All aboard, fellow Wisconsinites and train enthusiasts!
We’re about to embark on a whistle-stop tour of the Badger State’s most delightful railroad attractions.
From miniature marvels to full-sized behemoths, this journey will have you chugging with joy.
1. Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad (Spooner)
Imagine stepping into a time machine disguised as a train – that’s the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad for you.
This isn’t just any old choo-choo; it’s a moving feast for the senses.
As you roll through the pristine North Woods, you’ll be treated to views that’ll make your Instagram followers green with envy.
The star of the show here is the dinner train.
Picture this: you’re gliding along the tracks, fork in hand, savoring a meal that puts most landlocked restaurants to shame.
It’s like your favorite steakhouse decided to elope with a locomotive.
And let’s not forget the pizza train – because nothing says “I’m living my best life” like scarfing down a slice while scenic vistas whiz by.
But wait, there’s more!
They’ve got a family pizza train, a bed & breakfast train, and even a Santa Express.
It’s like they took every fun thing you can think of and said, “Let’s do this on rails!”
2. Mid-Continent Railway Museum (North Freedom)
Hold onto your conductor’s hat, folks, because the Mid-Continent Railway Museum is about to take you on a trip back to the golden age of railroading.
This isn’t just a museum; it’s a time portal to when trains were the kings of transportation and conductors were the rock stars of their day.
Here, you can hop aboard a restored steel coach and chug along a former branch line of the Chicago & North Western Railway.
It’s like being in a moving history book, except you don’t have to worry about pop quizzes at the end.
The museum’s collection is a treasure trove of railway relics.
They’ve got everything from steam locomotives that look like they’re itching to hit the tracks, to wooden coaches that have seen more history than your great-grandpa’s diary.
It’s like a retirement home for trains, except these old-timers still know how to party.
3. The Toy Train Barn Museum (Argyle)
Buckle up, buttercup, because we’re about to enter a world where trains are tiny but dreams are big.
The Toy Train Barn Museum is what happens when someone’s childhood obsession grows up… but not too much.
This place is a wonderland of miniature railways, where toy trains chug along intricate landscapes.
It’s like someone shrunk the entire state of Wisconsin and added a whole lot more trains.
You’ll see tiny towns, itty-bitty farms, and teeny-tiny people going about their Lilliputian lives.
But here’s the kicker – this isn’t just a static display.
Oh no, these trains are alive and kicking.
Push a button, and suddenly you’re the master of this miniature universe.
It’s like playing God, if God were really into model railroads.
4. National Railroad Museum (Green Bay)
Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve arrived at the mothership of train museums.
The National Railroad Museum in Green Bay is where locomotives go when they dream of immortality.
This place is so jam-packed with railway history, you half expect to bump into Casey Jones at the water cooler.
Here, you can get up close and personal with some of the most iconic trains in American history.
They’ve got everything from sleek passenger cars to beefy freight engines.
It’s like a beauty pageant for trains, except everyone’s a winner.
But the real showstopper? The Big Boy.
This behemoth of a steam locomotive is so massive, it makes other trains look like they skipped leg day.
Standing next to it, you’ll feel like you’ve suddenly shrunk or stumbled into a land of giants.
5. East Troy Electric Railroad (East Troy)
Alright, folks, time to get charged up for our next stop – the East Troy Electric Railroad.
This isn’t your grandpa’s steam engine; we’re talking electric power, baby!
It’s like someone looked at a regular train and said, “You know what this needs? More zap!”
This 10-mile journey between East Troy and Mukwonago is like taking a ride on a lightning bolt, if lightning bolts were really chill and scenic.
You’ll cruise past beautiful lake country vistas that’ll make you want to break out in a spontaneous yodel. (Please don’t, though. Your fellow passengers will thank you.)
The real treat here is the collection of electric railcars.
These babies have been around the block a few times – some date back to the early 1900s.
Related: This 76,000-Square-Foot Indoor Waterpark in Wisconsin Screams Family Fun Like No Other
Related: This Wonderfully Kitschy Museum in Wisconsin is Home to the World’s Largest Collection of Mustards
Related: This Exhilarating Ropes Course in Wisconsin Will Bring Out the Thrill Seeker in You
It’s like riding in a time machine, if time machines ran on overhead wires and had really comfortable seats.
6. Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway (Osceola)
Hold onto your hats, train aficionados, because the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway is about to blow them clean off.
This isn’t just a train ride; it’s a scenic smorgasbord served on silver rails.
As you chug along the beautiful St. Croix River Valley, you’ll be treated to views that’ll make your heart sing and your camera work overtime.
We’re talking postcard-perfect vistas at every turn.
It’s like Mother Nature decided to show off, and she invited you to the party.
But the real magic happens when you hit the trestle bridge.
Suddenly, you’re suspended 150 feet above the St. Croix River, and let me tell you, it’s a view that’ll make your knees weak and your Instagram followers jealous.
Just remember to breathe – oxygen is still important, even at scenic overlooks.
7. Riverside & Great Northern Railway (Wisconsin Dells)
Alright, folks, time to downsize – but don’t worry, the fun is still super-sized!
The Riverside & Great Northern Railway in Wisconsin Dells is proof that good things come in small packages.
This 15-inch gauge railway is like the adorable puppy of the train world – small, cute, and impossible not to love.
As you chug along through canyons, under bridges, and through tunnels, you’ll feel like you’ve stumbled into a storybook.
It’s like someone took all the best parts of a full-sized train ride and shrunk them down to fun-size.
But don’t let the size fool you – these little engines pack a big punch.
They’re real steam locomotives, just miniaturized.
It’s like someone put a regular train in the dryer and it came out cute.
8. Little Amerricka (Marshall)
Hang onto your inner child, folks, because Little Amerricka is about to give it a workout!
This charming amusement park is like a time capsule of good old-fashioned fun, with a healthy dose of train mania thrown in for good measure.
The star of the show here is the 16-inch gauge railroad that circles the park.
It’s like someone took a regular train and hit the “adorable” button.
As you chug along, you’ll pass by miniature buildings and tiny landscapes that’ll make you feel like a giant in a Lilliputian world.
But wait, there’s more!
Little Amerricka isn’t just about trains (though we train enthusiasts might wish it was).
They’ve got classic amusement park rides that’ll make you nostalgic for simpler times.
It’s like someone bottled up the essence of your childhood summers and sprinkled it all over Marshall, Wisconsin.
9. Whiskey River Railway (Marshall)
Now, don’t let the name fool you – the Whiskey River Railway isn’t fueled by bourbon (though that might make for an interesting ride).
This little gem, located within Little Amerricka, is another pint-sized wonder that proves big fun comes in small packages.
This 16-inch gauge railway takes you on a scenic tour around the park, giving you a whistle-stop tour of all the attractions.
It’s like a preview reel for the park, except you’re in it, and it’s way more fun than sitting in a movie theater.
The best part? You get to ride behind a real steam engine.
That’s right, folks – genuine, puffing, choo-chooing steam power.
It’s like stepping back in time, if the past was really tiny and really adorable.
10. Green County Model Railroad Club (Monroe)
Last stop on our whirlwind tour of Wisconsin’s train treasures is the Green County Model Railroad Club in Monroe.
Now, I know what you’re thinking – “Model trains? Isn’t that just for kids and quirky uncles?”
Well, prepare to have your mind blown faster than a bullet train.
This isn’t your average basement setup.
We’re talking 3,000 square feet of miniature railway wonder.
It’s like someone shrunk the entire Midwest, added a whole lot more trains, and then invited you over to play.
The attention to detail here is mind-boggling.
Tiny people living their tiny lives, minuscule cars zipping along roads no wider than your finger, and of course, trains.
So. Many. Trains.
It’s like Where’s Waldo, but instead of finding a guy in a striped shirt, you’re trying to spot all the different locomotives.
Well, folks, our whistle-stop tour of Wisconsin’s train treasures has reached the end of the line.
Adventure is calling!
Use this map to steer your road trip in the right direction—and maybe discover a surprise or two along the way.
From life-sized locomotives to adorable miniatures, we’ve seen it all.
So grab your conductor’s hat and hit the tracks – adventure awaits!