Ride a Vintage Train This Autumn in Wisconsin

Historic Rail Lines Offer Fall Color Tours and Santa Trains

Sep 27, 2008

Vintage railroads operate fall color tours and Santa Trains this autumn in Wisconsin. Scenic excursions in Wisconsin Dells and East Troy are fun for the entire family.

Vintage train rides through scenic Wisconsin are a scenic excursion that delights the entire family. Historic rail lines, the Riverside & Great Northern Railway in Wisconsin Dells and the East Troy Railroad operate short rides on vintage lines on historic passenger cars propelled by working engines.

Volunteer run rail lines are operated and maintained by people who love the history and technology of the romantic era of rail travel. Fall is a wonderful season to see the little traveled countryside of rural Wisconsin. Fall color tours and Santa Trains are a family friendly activity that brightens the season.

Riverside & Great Northern Railway in Wisconsin Dells

The Riverside & Great Northern Railway is a volunteer run living museum that preserve and operates the steam locomotives and passenger cars built by Sandley Light Railway Equipment Works, dating from the period of 1950 to 1980. The family friendly train travels three miles, through the stunning beauty of the Wisconsin Dells, along rock formations and through colorful wooded areas.

Pumpkin Trains run every weekend in October, Young guests will be gifted with a pumpkin for Halloween.

R&GN offers regular excursion on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays through December 6-7, weather permitting.

Riverside & Great Northern Railway, N115 Country Road N, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin 53965. 1-608-254-6367.

East Troy Railroad Museum

The East Troy Electric Railway operates on the original interurban track of the Milwaukee electric Railway & Light Company, which dates back to 1907. The railroad is a volunteer run operation, dedicated to preservation of this historic railroad. The actual riding time is about 20 minutes each way for this ten mile ride.

The scenic train runs between East Troy and the Elegant Farmer, in Mukwonago, with stops at each end. East Troy operates the line weekends through October 26.

East Troy connects, through the rail, to The Elegant Farmer, which holds its popular Autumn Harvest Festival ,on weekends, through October 26. Family friendly activities include hay rides, vintage trolley rides, apple picking and food from the Farm Kitchen Bakery, Deli & Market.

The Fall Color Spectacular on October 11 and 12 takes a scenic tour of the countryside, during the height of the fall colors in southeastern Wisconsin.

Halloween Express offers family friendly spooky fun during the daylight hours. After dark the fun promises to get more intense.

The Christmas Express will run weekends in December, on 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21.

East Troy and Mukwonago are near Lake Geneva, which is a popular Wisconsin getaway destination.

East Troy Electric Railroad Museum, 2002 Church Street, East Troy, Wisconsin.1-262-642-3263.

Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom

The vintage line in Baraboo has temporarily suspended operations, due to technical difficulties. 1-608-522-4261.

The copyright of the article Ride a Vintage Train This Autumn in Wisconsin in Steam Trains is owned by Christine Nyholm. Permission to republish Ride a Vintage Train This Autumn in Wisconsin in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.