Ohio’s Scenic Train Rides and Museums.
Scenic train rides, train museums, model train displays and more.
For those who love riding the rails, collecting model trains or just enjoy learning about the history of trains, you are in luck! You will find a wonderful selection of train museums, scenic train rides, model train displays and restoration programs all around Ohio. The train enthusiast in you, will thank you for making plans to visit one or all of these unique train stops.
ALLEN COUNTY (NW OH)
Harrod Railroad Heritage Park
Napoleon Road, Harrod, OH
website
This stationary outdoor museum houses a 1905 Shay Locomotive and Caboose.
ATHENS COUNTY (NE OH)
HOCKING VALLEY SCENIC RAILWAY
All rides depart from the Nelsonville Depot, located at 33 W. Canal Street along Business U.S. Route 33 in Nelsonville, Ohio.
740.753.9531 | hvsry.org
The Hocking Valley Scenic Railway, erring more on the history side than anything, has been providing volunteer-operated weekend train excursions from Nelsonville for over forty years! Take the tour and find out more about us as you plan your trip!
Events are posted on their website.
BUTLER COUNTY (SW OH)
ENTERTAINMENT JUNCTION (Model Trains)
7379 Squire Ct, West Chester, OH 45069
877-898-4656 | entertrainmentjunction.com
See website for hours.
You can marvel at the world’s largest indoor train display. Slide, climb and play in a children’s play area. Discover at the railroading museum and more! It’s like a theme park all indoors!
CUYAHOGA COUNTY ( NE OH)
Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (photo credit: Andrew Gacom Photography)
CUYAHOGA VALLEY SCENIC RAILROAD
Location: Departs Rockside Rd., Independence & Peninsula
cvsr.com
Climb aboard the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad’s flagship train! The National Park Scenic excursion is the best way to see the length of Cuyahoga Valley National Park from a one-of-a-kind vantage point.
Sit back as the train weaves through Cuyahoga Valley along the rushing Cuyahoga River. Passengers may catch a glimpse of CVNP’s variety of wildlife including an eagle’s nest, deer, blue heron and other natural habitats. Traces of the Valley’s industrial history, such as the Ohio & Erie Canal can also be seen.
The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad offers daily trips, as well as special event rides throughout the year. Visit their website for additional information.
MIDWEST RAILWAY PRESERVATION SOCIETY
Location: 2800 W. 3rd St., Cleveland, OH 44113 US
216.781.3629 | midwestrailway.org
Our mission here at MRPS is to collect, preserve and educate as well as operate historic railroad equipment. We offer our knowledge, experience, and expertise to private rail car owners. They can depend on Midwest for repairs, renovations and service inspections.
DARKE COUNTY (SW OH)
BRADFORD OHIO RAILROAD MUSEUM
Location: 200 North Miami Ave., Bradford, Ohio 45308
bradfordmuseum.org
Seasonal
The Bradford Ohio Railroad Museum celebrates the heritage and impact that the Railroad had upon our community and the individuals who worked within the railroad industry.
Founded in 2002 by several local railroad enthusiasts, the Bradford Ohio Railroad Museum takes you on a journey through our local railroad history as depicted through photos, interactive displays and railroad memorabilia.
Events
Salute to the Railroaders – April
Dining by Rail – May
Dayton Dragons Game – July
Railroad Heritage Festival – September
Honoring our Veterans – November
North Pole Express = December
FRANKLIN COUNTY (CENTRAL OH)
OHIO RAILWAY MUSEUM
Location: 990 Proprietors Road, Worthington, Ohio 43085
614-885-7345 | ohiorailwaymuseum.org
Over 70 years of railroading history can be found on display and operating at one of the oldest railroad museums in the country. With steam, electric, and diesel equipment, experience how trains and railroads played a major role in the history of Ohio.
GEAUGA COUNTY (NE OH)
CORNER FIELD MODEL RAILROAD MUSEUM & Trading Post Train Shop (Model Trains)
Location: 16720 Pioneer Road
Middlefield (Huntsburg Township), OH 44062
cornerfieldmodelrailroadmuseumandhobby.com
Hours on Wednesday’s are 11AM to 4PM, Thursday’s 12PM to 4PM, Friday’s / Saturday’s of 11-4 and Sunday’s of 12-4.
Closed all major holidays.
At Corner Field Model Railroad Museum & Trading Post Train Shop, we have the largest family owned 3-Rail layout in the United States. It has over 3,000 thousand buildings, over 7,000 feet of track, hundreds of freight cars, 200+ different type of engines which include, steam, diesel, electric, subway, etc. Over a thousand lights, automobiles, trees.
Our railroad is set in a freelance style from the 40’s to today’s modern era from freight yards, to roundhouse, to major city and a major passenger yard. Featuring TW TrainWorx Classic Landmark Series – Denver Union Station on our layout.
We specialize in used trains. Lionel, MTH, Williams, American Flyer, K-Line, Weaver.
HAMILTON COUNTY (SW OH)
CINCINNATI DINNER TRAIN
Location: 2172 E Seymour Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45237
cincinnatidinnertrain.com
Experience Cincinnati’s most unique dining event! Enjoy a 3-hour train ride, a 4-course meal, and some of Cincinnati’s history – including a sculpture which can only be seen from the Cincinnati Dinner Train.
HANCOCK COUNTY (NW OH)
NORTHWEST OHIO RAILROAD PRESERVATION, INC.
12505 County Road 99, Findlay, Ohio 45840
419-423-2995 | nworrp.org
Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation was established in 1998 as an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable corporation for the preservation, promotion, and education of railroad history in Northwest Ohio.
LAKE COUNTY (NE OH)
THE PAINESVILLE RAILROAD MUSEUM
475 Railroad Street, Painesville, OH 44077
Open Hours: Fridays, 6pm to 9pm |
1st & 3rd Saturdays of the month, 11 am to 3 pm
May through November
website
The Western Reserve Railroad Association (dba The Painesville Railroad Museum) is dedicated to the restoration of the NYC Painesville Depot, preserving railroad history and promoting model railroading.
LORAIN COUNTY (NE OH)
LORAIN & WEST VIRGINIA RAILWAY
Location: 46485 State Route 18, Wellington, Ohio
lwvry.org
The LSRA or Lake Shore Railway Association is a 501 (3)(c) non-profit corporation which was formed in 1979 to promote the educational and historical aspects of Lorain County, by preserving and restoring the former Lorain & West Virginia rail line.
MEDINA COUNTY (NE OH)
DEPOT MUSEUM
Liverpool Township Historical Society
Location: 6615 Center Road, Valley City, OH
Facebook
View artifacts of earlier Liverpool (AKA Valley City) days. Look up cemetery information for your departed loved ones. Climb aboard the caboose and steam locomotive.
LODI RAILROAD MUSEUM
204 Railroad Street, Lodi, OH 44254
lodirailroadmuseum.org
“The Lodi Depot’s lineage can be traced to its original construction along the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway (W&LE) in early 1882.”
For upcoming events visit website.
NORTHEASTERN OHIO LIVE STEAMERS
Location: 3654 Lester Rd., Medina, OH
neols.net
See website for hours.
NORTHERN OHIO RAILWAY MUSEUM – TROLLEY RIDES
Location: 5515 Buffham Road, Seville, Ohio 44273
website
“Over forty streetcars, interurbans, rapid transit cars and other rolling stock have been collected.”
MUSKINGUM COUNTY (CENTRAL OH)
ZANESVILLE & WESTERN SCENIC RAILROAD
Location: 5700 OH-204, Mt Perry, OH 43760
zwsr.org
“The Zanesville & Western Scenic Railroad provides a tourist destination in Southeast Ohio, offering passenger train excursions on an exceptionally scenic and historic rail line known as the Glass Rock Spur.”
PORTAGE COUNTY (NW OH)
Portage County may not have a train ride or museum, but you will have the opportunity to enjoy breakfast or lunch in the historical Kent train depot.
OVER EASY KENT
152 Franklin Ave., Kent, OH 44240
overeasymorningcafe.com
SANDUSKY COUNTY (NW OH)
MAD RIVER & NKP RAILROAD MUSEUM
Location: 253 Southwest Street, Bellevue, OH 44811
madrivermuseum.org
The Mad River & NKP Railroad museum is a lasting bicentennial project. NKP is the AAR reporting mark for the Nickel Plate Road (New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad Company) which ran through Bellevue from 1882 until 1964 when it merged with the Norfolk & Western Railway.
TUSCARAWAS COUNTY (NE OH)
AGE OF STEAM ROUNDHOUSE
213 Smokey Lane Rd SW, Sugarcreek
330-852-4676 | ageofsteamroundhouse.org
The Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum is more than just a museum and collection. It is a living, breathing roundhouse where talented restoration specialists work to preserve the locomotives, railroad cars, tools and machinery of the glory days of railroading. Public tours are offered seasonally (April thru November) on Thursdays, Fridays, & Saturdays.
DENNISON RAILROAD DEPOT MUSEUM
Location: 400 Center St, Dennison, Ohio 44621
dennisondepot.org
“The Dennison Depot, built in 1873 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, stands as a proud symbol of Dennison’s vast railroad heritage.”
WARTHER MUSEUM
Location: 331 Karl Avenue, Dover, OH 44622
thewarthermuseum.com
“Ernest Warther carved steam engines made of ebony and ivory that are considered the World’s finest. The tour also includes an animated replica of the steel mill where Warther once worked, the famous pliers tree and an eight-foot carving of the Lincoln Funeral Train – the largest ivory carving in the world with over 11,000 pieces carved out of solid ivory.”
WARREN COUNTY (SW OH)
CINCINNATI SCENIC RAILWAY
Ohio Rail Experience – Click here for more information.
Ohio Rail Experience (ORE) excursions are operated in partnership with local historical societies, the Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad, and the Cincinnati Railway Company.
LM&M RAILROAD
Location: Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad
127 S Mechanic St, Lebanon, OH 45036
lebanonrr.com
The Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad (LM&M Railroad) offers historic train rides in Warren County Ohio departing from downtown Lebanon. Passengers ride in vintage passenger cars behind a historic diesel locomotive. The LM&M Railroad offers the only family friendly train ride experience in Southwest Ohio. Themed events are held year-round for passengers of all ages.
WAYNE COUNTY (NE OH)
ORRVILLE RAILROAD HERITAGE SOCIETY
Time: 10 am – 4pm
Location: Orrville Union Depot
145 Depot Street, Orrville, Ohio 44667
330.683.2426 | orrvillerailroad.com
Article and photos, unless noted by: D. R, MyOhioFun.com
Diane is the owner and editor of MyOhioFun.com and the Tea Cup Rescue Society. She is an avid baker, gardener, Little Free Library owner, who loves to read and travel. She spends most of her days sharing her love of things to do in Ohio, as well as creating destinations and itineraries for group tours and individual travelers.
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