Ride the Historic Baldwin Locomotive in North Freedom, WI

About Locomotive Rides

Have you ever dreamed of riding in the cab of a railroad locomotive? Join the engineer and experience the thrill of being in the cab of a real, full-size train as the train rumbles down the tracks with 200+ tons behind you. From your seat on the fireman’s side of the cab, you hear and feel the strength of these great machines.

Included with This Ticket

• 55 minute train ride aboard 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 MCRY #1256

The #1256 was built by Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton in 1954. It is a model RS-4-TC-1A, a model specifically made for the military. MCRY #1256 spent its first 52 years working for the US Army.

Locomotive Ride Availability

The dates listed on this page are for locomotive cab rides aboard MCRY #1256. Cab rides are also available on other dates aboard MCRY #7.

Capacity

• 1 adult, or
• 1 adult with 1 child

Seating in the locomotive consists of a single bench seat (i.e., the fireman’s seat) approximately 3 feet wide.

Children aged 15 and under cannot ride in the locomotive without an adult. Children ages 2 and under are not permitted to ride in the locomotive.

The Ride Experience

You’ll board the train at North Freedom and stay with the engineer the entire way to Quartzite Lake and return, including the “run-around” moves while the engine gets swapped from one end of the train to the other at each end of the line.

About the Museum

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 Golden Era of Railroading.

There you will find examples of Mid-Continent’s nationally renowned wood railcar 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.

A free self-guided tour pamphlet is available from the depot ticket office.

What to Know

• Locomotives are loud. The loud noises can be especially alarming to children. Hearing protection is recommended (earplugs provided).
• All trains at Mid-Continent currently use diesel-electric locomotives. This ride is not aboard a steam locomotive.
• Locomotives are not handicap accessible. Getting into the cab requires climbing near-vertical steps. Individuals with trouble climbing and who are unable to tightly grasp handrails should not buy locomotive tickets.
• Locomotive cab riders must adhere to all commands given to them by the engineer. Some engineers are comfortable talking with cab riders throughout the ride while other engineers prefer to focus solely on the task of driving the train and may not want to engage in conversation. Passengers must respect the train engineer's wishes.
• Passengers in the locomotive will not receive historical information/tour that is provided by the conductor in the other seating areas.
• The train, including the locomotive, is not air-conditioned.
• Museum grounds are open from 9:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on days of operation. Museum admission is free to everyone. Train rides require a ticket purchase.
• Food is not available nor permitted in the locomotive, except for water.
• Service animals are not permitted in the locomotive. The locomotive is a high-decibel environment and animals’ heightened hearing sensitivity would place them at risk of painful and possibly permanent hearing damage.
• Mid-Continent Railway Museum reserves the right to substitute equipment without notice.