Weekend Guide
train guide

A Lake Country Kid’s Guide to [All Things] TRAIN

April 25, 2022 / 4 Comments / Guides, Local Family Fun, Spring Time / By

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:

Seasonal train Events
Train Trip Ideas
Traing Dining Ideas
Parks & Places w/Trains
Train Museums to Visit
Railroad Clubs
Hobby Shops
Train Viewing Gem Spots

TRAIN GUIDE SPONSOR

EAST TROY RAILROAD MUSEUM

East Troy Railroad

“Welcome to our 50th anniversary season. Fifty Years! We are excited to invite you to join us during what should be a special season of remembering our past while looking forward to our future.

Keep reading to learn about the special events for the year, the Dinner Train dates, and to hear about the progress we’ve made over the winter in our maintenance shop.

On Friday, May 27th, we will celebrate the actual 50th anniversary of the first departures on the fledgling tourist railroad then known as the East Troy Trolley Museum. On that weekend — and for the remainder of the season — we will have many historical items on display from the early years.

Our first Dinner Train departs on May 7th. This special Kentucky Derby train departs early so guests can be back in the depot in time to watch the Kentucky Derby together. Appropriate food and drink will be available and guests are encouraged to dress for the occasion, including hats! I suggest you check your calendars, check the menus online, compare notes with friends, and then book your dining event as soon as you can. Some of these trains fill up quickly!

I stand on the shoulders of generations of volunteers who have kept our cars running, repaired our tracks, restored our historic cars and contributed untold thousands of volunteer hours and several millions of dollars so you can have the chance to ride our trains today.”

Seasonal/Special Train Events

WINTER/SPRING

SUMMER MONTHS

  • Milwaukee Zoo Train 
  • Little Amerricka 15 minute train ride through the park + farm. See the zebras!
  • Opening weekend at the MILWAUKEE LIGHT ENGINEERING SOCIETY (Cedarburg) 
  • Day out with Thomas – Green Bay (National RR Museum) – TBD for 2021
  • RAILFEST/Railfan Day at the East Troy Railroad Museum – June 19th, 2021 where each train will run with a different set of railroad cars. Many of our historic cars will be on display and there will be face painting and popcorn in the East Troy Depot.
  • Bay Beach Train – Green Bay (May through September see WEBSITE)
  • Whiskey River RAILROAD DAY at Little Amerricka – TBD for 2021
  • Chicago and Military Day at the East Troy Railroad Museum – August 14th 2021 – Our historic South Shore and Chicago Elevated cars will
    be featured and we hope to have interpretive staff and rangers from the National Park Service with us.
  • Concert in the Park – New for 2021, the East Troy Electric railroad is running trains from East Troy to a “Concerts in the Park” series at Indianhead Park in Mukwonago on June 11 th , July 9th , August 7th and September 11th .
  •  

FALL

Pumpkin Train Rides

  • Pumpkin Train at Little Amerricka
  • LIONEL RAILROAD CLUB of Milwaukee- Semi annual open houses 
  • 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 13-14, 2021
  • 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
  • East Troy Electric RailRoad Beer Tasting Train – September 4th, 2021 – This joint dining event with the Black Point Estate in Lake Geneva features beer tasting, beer history, beer trivia and amazing hors d’oeuvres while you ride.
  • East Troy Electric RailRoad Harvest Fest Trains – September 10 to October 24 th, 2021 – Take a train to Harvest Fest at the Elegant Farmer! Tickets must be purchased in advance for these popular trains.

Christmas Time

Ticket Happy Pass Trainfest

    • 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! 
  • HOLIDAY TRAIN Comes through Wisconsin (Oconomowoc & Hartland nearest locations) Not in 2020 or 2021.
  • Polar Express Ride out of Green Bay WEBSITE 
  • SANTA TRAIN at the Mid-Continent Railway in North Freedom – Cancelled in 2021
  • TRAIN DISPLAY at Country Springs Hotel [FREE] 

train

  • 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 2021 dates TBD
  • Train Display at Shady Lane Greenhouse in Menomonee Falls. The KFH Legacy train will run on Saturdays!
  •  

trainfest train guide image  Kids Run Trains at the Layouts at  Trainfest®

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. Please call for open status before attending!

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!

Santa Train Ride, East Troy Electric Railroad East Troy Christmas Trains Lake Country Family Fun  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 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

National Railroad Museum Green Bay
 National Railroad Museum Green Bay


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

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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A Lake Country Kid's Guide to [all things] train

 

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.

4 thoughts on “A Lake Country Kid’s Guide to [All Things] TRAIN”

  1. pzelinger

    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

    Reply
  2. Jen

    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.

    Reply

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