Train Rides Amid the Brilliant Hues of Fall

There’s nothing comparable to enjoying the beautiful brilliant hues of autumn in the rural Sauk County countryside from the comfort of our restored vintage passenger cars. Join us for “leaf-peeping” in style along the unspoiled right-of-way of our historic former Chicago & North Western rail line.

Included with This Ticket

• 55-minute train ride in early-1900s Coach Cars pulled by a diesel locomotive.
• Admission to museum display buildings
• Self-guided tour pamphlet (provided at ticket window)

Duration

Train ride takes approximately 55-minutes. Suggested additional time to allow for taking the self-guided tour of the museum displays and a visit to the gift shop is about 1 hour. The museum areas can be explored before or after the train ride.

About our Museum and Train Excursions

Take a memorable, seven-mile round-trip train ride on a former branch line of the Chicago & North Western Railway nestled in a valley between the Baraboo Hills in rural Sauk County. Passengers ride in restored steel coaches built a century ago. An authentically-attired conductor will call “all aboard!” before the train leaves from a historic wooden depot, built in 1894.

Mid-Continent is much more than just a train ride. Our Coach Sheds are filled with restored wooden passenger cars, freight cars and displays from the turn of the century. There you will find examples of Mid-Continent’s nationally-renowned wood car restorations such as the Badger #2 “Fish Car”, the exquisite Art Nouveau-motif of the Milwaukee Lake Shore & Western #63, the 1903-built Copper Range coach #60. In our outdoor display yard, you can inspect century-old steam locomotives up close, including Copper Range locomotive #29, Soo Line #2645, and Kewaunee Green Bay & Western #49. In all, there are over 40 train cars and locomotives on prominent display with many more awaiting restoration.

What to Know

• Museum grounds are open from 9:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
• All trains are powered by diesel locomotives.
• No food or drinks (other than water or baby formula) permitted aboard the train.
• A picnic shelter is located next to the depot.

Onboard the Train

• Seating is not assigned. Passengers select their own seat upon boarding. Reservations ensure that seats will be available for you.
• Windows can be individually opened for ventilation. Train cars are not climate-controlled. Onboard temperatures can be chilly during fall events. Be prepared by wearing clothing appropriate to the outdoor temperatures, especially in the morning.