current operating fleet as diesel locomotives with open-window coaches and cabooses. One travel listing calls it a steam and diesel line, but the railroad's own website talks about diesels. If you are hoping to see steam, contact the railroad at (765) 825-2054 before you go.

Does the Whitewater Valley Railroad run a Polar Express train?

The railroad's website does not list a Polar Express train, and as of October 2026 regular excursions are suspended for flood repairs. Holiday plans depend on how recovery goes, so follow the railroad's Facebook page or check whitewatervalleyrr.org for any Christmas season announcements.

What is Phantoms of the Canal Road?

It is the railroad's Halloween event: a 20-minute open-air motorcar ride through the haunted village of Metamora with gentle spooks and no blood or gore. As of October 2026, rides were posted every 30 minutes from 6 pm to 9 pm on October 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 and 31, at $10 for ages two and up. It sells out quickly.

Is the Whitewater Valley Railroad good for young kids?

It has been a favorite family outing, with open-window coaches, cabooses and a layover in Metamora to stretch little legs. The Halloween motorcar ride is designed for all ages and avoids gore. Children two and up need a ticket for that ride. Since regular trains are paused after the flood, check the schedule before you promise a train ride.

What are the reviews like for the Whitewater Valley Railroad?

The railroad has a large following, with more than 52,000 people following its Facebook page, where riders share photos and comments. Visitors often mention the scenery along the river and the old canal route. Reading recent posts there is also the best way to see current flood recovery updates.

How long is a Whitewater Valley Railroad trip?

A normal excursion is a round trip from Connersville to Metamora with a layover in Metamora, so plan on about half a day including the town stop. The railroad does not post an exact run time while service is suspended, so check the schedule on whitewatervalleyrr.org once trains resume.

When did the Whitewater Valley Railroad start?

The Whitewater Valley Railroad has operated since 1974. The line itself is much older: trains have carried passengers and freight through the valley since 1867, on track built along the towpath of the Whitewater Canal from the 1830s. Volunteers have run and maintained it as a nonprofit museum for more than 50 years.

How can I help the Whitewater Valley Railroad recover?

The railroad is a volunteer-operated 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and it says flood repairs will require time, resources and support. You can donate, become a member or volunteer; email info@whitewatervalleyrr.org or call (765) 825-2054 to ask how. Buying event tickets when they are offered also supports the equipment and track.

How do I contact the Whitewater Valley Railroad?

Call (765) 825-2054 or email info@whitewatervalleyrr.org. Mail goes to Whitewater Valley Railroad, PO Box 406, Connersville, IN 47331-0406. The South Connersville Shop and Yard can be reached at (765) 827-8606, and the Metamora ticket office at (765) 647-2233.

What train museums are near the Whitewater Valley Railroad?

The Cincinnati Railway Museum and the Cincinnati Museum Center railroad exhibits are both about 49 miles away, the Carillon Historical Park railway collection in Dayton is about 50 miles, and the Bradford Ohio Railroad Museum is about 51 miles. In Indiana, the Nickel Plate Express in Noblesville is about 54 miles northwest.

Keep exploring

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Kelsey Cecil
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