Midwest Scenic Railroads

Age of Steam Roundhouse

Sugarcreek, Ohio · Steam

A working roundhouse museum in Amish Country housing a large collection of steam locomotives and offering guided walking tours.

Belton, Grandview and Kansas City Railroad

Belton, Missouri · Diesel

A 1920s open-window coach pulled by a vintage diesel runs south from Belton on a five-mile round trip.

Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad (Iowa Railroad Historical Society)

Boone, Iowa · Steam & diesel

A trip through the Des Moines River valley to the old coal town of Fraser, crossing the tall Bass Point Creek and Des Moines River bridges.

Branson Scenic Railway

Branson, Missouri · Diesel

Vintage passenger cars roll through the Ozark foothills on the former Missouri Pacific White River Route from a 1905 depot.

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad

Peninsula, Ohio · Steam & diesel

Trains travel about 26 miles of track through Cuyahoga Valley National Park, with valley views and historic towns.

Delmar Loop Trolley

St. Louis, Missouri · Heritage trolley/streetcar

Vintage trolley runs ten stops along Delmar Boulevard and DeBaliviere to the Missouri History Museum in University City.

Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society

New Haven, Indiana · Steam

Mainline steam excursions behind Nickel Plate Road No. 765, with destinations varying by event.

Fourth Street Elevator

Dubuque, Iowa · Funicular/incline

A short, steep cable railway climbing the Dubuque bluff with views over the city and the Mississippi River where three states meet.

Fox River Trolley Museum

South Elgin, Illinois · Heritage trolley/streetcar

Vintage electric trolleys and interurban cars run along the Fox River through South Elgin on a preserved rail line.

French Lick Scenic Railway

French Lick, Indiana · Diesel

A ride through the hills and forests of southern Indiana's Hoosier National Forest, passing through the nearly half-mile Burton Tunnel.

Frisco Silver Dollar Line Steam Train

Branson, Missouri · Narrow gauge steam

A 2-foot narrow-gauge steam train loops through wooded Ozark countryside around the Silver Dollar City theme park.

Hesston Steam Museum

La Porte, Indiana · Narrow gauge steam

Short live-steam train rides around a museum grounds featuring vintage steam locomotives and machinery.

Hocking Valley Scenic Railway

Nelsonville, Ohio · Diesel

A family ride along the 150-year-old Hocking Valley right-of-way following the Hocking River, with a stop at Robbins Crossing village.

Hoosier Heartland Trolley Company

Russiaville, Indiana · Heritage trolley/streetcar

Developing electric heritage railway preserving Indiana interurban and streetcar history; public rides not yet operating.

Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum

North Judson, Indiana · Steam & diesel

Excursions departing the North Judson depot through northern Indiana countryside on diesel- or steam-powered trains.

Illinois Railway Museum

Union, Illinois · Steam & diesel

The largest U.S. railway museum offers rides on a five-mile main line plus a streetcar loop using steam, diesel, and electric equipment.

Lake Shore Railway Association (Lorain & West Virginia)

Wellington, Ohio · Diesel

Excursions run along about six miles of the restored former Lorain & West Virginia line from the Wellington depot.

Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad (Cincinnati Scenic)

Lebanon, Ohio · Diesel

Vintage passenger cars pulled by a historic diesel travel the countryside from downtown Lebanon in Warren County.

Midwest Central Railroad

Mount Pleasant, Iowa · Narrow gauge steam

An authentic narrow-gauge steam train circling the Old Threshers museum grounds in Mount Pleasant with interactive entertainment.

Midwest Electric Railway

Mount Pleasant, Iowa · Heritage trolley/streetcar

Historic electric trolleys carry riders on a loop around the Old Threshers campground in Mount Pleasant.

Monticello Railway Museum

Monticello, Illinois · Steam & diesel

A roughly one-hour ride between the museum site and downtown Monticello, with optional layovers at either depot.

National New York Central Railroad Museum

Elkhart, Indiana · Miniature railway

Indoor and outdoor New York Central railroad museum with a kids' amusement train ride during museum hours.

Nickel Plate Express

Noblesville, Indiana · Diesel

A family-friendly excursion over about 12 miles from Forest Park near Noblesville into northern Hamilton County and back.

Northern Ohio Railway Museum

Seville, Ohio · Heritage trolley/streetcar

A museum of vintage electric railway cars offering restored streetcar and interurban rides on select weekends in Seville.

Railroading Heritage of Midwest America

Silvis, Illinois · Steam & diesel

Occasional fundraiser and charter excursions from the former Rock Island shops, plus short round-trip rides at on-site events.

Silver Creek & Stephenson Railroad

Freeport, Illinois · Narrow gauge steam

A short 3.4-mile round trip behind a 1912 steam locomotive on a preserved branch line near Freeport.

Southwest Missouri Electric Railway

Webb City, Missouri ·

St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway

Jackson, Missouri · Diesel

All-volunteer excursion line runs about six miles of shortline through Cape Girardeau County in 1926 passenger cars.

Toledo, Lake Erie and Western Railway

Waterville, Ohio · Diesel

Currently offers narrated motorcar rides over the scenic Maumee River between Waterville and Grand Rapids on a 10-mile line.

Whitewater Valley Railroad

Connersville, Indiana · Steam & diesel

A scenic round trip through Indiana's Whitewater Valley between Connersville and historic Metamora with a layover.

Zanesville and Western Scenic Railroad

Mount Perry, Ohio · Diesel

An out-and-back excursion on the historic Glass Rock Spur passing scenic woods and farmland near Mt. Perry.