If you love trains, then you definitely need to take a trip to the Mid-Continent Railway in North Freedom, Wisconsin. This incredible museum has tons of vintage train cars, and offers train rides that will transport you right back to the past.

Please note, the Mid-Continent Railway Museum is temporarily closed.

The Mid-Continent Railway Museum is a train lover's dream come true.
Prawet J/Tripadvisor
This outdoor museum and railroad is a place where you can go to see vintage trains, and be whisked back in time to an era when the train brought visitors, mail, and shipments of goods to small towns. From the Civil War period to well after World War II, trains were the center of small town life.
The museum carefully restores vintage cars and train engines.
Mid-Continent Railway Museum/Facebook
Its goal is to collect, preserve and restore vintage trains and put them into use so that the public can enjoy them, and get a little taste of an era long gone by.
The rail yard and coach shed are full of cars and engines.
David20130609/Tripadvisor
Some are already restored; others are waiting their turn. You'll find informational signs to help you learn more about these historic beauties. Currently, you can see around 40 cars and locomotives on display.
In the Coach Shed, you'll find several restored wood passenger cars.
Mid-Continent Railway Museum/Facebook
These cars were in operation during the heyday of rail travel, and some of them are just exquisite.
In addition to visiting the trains in the yard, you'll definitely want to hop aboard for a train ride.
Mid-Continent Railway Museum/Facebook
The rides take you on a 55-minute trip through some of Wisconsin's most beautiful countryside.
You'll depart from the little Train Depot, which was built in 1894. Trains typically depart at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Mid-Continent Railway Museum/Facebook
You'll find the Mid-Continent Railway Museum at E8948, Museum Road, North Freedom. It's about one hour northwest of Madison.

Related Stories

This Speakeasy Hidden In An Old Harness Shop In Wisconsin Is Perfect For A Date Night

This Speakeasy Hidden In An Old Harness Shop In Wisconsin Is Perfect For A Date Night

 I Toured A Cheese Museum In Wisconsin Because Of Course I Did

I Toured A Cheese Museum In Wisconsin Because Of Course I Did

 The Longest Trestle Bridge In Wisconsin Took Me To Someplace Extraordinary

The Longest Trestle Bridge In Wisconsin Took Me To Someplace Extraordinary
The conductors are dressed in vintage attire - just one of the many historic touches you'll enjoy on your journey.
Mid-Continent Railway Museum/Facebook
While the running engines are all currently diesel, some of the passenger cars are heated with steam.
The interiors of the coach cars have been lovingly restored to reflect the time period in which they were built.
Mid-Continent Railway Museum/Facebook
The 3.5-mile journey takes you to Quartz Lake, then back to North Freedom.
Mid-Continent Railway Museum/Facebook
Along the way, you'll learn more about the trains and see some beautiful scenery.
The Great Northern 3261 is a wooden coach car built by Barney & Smith Car Co. in 1906.
Mid-Continent Railway Museum/Facebook
It was recently restored and used during the Autumn Color train rides last fall.
You'll find a themed train ride for just about every month of the year here. For instance, the 43rd annual Snow Train ran during the month of February.
Mid-Continent Railway Museum/Facebook
The Great North Number Six, shown here, was built in 1913.
Join Mid-Continental for a special dinner train ride.
Mid-Continent Railway Museum/Google
Dinner rides are hosted throughout the year, with themes ranging from BBQ to Italian to pizza. Watch for the pizza trains and elegant dinner trains coming in May.
Visit the Mid-Continental Rail Museum this spring; regular service resumes in May.
Mid-Continent Railway Museum/Facebook
Check out the museum's website for more information about the trains and upcoming train rides.

Have you ridden one of Mid-Continent Railway’s trains? Tell us about your adventure!

If you’re feeling nostalgic, you might also want to check out Wisconsin’s oldest amusement park.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Related Articles