Ultimate Train Ride Guide
Where to start on the fun train rides? So many trains, so little time. Looking for murder mysteries? Halloween rides? Bank robberies? Winery Trains? There is so much to offer.
All these trains offer holiday and special event train rides: Polar Express, Day Out with Thomas, leaf peeping, pumpkin and Halloween Rides and more! The schedules are huge, so we highlighted just a few of them, but have links to all of them. See what’s near you, and away you go!
The Adirondack Scenic Railway up near Lake Placid is offering the Polar Express Trip (and, while you’re there, do go to the North Pole, in North Pole, NY and see Santa’s Elves!)
The Leatherstocking Train in Cooperstown, NY offers a one of a kind program: You can drive a train! You can be a real engineer, sit at the controls (with a guide, of course) and make your dreams come true! \=While out there, check out the Baseball Hall of Fame, Glimmerglass, Brewery Ommegang for the finest in Belgium Beer.
Medina Trains offers winery trains!
Strasburg Train sits in the heart of Lancaster, PA, so do visit the Amish.
The Stourbridge Train, near Lackawanna, PA, uses coal from the Lackawanna region.
The trains are fun. Depending on the depot, you may get a chance to ride on a hundred year old train. See a train robbery. Sip fine wine. Or just sit back and enjoy the scenery.
Check the web sites for special event trains like Dinner Trains, Murder Mystery Trains, Train Robberies, Great Locomotive Chase, Oktoberfest, Fall Foliage Trains,
Haunted Halloween Trains, Santa Express Trains, Christmas Lights Trains, and more!
New York
- Adirondack Scenic Railway (Lake Placid, Utica, Saranac)
- Leatherstocking Railway (Cooperstown) – Has special programs to be an engineer for a day!
Ever since the first days of railroading in the United States, many boys and girls have dreamed of the chance to one day be an engineer. On the Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley, you can finally have that chance! For only $350, full instruction and supervision will given by one our engineers as you operate one of our rare MLW locomotives on a sixteen mile round trip between Milford & Cooperstown.
This is the ONLY guest engineer program in New York State that we know of! Please call (607) 432-2429 for reservations and more information.
- Upper Hudson River Railroad (North Creek, Adirondacks)
3 Railroad Pl
North Creek, NY 12853
(518) 251-5332
The Upper Hudson River Railroad operates seasonal excursions and special events along 40 miles of the former Adirondack Branch of the D&H Railroad.
- Arcade and Attica Railway – Arcade, NY – Phone: (585) 492-3100 -OR- (585) 496-9877
- The Railroad Museum – Relax and enjoy a leisurely 34-mi. round trip (2 hour) ride through the scenic Erie Canal Heritage Corridor aboard comfortable vintage 1947 Budd passenger coaches.
- Edaville Railroad Edaville Train Rides 7 Eda Avenue, South Carver Saw Thomas the Tank Engine here! Wonderful train rides and attractions just south of Boston in Carver, NY.
- Catskill Mountain Railroad – Catskill, New York – CMR – Fall Foliage Rides
- Delaware & Ulster Railroad – Arkville, New York – Check out Hobart Book Village, while you’re there!
Delaware
Wilmington & Western Railroad
2201 Newport Gap Pike
Wilmington, DE 19808
(302) 998-1930
Massachusetts
Berkshire Scenic Railway – http://www.berkshirescenicrailroad.org/ We took the Berkshire Scenic Railroad through Lenox It is a nice train ride, and a beautiful restored train. A highight: It passes through this huge quarry, a large, mammoth hole in the ground. It is where the grave stones for fallen soldiers are found.
Maryland
Walkersville Southern Railroad
34 W Pennsylvania Ave
Walkersville, MD 21793
(301) 898-0899
Mountain Thunder – Western Maryland Railroad
Cumberland, Maryland
Schedule varies.
New Jersey
Black River & Western Railroad
Ringoes & Flemington, New Jersey
September – October (Selected dates).
Pennsylvania
- Gettysburg Express – Pioneer Line Scenic Railway – Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
- Kiski Junction Railroad – Leaf Rides and the Snow Dog Express! – Schenley, Pennsylvania
- Middletown & Hummelstown Railroad – Near Hershey, Pa
- New Hope & Ivyland Rail Road – New Hope, PA
- Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad
- Strasburg Railroad – Strasburg, Pennsylvania – Lancaster County
- Stourbridge Line Rail Excursions – Uses coal from the Lackawanna Valley
- Tioga Central Railroad
- West Chester Railroad Company
Vermont
Green Mountain Flyer (Bellows Falls)
