Indiana tourist railroads you must visit include restored depots to passenger excursions and everything in between in the Hoosier State. Here’s our list of must-see tourist railroads, museums, and displays — for almost every region in Indiana.
The Depot Railroad Museum
A replica of Salem’s former Monon depot, this museum was built by high school students. It features a Monon caboose, various artifacts, and a model railroad. The museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, April through December and Saturdays only the rest of the year. The depot is part of the John Hay Center museum complex, which also contains a pioneer village and the Stevens Memorial Museum.
Location: 206 South College Avenue, Salem
Phone: 812-883-1884
Website: johnhaycenter.org/the-depot-railroad-museum
Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum
The museum sits in an area rich in railroad history. HVRM brings the past back to life with historic equipment that served not only North Judson, but northern Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan. Open Saturdays year-round, the museum has more than 30 pieces of rolling stock. It also offers 45-minute train rides every Saturday, May through October, and for special events.
Location: 507 Mulberry Street, North Judson
Phone: 574-896-3950
Website: hoosiervalley.org
E-mail: questions@hoosiervalley.org
Linden Depot Museum
The Linden Depot Museum contains memorabilia from the two railroads it served, the Nickel Plate Road and the Monon Railroad. It displays a caboose from the NKP, a caboose from CSX Transportation, a replica of an 1837 Norris 4-2-0 steam engine, numerous hundred-year-old semaphores, as well as an outstanding model HO railroad attraction. Built in 1907, the Linden Depot Museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is open Fridays through Sundays, April through October with special hours for winter holidays.
Location: 520 North Main Street, Linden
Phone: 765-427-3630
Website: lindendepotmuseum.org
E-mail: LindenDepotMuseum@gmail.com
Madison Railroad Station
This restored 1895 Pennsylvania Railroad station is known for its unique octagon waiting room with stained glass windows. Exhibits describe the railroad station and Madison’s railroad incline. You can visit an agent’s office, try the functional telegraph key, and examine a restored wooden caboose. The station is open Wednesday through Friday.
Location: 615 West First Street, Madison
Phone: 812-265-2335
Website: jchshc.org
E-mail: info@jchshc.org
Monon Connection Museum
The museum features a completely furnished, full-size replica of an Illinois Central depot and outdoor displays. Exhibits include a large collection of dining car china, hundreds of hand-held lanterns, and restored brass steam locomotive bells and whistles. It is open Thursday through Sunday. The Whistle Stop restaurant adjoins the museum.
Location: 10021 North US HWY 421, Monon
Phone: 219-253-4100
Website: mononconnection.net
E-mail: connect@mononconnection.net
National New York Central Railroad Museum
You begin your journey through the history of the New York Central by entering through a 1915 passenger coach. In the main gallery, which is a 100-year-old freight house, hands-on exhibits let you construct track and operate a steam locomotive. Outside, the museum’s collection of locomotives and rolling stock includes a New York Central Mohawk 4-8-2 and a Pennsylvania Railroad GG1. The museum is open Wednesday through Saturday.
Location: 721 South Main Street, Elkhart
Phone: 574-294-3001
Website: elkhartindiana.org/government/nnycrr-museum
E-mail: nycrrm.info@coei.org
Nickel Plate Express
Unveiled in 2018, the Nickel Plate Express runs on 12 miles of track between Atlanta and Noblesville. The trains run Saturday and Sunday with special-themed trains at various times of the year. Equipment includes ex-Santa Fe Hi-Level passenger cars built for the El Capitan luxury train, and caboose rides are also available.
Location: 825 Forest Park Drive, Noblesville
Phone: 800-491-5765
Website: nickelplateexpress.com
E-mail: info@nickelplateexpress.net
Princeton Depot Museum
The Princeton depot features artifacts of the railroads that served the area and displays a caboose. The restored Chicago & Eastern Illinois passenger depot was built in 1875. The Gibson County Visitors Bureau is also housed in the depot. It is open Monday through Friday.
Location: 702 West Broadway Street, Princeton
Phone: 812-385-0999
Website: gibsoncountyin.org/princeton-train-depot
E-mail: info@gibsoncountyin.org
Spirit of Jasper
Owned by the city, the Spirit of Jasper operates an excursion to French Lick as well as a dinner train. The excursion allows you to explore the Indiana Railway Museum, French Lick Springs Resort & Casino, and the West Baden Springs Hotel. Aboard the dinner train, you can partake in a meal provided by a local German restaurant. Fall foliage, Strassenfest, and other dinner excursions also run.
Location: 201 Mill Street, Jasper
Phone: 812-482-5959
Website: spiritofjaspertrain.com
E-mail: Form on website
Wabash Valley Railroaders Museum
The museum features two interlocking towers with operating machines, a depot, a Pennsylvania Railroad caboose, and a viewing platform adjacent to CSX Transportation’s main lines. Haley Tower was one of the last manned interlocking towers in the Midwest, and the 1910 Spring Hill Tower was the last lever interlocking machine on the Canadian Pacific. It is open on weekends from June through October, from noon to 4 p.m.
Location: 1316 Plum Street, Terre Haute
Phone: 812-238-9958
Website: wvrrm.org
E-mail: president@haleytower.org
