We know that our Lake Country kiddos love TRAINS. That’s why we’ve put together the ultimate Train Guide for Train-loving Kids.
This guide is categorized by:
TRAIN GUIDE SPONSOR
Operating on the last 7.5 mile stretch of the original interurban system in the state of Wisconsin, you can experience fun for all ages with Dinner, Pizza, Burger, Oktoberfest, Birthday, Christmas, Bunny and whatever other train you can think of!
May 28 – 2020: The East Troy Railroad Museum announces that it will open its 2020 regular season on Friday, May 29th. Trains will depart East Troy at 10:00 am, Noon and 2:00 pm each Friday and Sunday and at 10:00 am, 11:00 am, noon, 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm on Saturdays. Social distancing signage will allow for safer boarding. All the volunteers at the railroad will be wearing masks and the railroad will require that our visitors wear masks while riding our trains. Masks will also be for sale in our East Troy Depot.
“We have taken extra time to plan a thoughtful reopening strategy,“ said Ryan Jonas, President of the East Troy Railroad Museum. “It’s crucial that everyone take an active role in maintaining each other’s safety.”
“We will also be selling and scanning tickets electronically,” Jonas said, “so there should be no need for anyone to exchange cash. We have replaced all our athroom toilets and faucets with “touch-less” equipment and will have hand sanitizers available in convenient locations in the Depot and on the station platforms.”
You must purchase tickets ahead of your visit to assure a place on one of our trains. You will be able to select the date and time you plan to visit, the number of adult, child or senior tickets that you need, purchase the tickets using a major credit card and then print the tickets at home. As an alternative, you may show the bar code from the tickets on your cell phone when you arrive to board one of our trains. Please note that only this weekend’s trains are shown on the ticketing site. We will be adding additional dates in the days ahead.
Dinner Train Update
Dining service will look a bit different this year, as we don’t feel it is safe to operate our dining cars with sealed windows and recirculating air. This does not mean we are canceling, only that our dining services team is brainstorming creative ways to still provide a train ride “coupled” with a great meal. More details will be shared when finalized.
The East Troy Railroad Museum is pleased to announce that it will receive a $20,500 grant from the Emery Rail Heritage Trust to help the organization finish the restoration of Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee Car 761.
The $20,500 grant toward the restoration of Car 761 will be used to pay for the seats to be re-upholstered, for new flooring to be installed, for re-plating some of the seat frames and all the luggage racks, and for other interior repair work necessary to return the car to operating condition. The volunteers in East Troy hope to have the car operating again before the end of the 2020 operating season.
If you would like to contribute toward this restoration effort and another project underway to restore Chicago South Shore & South Bend Car 6, please visit their GoFundMe page — or visit their website. Sign up for their newsletter to receive updates on the progress of these and other restoration projects at the East Troy Railroad Museum.
Seasonal/Special Train Events
SUMMER MONTHS
- Milwaukee Zoo Train {TBD in 2020}
Opening weekend at the MILWAUKEE LIGHT ENGINEERING SOCIETY (Cedarburg)Day out with Thomas – Green Bay (National RR Museum)RAILFEST at the East Troy Railroad Museum- Bay Beach Train – Green Bay (May through September see WEBSITE)
- Whiskey River RAILROAD DAY – 2020 July 11th at Little Amerricka
Chicago Day at the East Troy Railroad Museum3 Summer Trainfest Builder Clinics
FALL
- Pumpkin Train at Little Amerricka
- LIONEL RAILROAD CLUB of Milwaukee- Semi annual open house is November 24 & 25
- Annual Model Railroad Open House Nov EVENT at the Oconomowoc Historical Society hosted by Milwaukee North Western Railroad
- Free admission to the Oconomowoc Historical Society while trains are running
TRAINFEST® , America’s Largest Operating Model Railroad Show with five football fields of running trains and family activities, at State Fair Park is November 14-15, 2020 {cancelled in 2020}- MILWAUKEE LIGHT ENGINEERING SOCIETY Pumpkin Run Train in Cedarburg [Free] including night runs. See all the events HERE.
- Autumn and Pumpkin Train Ride weekends at the Mid-Continent Railway in North Freedom during October
- The Great Pumpkin Train at the National Railroad museum in Green Bay
Christmas Time
- The magical ride will take you a half hour from East Troy Depot (2002 Church Street, East Troy, WI) to Santa’s workshop located at the Elegant Farmer. Here children can visit Santa and get a photo taken with the jolly elf himself! Santa’s workshop wouldn’t be complete without a craft project and some hot chocolate and cookies to enjoy after working on those crafts! Sold out in 2019. Look for tickets in Summer 2020 for next season.
- HOLIDAY TRAIN Comes through Wisconsin (Oconomowoc & Hartland nearest locations)
- Polar Express Ride out of Green Bay WEBSITE (sold out in 2019!)
- SANTA TRAIN at the Mid-Continent Railway in North Freedom runs November 2019
- TRAIN DISPLAY at Country Springs Hotel [FREE]
- Christmas Village, one of two buildings located at the end of the trail, is home to an amazing model train display. Featuring six model trains running throughout four different levels of animated scenes, this display is sure to be a hit with people of all ages. Also located in Christmas Village are additional holiday displays, including an area to take photos, and a concession area where guests can purchase refreshments.
- ZEIMER’S MODEL TRAIN OPEN HOUSE 2019 dates TBD
- Train Display at Shady Lane Greenhouse in Menomonee Falls. The KFH Legacy train will run on Saturdays!
Kids Run Trains at the Layouts at Trainfest®
WINTER
- The Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad kicks off their 2020 season on January 14!
- ANNUAL TRAIN EXHIBIT at the Milwaukee Domes dates are January 18 – March 29, 2020. The 2020 theme is Attack of the Giant Monsters 2 Train Display.
- DELAFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY MODEL TRAIN AND RAILROAD EXHIBIT (January 25, 2020)
- COLLECTIBLE ALL SCALE TRAIN EXHIBIT (February 8, 2020)
- MAD CITY 53rd ANNUAL MODEL RAILROAD SHOW & SALE (Feb 15-16, 2020)
- NMRA WISE DIVISION MARCH MEET (March 15, 2020)
- Snow Train at the Mid-Continent Railway in North Freedom – CANCELLED in 2020
SPRING
- DELAVAN TRAIN SHOW:
- BUNNY TRAIN – EAST TROY ELECTRIC RAILROAD:
- TRAINS, TRACKS, AND SWITCHES AT SHOREHAVEN:
- LIONEL RAILROAD CLUB of Milwaukee- Semi annual open house:
- TITLETOWN TRAIN SHOW 2020 – April 18-19, 2020 (new date and venue in 2020) in Green Bay, WI
GO FOR A [TRAIN] RIDE - TRAIN TRIP IDEAS
Here is a list of some places you can ride a train and approximately how far they are away from Lake Country.
- Wisconsin Dells Train WEBSITE (1.5 hours)
- Safari Zoo Train at the Milwaukee Zoo WEBSITE
- Bay Beach TRAIN in Green Bay (2 hours)
- EAST TROY RAILROAD MUSEUM in East Troy
- Little Amerricka TRAIN – Marshall (40 minutes)
- National Railroad Museum TRAIN RIDE – Green Bay (2 hours)
- Mid-Continent Railway Museum RIDES – North Freedom (1.5 hours)
- Take a Ride on the AMTRAK TRAIN
- Milwaukee Light Engineering Society TRAIN RIDES in Cedarburg (45 minutes)
- Jelly-Belly Factory TRAIN TOUR in Pleasant Prairie (1 hour)
- Take the whole family on a trip back in time with a ride on the vintage LUMBERJACK STEAM TRAIN in Laona (3.5 hours)
KNOW OF ANY OTHER PLACES TO RIDE A TRAIN IN WISCONSIN? TELL US IN THE COMMENTS AND WE WILL ADD TO THE GUIDE FOR ALL TO ENJOY!
East Troy Railroad Museum
Train Dining
- Choo Choo Charlie’s in Kenosha – Kid-centric train restaurant constantly has train-themed movies playing, has four different trains running
- PC Junction in Bailey’s Harbor – This is the ultimate train-themed restaurant. Every detail here has been thought of, from outside decor and play areas to the interior where your food is delivered via model train.
- Buffalo Phil’s in Wisconsin Dells – Your food is delivered on a TRAIN!
- La Estacion Mexican Restaurant in Waukesha – It literally has seating in an old box car and is by the tracks
- Maxim’s at The Oconomowoc Depot – Boxcar dining right by a real railroad. Model railroad runs in the restaurant.
- Titletown Brewery & Restaurants in Green Bay – When trains go by, they ring the bell!
- The Crossing Restaurant in Pewaukee – located near a train track
- SteamYard Coffee Shop in Hartland -Mildy train themed and not too far from train tracks!
- Whelans Ice Cream & Coffee in Oconomowoc – There is a wooden train in the patio garden
DO YOU KNOW OF ANY SPECIAL TRAIN-THEMED DINING? TELL US IN THE COMMENTS AND WE WILL ADD TO THE GUIDE FOR ALL TO ENJOY!
Parks/farms/places with trains
Green Meadows
- Imagination Station – There is a play train in the little kid area
- Madeline Park in Sussex – Train-themed park (new!) in Sussex. N6523284 Elm Drive , Sussex. Madeline Park is a 7 acre open space park located on the northeast edge of the Stonefield subdivision on Waukesha Avenue, south of the Union Pacific Railroad line. My kids call this the “Train park”.
- Cushing Park – There is a wooden train with steering wheel
- Green Meadows – They have a brand new wooden train and train room! The train room has ride on trains, over 5 train tables, train toys of all kinds and more!
- Shady Lane Green House Menomonee Falls – The KFH Legacy Model Train resides in a separate greenhouse (the House of Blooms) and measures 4,800 square feet. train runs every Saturday and Sunday 10:00am till 3:00. It is always best to call before coming.
- Wales “Train” Park -Right off of the Glacier Drumlin trail in Wales is a wooden play train. Grab a coffee at MAMA D’S and enjoy it while your kiddos play on the train. The train was just updated by Wales Family Dental!
- Oconomowoc Historical Society – The museum in Oconomowoc has a model train display also. On the night of trick or treat, the museum is open with free admission and lots of treats! Trains are running that night as well.
KNOW OF OTHER FUN PLACES WITH TRAINS? COMMENT BELOW AND WE WILL ADD TO THE LIST!
RailRoad Museums
- MID-CONTINENT RAILWAY MUSEUM, North Freedom, WI
- ILLINOIS RAILWAY MUSEUM – Union, IL
- EAST TROY RAILROAD MUSEUM – East Troy & Mukwonago, WI
- NATIONAL RAILOAD MUSEUM – Green Bay, WI
- RIVERSIDE & GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY – Wisconsin Dells, WI
- COLFAX RAILROAD MUSEUM – Colfax, WI
RAILROAD CLUBS
- Lionel Railroad Club of Milwaukee
- Parkland Plaza
- 2721 South Calhoun Road New Berlin, WI 53151
- (262) 754-9900
- (entrance in back of building)
- “One of the Oldest Railroad Clubs in Wisconsin”
- Open to the public Fridays, 1 to 10 pm (Free)
- (and Saturday & Sunday hours October > April 1 – 5 pm)
- Don’t miss the trains
- WEBSITE
- Milwaukee Light Engineering Society
- 2620 Country Aire Dr Cedarburg, Wisconsin
- We are a live steam club that has almost a mile of 7.5″ track on 6.5 acres.
- The Milwaukee Light Engineering Society was founded in 1969. M.L.E.S. is open to all individuals interested in mechanical devices and all phases of their construction.
- WEBSITE
KNOW OF OTHER LOCAL RAILROAD CLUBS? COMMENT BELOW AND WE WILL ADD TO THE LIST!
Train Hobby Shops
- HIAWATHA HOBBIES Silvernail Shopping Center, 2026 Silvernail Rd. Pewaukee, WI 53072 262-544-4131
- SOMMERFELD’S TRAINS & HOBBIES 12620 W. Hampton Ave. Butler, WI 53007 262-783-7797
- SOUTH SIDE TRAINS 3979 S. Howell Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53207 414-482-1566
- WALTHERS SHOWROOM 5619 West Florist Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53218 414-461-1050
- MADISON HOBBY STOP 6622 Mineral Point Road Madison, WI 53705 Phone 608-829-3820
WANT YOUR LOCAL RAILROAD SHOP ADDED TO THE LIST? COMMENT BELOW AND WE WILL ADD IT!
Hidden Gem Spots
- Nixon Park – Trains go through the area and you can see/hear them from the park
- Bridge in Butler, WI overlooking the train depot
- Dickten Park in Nashotah. Trains can be seen going by on the tracks, which are across the street (a safe distance) from the park. Also, there’s a fire station next door.
- Frame Park Waukesha – you are bound to see/hear a train here if you play
- Kiwanis Village Park in Pewaukee– three trains went by in ten minutes when we were there the other day (you can also catch trains from Pewaukee Beach)
WHERE ELSE DO YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES VIEW REAL, LIVE TRAINS? COMMENT BELOW AND WE WILL ADD TO THE LIST!
Don’t forget to share your train fun with Lake Country Family Fun on Instagram (IG) with #lovelcff.
Find us on IG HERE.
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TELL US YOUR FAVORITE TRAIN ACTIVITIES!
Do you have a train ride, a train dining spot, a train trip, a train viewing area or park with a train that is not on this list? I bet you do! Well…share the train tips with your fellow Lake Country Families. Email them to us at Erin@lakecountryfamilyfun(dot)com or use the contact form button. We will add them to the list.
Lionel Railroad Club of Milwaukee
Parkland Plaza
2721 South Calhoun Road
New Berlin, WI 53151
(262)754-9900
(entrance in back of building)
Semi annual open house
April 7 & 8, 2018
November 24 & 25, 2018
Also monthly swap meets during winter months
milw-lrrc.com
Awesome we will add.
Hidden Gem Spot:
Dickten Park in Nashotah. Trains can be seen going by on the tracks, which are across the street (a safe distance) from the park. Also, there’s a fire station next door.
Awesome thank you we will add!