Railfan Day

Bring your family to Railfan Day 2026!!

Railfan Day 2026 is coming up! On Saturday August 22, they will be running a different train every hour, giving exclusive tours of the Maintenance Facility and East Troy Carbarn, offering once-a-year rides on the railroad inspection speeder, and much more!

The East Troy Railroad Museum is expanding its traditional Railfan Day to include a variety of family-friendly activities. Enjoy an interesting, fun and informative day out for families and railfans! All of their operating equipment is on display and a different train runs every hour.

Each train will run with a different set of railroad cars. Many of the historic cars will be on display and there will be popcorn in the East Troy Depot.

Enjoy an interesting, fun and informative day out for railfans! The first train departs East Troy at 10am and the last train leaves at 3pm.  Tickets are good all day so you can ride different equipment  throughout the day, subject to availability.

A limited number of specialty tickets will also be available for a rare “Behind the Scenes” trolley ride and tour of the maintenance facility and car barns.

​Bring your camera and bring your friends!

Railfest Family fun activities include:

• Operate a mix of the equipment creating the opportunity to see and photograph trains, including rare interurbans and trolleys only brought out of the barn a few times a year! A different train runs every hour!
• Special “Behind the Scenes” tour of the Maintenance Facility – available on arrival at the Elegant Farmer 
  • • The Behind the Scenes Tour of the Maintenance Facility will be available when the hourly East Troy departure arrives at the Elegant Farmer (around 30 minutes after leaving the East Troy Depot).

      Guests who would like a Behind the Scenes tour of the Maintenance Facility will board a historic electric streetcar (subject to availability) which will take them to the Maintenance Facility where they will receive a guided tour our maintenance shop and the latest projects in process, including the restoration of Car 162!

      ​This tour is extra special as our Maintenance Facility is turning 10 years old! Enjoy a special cupcake inside!

      Guests must have closed toe shoes and be able to climb on and off the car and walk over tracks and around equipment.

• Special tours of the East Troy Carbarn 
• Rail “speeder” rides available at the Elegant Farmer ($5 fee)
  • • Ride the rails as everyday track repair gangs once did: on a speeder!

      We will be selling a limited number of tickets for speeder rides at the East Troy Depot.  After purchasing your train and speeder ride tickets ride the regularly scheduled train down to the Elegant Farmer.  At the Elegant Farmer you will queue for a 20 minute speeder ride.  Our largest speeder can accommodate a group or family of 4.

      North American Railcar Operators Association (NARCOA) speeders will also be on display at The Elegant Farmer.​

      On Railfan Day the regularly scheduled trains will operate between the East Troy Depot and The Elegant Farmer. Speeders will operate between The Elegant Farmer and Lower Phantom Lake.

• Free popcorn available in the Depot
• A working ​Model Train Display
• Free parking and picnic tables available at the East Troy Depot: 2002 Church Street East Troy, Wisconsin 53120

Schedule (Subject to Change)

The East Troy Railroad Museum is a living history museum that lets people see and experience what it was like to ride an electric trolley or interurban car 90 to 100 years ago. With more than 30 historic railroad cars, including 15 that currently operate, the railroad features Chicago, South Shore & South Bend interurban cars, a Sheboygan interurban car, and streetcars from Milwaukee and Minneapolis.

Did you know?

The museum is run entirely by volunteers.

PURCHASE RAILFAN DAY TICKETS

Find more train related events and venues and fun in our Train Guide.

Featured image above: *Photo used with permission from the East Troy Railroad Museum – Event sponsored by the East Troy Railroad Museum.